The Numbers That Reveal Your Metabolic Health Today… and Your Risk Tomorrow
Most people rely on weight or BMI to judge their health… yet neither tells you how your metabolism is actually working. True metabolic health comes from understanding what’s happening inside — how your body manages sugar, fat, inflammation, and cellular stress. These biomarkers give you that clarity. They’re simple, powerful, and often reveal problems years before symptoms appear.
Below are the key markers, what they mean, and the standard vs optimal ranges you should aim for.
HbA1c – Long-Term Blood Sugar Load
Reflects your average glucose over ~3 months.
• Standard range: <5.7%
• Optimal range: 4.8–5.2%
Higher values indicate increasing glycation, oxidative stress, and diabetes risk.
Fasting Insulin – Early Warning for Insulin Resistance
Often elevated long before glucose becomes abnormal.
• Standard range: 2–25 µIU/mL
• Optimal range: 2–6 µIU/mL
A high insulin level—even with normal glucose—signals overworked metabolic pathways and rising visceral fat.
Triglycerides – How Well You Burn Fat
High levels reflect poor fat metabolism, high carb load, or fatty liver.
• Standard range: <150 mg/dL
• Optimal range: <80 mg/dL
HDL Cholesterol – Metabolic Protection
Higher HDL supports better fat transport and lower inflammation.
• Standard range: >40 mg/dL (men), >50 mg/dL (women)
• Optimal range: >60 mg/dL
Image by Chokniti Khongchum from Pixabay
TG/HDL Ratio – Quick Insulin Resistance Check
One of the simplest predictors of metabolic dysfunction.
• Standard: <3
• Optimal: <1.5
A high ratio strongly correlates with insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk.
Waist-to-Height Ratio – Visceral Fat Indicator
More predictive than BMI for metabolic risk, fatty liver, and inflammation.
• Standard/Optimal: <0.5
This number reflects how much harmful fat surrounds your organs.
ALT/SGPT – Silent Signal of Liver Stress
Elevated ALT often indicates hidden fatty liver, even in lean individuals.
• Standard range: <40 U/L
• Optimal range: <20 U/L for men, <17 U/L for women
CRP (C-Reactive Protein) – Inflammation Marker
Shows chronic, low-grade inflammation that accelerates aging and disease.
• Standard range: <3 mg/L
• Optimal range: <1 mg/L
Uric Acid – Metabolic Pressure & Oxidative Stress
Not just about gout… elevated uric acid disrupts insulin signalling, raises blood pressure, and increases fatty liver risk.
• Standard range:
Men: 3.5–7.2 mg/dL
Women: 2.6–6.0 mg/dL
• Optimal range: 4–5 mg/dL
Levels above ~6.0 mg/dL start impairing mitochondrial function and metabolic flexibility.
Why these markers matter more than weight
They expose hidden dysfunction — insulin resistance, fatty liver, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress — years before blood sugar rises or symptoms appear. When you track them, you get a full-story view of your metabolic health: what’s working, what’s slipping, and what needs to change now.
The goal isn’t just to stay “normal”…
It’s to reach optimal, because optimal is where you prevent disease, reverse early dysfunction, and protect long-term metabolic vitality.
Author: Dheeraj Garg — Founder of I M Healthy
LinkedIn: link | Website: I M Healthy
