When Your Labs Are "Normal" but Your Metabolic Health Isn't

Normal blood sugar doesn't always mean everything is metabolically normal.

Episode #274

🎙️ Coach Terri Lance is joined by Dr. Jason Fung for a conversation about what routine lab results can—and can't—tell us about metabolic health.

Dr. Fung explains why blood glucose and A1C can remain within normal ranges even while insulin levels are rising, why "normal" and "optimal" aren't always the same thing, and why looking at a single number without context can miss important changes happening underneath.

They also discuss fasting insulin, C-peptide, why these markers can be useful when assessing hyperinsulinemia, and why trends over time often tell us more than one isolated result.

👉 What you'll learn
• Why normal lab results don't necessarily explain how you feel
• The five criteria used to define metabolic syndrome
• Why hyperinsulinemia can develop before blood glucose becomes abnormal
• How A1C can remain normal while insulin levels are rising
• The difference between a laboratory "normal range" and an optimal result
• Why fasting insulin can be difficult to interpret from a single measurement
• What C-peptide can tell us about insulin production
• Why C-peptide may be more stable than fasting insulin
• Why repeated measurements can provide more useful context than one result
• How better information can support more useful conversations with your healthcare practitioner

📝 Read the Transcript
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 How A1C can look normal while insulin rises
00:31 Terri and Dr. Fung introduce the lab conversation
01:25 What does "normal" actually mean?
02:56 Why normal bloodwork doesn't explain everything
04:36 Looking at metabolic health more closely
05:13 The five markers of metabolic syndrome
05:47 Hyperinsulinemia versus insulin resistance
06:52 Why measure insulin at all?
07:32 How insulin can rise while glucose stays normal
08:37 Normal range versus optimal range
10:42 Why insulin measurements can fluctuate
11:55 What C-peptide tells us
13:05 Why one result isn't enough
15:50 What can you do with the information?
19:37 Why tracking results over time can matter
21:13 Why A1C may miss early metabolic dysfunction
23:42 Using lab information to ask better questions
25:14 Understanding what your doctor is—and isn't—testing

⚠️ Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only, and it is not to substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professionals before doing any fasting, changing your diet in any way, taking or adjusting any medications or supplements, or adopting any treatment plan for a health problem.

The use of any other products or services purchased by you as a result of this podcast does not create a healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the experts affiliated with this podcast. Any information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.