One of the most common reasons doctors run tests in the hospital is to monitor a patient’s progress. Doctors often need to know how far a patient has come or how far they are likely to go. However, there are always situations where a doctor may want to check on the status of a patient without having to do the diagnosis or order a test. For example, if a doctor suspects a patient has high blood sugar, a simple blood test may give them all the information they need. But what if a patient is being treated by a doctor for another condition, like high blood pressure? What if a patient has recently gone through a stressful situation, perhaps the loss of a loved one or a conflict with a co-worker? These are just a few
Many doctors now use low-carb diets to treat a wide variety of health conditions, and there are numerous disease-specific diets written about in popular books and magazines. Yet, there is a lot of confusion about how to use the information doctors glean from their patients to help them. This post is designed to give doctors a framework to use when they work with a low-carb patient.
A low-carb diet is usually defined as one that restricts carb intake to less than 100 grams per day, with the exception of certain high-protein, high-fat foods like meat, eggs, fish, avocados, and nuts. While carbs are a major source of energy for nearly all of of us, the body can go into a state of ketosis when it’s running on ketone bodies (keto diet is a type of low-carb diet) in lieu of using glucose, which is a waste product of burning carbohydrates and is produced in excess when we eat too much sugar, starches, and grains.. Read more about how does ketosis affect blood tests and let us know what you think.
The following is a list of suggested blood tests, as well as how often they should be ordered. Consider repeating the tests in the column every three months until the patient’s illness has healed and is stable.
To get the complete description of each test, as well as differential diagnoses for increased and reduced results and standard normal values, click on the test name.
Patients on a low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet should be aware that normal levels may fluctuate significantly. These distinctions are also taken into consideration in our laboratory testing procedures.
Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes are all linked to each other.
For individuals with obesity, metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes, the following essential laboratory tests are recommended:
- HbA1c
- Glucose that is released quickly
- Panel of lipids in their entirety
- Is it better to take fast-acting insulin or fast-acting c-peptide?
- Creatinine
- ALT
| Examination | Basic and yearly levels | 3 times a year | Target |
| A1c haemoglobin (HbA1c) | X | the letter X (if elevated) | To assist treatment choices by measuring risk reduction and/or monitoring improvement in a diabetic patient. Also helpful for motivation and determining carbohydrate content fast. |
| Glucose that is released quickly | X | X | To help with treatment choices by monitoring hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. |
| Panel of lipids in their entirety (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides) | X | the letter X (provisional) |
To determine the risk of heart disease and insulin resistance. Furthermore, patients frequently feel more at peace when their cholesterol levels are tested on a regular basis, particularly when their triglycerides are decreasing and their HDL is rising (with explanation). Finally, although the advantage has yet to be proved, it may be helpful to detect the tiny proportion of individuals who are hyperreactive and have extremely high LDL levels in order to take measures. |
| insulin that works quickly | X | X |
To evaluate pancreatic function and identify individuals with latent onset type 1 diabetes by evaluating beta cell insulin production. *It’s critical to examine your patients for sobriety right away to ensure they aren’t undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. |
| C-peptide is a kind of peptide that is found (fast-acting insulin alternative) | X |
Identify individuals with latent onset type 1 diabetes by assessing insulin production by pancreatic beta cells. *It’s critical to examine your patients for fasting right away to ensure they aren’t type 1 diabetics in the making. |
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| Alanine aminotransferase is an enzyme that converts alanine to an amino acid (ALT) | X | X | To detect liver damage and/or diagnose liver disease, as well as to track improvements in liver function in people with NAFLD. |
| Creatinine | X | X | This test not only evaluates and diagnoses the patient’s kidney function, but also determines whether or not the patient is properly hydrated. |
Medical disorders that have existed in the past
The tests listed below are suggested for individuals who are on an extremely low carbohydrate diet and have specific pre-existing diseases.
- Electrolytes are a kind of ion (when using diuretics or chronic kidney disease)
- TSH TSH TSH TSH TSH T (if you are taking thyroid medication)
- uric acid is a kind of uric acid (if you have a history of gout)
- Hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) is (for people with inflammatory diseases, sometimes improves with low-carb diets).
- The albumin-to-creatinine ratio is a measurement of how much albumin is present in (may improve in people with diabetes, may be useful for motivational purposes and to show that their kidneys are doing better)
| Examination | Basic and yearly levels | 3 times a year | Target |
| Sodium | X | X |
If a patient is at danger of hyponatremia or hypernatremia, make sure they get enough water. It may be essential to add sodium in certain instances. |
| Potassium | X | X |
Ascertain that the patient’s blood potassium level is unaffected by medicines or other medical issues, and evaluate the risk of hypokalemia and hyperkalemia. Potassium supplements may be needed in certain instances, while a potassium-deficient diet may be required in others. |
| Uric acid | X | X |
During the early stages of transitioning to a low-carb diet, these levels may increase. Initially, it may assist you in identifying individuals who are at risk for gout and/or kidney stones, as well as taking preventative steps to avoid these diseases. |
| Calcium | X | X | A variety of illnesses may be examined, diagnosed, and monitored with this device. |
| Phosphorus | X | X | Determine if a patient’s phosphorus intake should be reduced, particularly if they have renal problems. |
| Magnesium is a mineral found in the human body (RBC magnesium, if present) | X | X |
Determine blood magnesium levels and if certain frequent low-carb diet side effects, such as B. Seizures, are due to magnesium shortage rather than a worsening of neuropathy. Because it assesses magnesium levels in tissues, RBC magnesium is a more reliable indication. |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland (TSH) | X | X | Thyroid function should be monitored. |
| T3 free | X | For the purpose of determining thyroid function. | |
| T4 | X |
For the purpose of determining thyroid function. Thyroid function is assessed, thyroid diseases are diagnosed, infants are screened for hypothyroidism, and treatment efficacy is monitored. |
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| B12 (cobalamin) (MMA test, if available) | X | To determine the existence or absence of deficiency in a person (often in bariatric surgery patients and vegetarians) and to aid in the diagnosis of anemia or neuropathy. | |
| C-reactive protein (CRP) is a highly sensitive protein (hs-CRP) | X | To determine the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and to keep track of other inflammatory diseases in the body. | |
| Albumin | X |
Make sure you have enough plasma protein on hand. Celiac disease, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption, malnutrition, enteropathy owing to protein loss, and other conditions may cause it to be decreased. I’m not sure whether it would assist patients who eat a well-balanced diet, and I’m not sure if it would alter my habit. |
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| Urine albumin/creatinine ratio | X | X | In individuals with diabetes who are at high risk of developing renal disease or hypertension, for the diagnosis and/or monitoring of kidney disease. |
| The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (full blood count) | X | X | White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are all counted. Anemia is prevalent in women, chronic severe dieters, and bariatric surgery patients. |
| Vitamin D | X |
Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent, particularly in individuals with metabolic syndrome and in Scandinavian nations. Increased tiredness, persistent pain/inflammation, and osteoporosis are all linked to deficiency. It is possible to verify the baseline on a yearly basis if it is normal. It should be rechecked every three months until normalized if there are any abnormalities or additives added. |
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| Ferritin | X |
Examine your body’s iron supply. Even if he does not have anemia, he may be frail and need nutritional support. It is possible to verify the baseline on a yearly basis if it is normal. If it’s abnormal at first, examine it every three months until it returns to normal. |
Useless, unrelated to a low-carb diet, but sometimes helpful for patients beginning a low-carb diet for other reasons.
- B12 (in patients who have had bariatric surgery, and in vegetarians/vegetarians at first)
Lower carb diets, like Atkins and South Beach are trending these days and a varied amount of patients are choosing to go on them. Lab tests are a must because on low-carb diets you may need to monitor electrolytes and will need to know your body mass index, blood sugar levels and cholesterol.. Read more about keto labs and let us know what you think.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- low carb diet blood test results
- ketogenic diet lab monitoring
- blood work before and after keto
- keto diet blood test results
- how does ketosis affect blood tests
