Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: Fasting for at least 12 hours is required. Stop biotin at least 72 hours before collection.
- Turnaround: 3-4 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
What This Panel Evaluates
This panel looks at glucose metabolism and vitamin D status. It includes fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting insulin, plus a separate vitamin D 25-hydroxy test. Each glucose-related marker offers a different view, so together they add context rather than repeating the same information.
Fasting glucose measures the amount of glucose in your blood at the time of collection. Hemoglobin A1c reflects average glucose over the last two to three months. Fasting insulin measures insulin concentration. Vitamin D 25-hydroxy is a separate marker, related to bone health and calcium metabolism.
What's Included in This Panel
Diabetes-Related Tests
- Glucose: Fasting blood sugar test measuring the amount of glucose in your blood.
- Hemoglobin A1c (Glycohemoglobin): Measures glycated hemoglobin A1c, reflecting average blood glucose over the last two to three months.
- Insulin: Fasting insulin level, not part of American Diabetes Association diagnostic recommendations.
Vitamin D Test
Benefits
- Pairs fasting glucose with A1c, which reflects average glucose over two to three months.
- Adds fasting insulin for context alongside your glucose and A1c results.
- Includes vitamin D 25-hydroxy to check your vitamin D level.
- Combines glucose-related and vitamin D markers in one panel.
- Gives you results to review with your healthcare provider.
Who Is This Panel For?
- You want fasting glucose and A1c checked together.
- You want fasting insulin measured alongside your glucose markers.
- You are at risk for diabetes and want to look at several markers.
- You want your vitamin D level checked with your glucose-related results.
- You are being monitored for a condition that interferes with fat absorption, such as cystic fibrosis or Crohn's disease.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. Do I need to fast or prepare for this panel?
Yes. Fasting for at least 12 hours is required. Stop biotin at least 72 hours before collection.
2. How quickly will I get results?
Turnaround is 3-4 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
3. What can this panel tell me?
Four measurements come together here, and each answers a different question. Glucose shows the level in your blood at collection. Hemoglobin A1c shows average glucose over the last two to three months. Insulin adds a hormone measurement, and vitamin D 25-hydroxy reports on vitamin D status, a separate topic from blood sugar.
4. What factors can affect my results?
Timing and preparation both matter. Glucose and insulin are fasting measurements, so how you prepare affects what the lab sees. Hemoglobin A1c looks back over two to three months, so it is not a same-day snapshot. Biotin is the one supplement this panel specifically addresses as part of preparation.
5. How do I interpret results across the panel?
Each marker answers a different question, so read them as a pattern rather than in isolation. Glucose and hemoglobin A1c are not interchangeable, since one reflects a single fasting measurement and the other an average over two to three months. Insulin is a hormone level, not a glucose measurement. One normal result does not cancel an abnormal one elsewhere, and one abnormal result does not define the whole panel. A qualified healthcare provider can put the numbers in context.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
6. What should I do if one or more results are abnormal?
An out-of-range value is a reason to start a conversation, not a conclusion. Share the full set of results with a qualified healthcare provider, who can weigh each one alongside the rest of the panel and your clinical context. Any further evaluation is a decision for you and your provider. Continue any prescribed treatment as directed until you have spoken with them.
Pre-test preparation
Fasting for at least 12 hours is required. Stop biotin at least 72 hours before collection.
