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GLP-1 medications change how your body regulates blood sugar, appetite, digestion, and nutrient absorption, which makes baseline testing essential before starting therapy. This panel focuses on the core systems GLP-1 drugs affect most directly, including glucose control, insulin signaling, lipids, inflammation, liver function, electrolytes, and key vitamins.
Markers like fasting glucose, HbA1c, and insulin establish how well your body is currently handling blood sugar and allow clinicians to measure true metabolic improvement over time rather than relying on weight alone. Lipids such as LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol track cardiovascular risk, which often improves on GLP-1 therapy but can change unevenly early on. hs-CRP adds context by measuring low-grade inflammation, which is closely tied to insulin resistance and heart disease risk.
Liver enzymes ALT and AST are included because GLP-1 medications often improve fatty liver disease, but rapid weight loss can transiently stress the liver. Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, and calcium help monitor hydration status and gastrointestinal tolerance, especially in patients with nausea, vomiting, or reduced intake. Vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin D are tracked because appetite suppression and slower gastric emptying can worsen existing deficiencies over time if not monitored.
Used before starting therapy and repeated regularly, this panel provides a practical and efficient way to confirm safety, document metabolic progress, and catch early issues before they become symptoms.
