MetabolicMarkers

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Current promotion

Diabetes Blood Test Panels: HbA1c, Glucose & Insulin Monitoring

Track blood sugar, insulin, and kidney markers with lab panels you can order online in minutes.

Affiliate disclosure: we earn a commission when you purchase lab tests through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

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Individual tests from $14.15 and bundled panels from $35.92 with code DH20 (promotional pricing at time of writing).

At a glance

The Diabetes Control collection is a set of lab panels and individual blood tests that measure blood sugar control, insulin function, and related kidney and lipid markers. Core options include HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, C-peptide, and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, plus bundled Diabetes Health (DH) panels. It is designed for adults who want to establish a glucose baseline, follow markers associated with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes over time, and review the results with their clinician.

Best suited for

  • Adults with risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes, such as family history, excess weight, a sedentary routine, hypertension, high triglycerides, or PCOS
  • People already tracking blood sugar who want HbA1c, glucose, and kidney markers between doctor visits
  • Anyone noticing changes such as increased thirst, frequent urination, or persistent fatigue that they plan to discuss with a clinician
  • Health-conscious adults establishing a metabolic baseline before making diet or exercise changes
  • People who want insulin and C-peptide data alongside glucose to see markers associated with insulin resistance

What's included

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

Fasting Plasma Glucose

Glucose Tolerance Test, 2 Specimens, 75g

Insulin Response to Glucose Test, 2 Specimens

Fructosamine

Insulin (Fasting)

C-Peptide

Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR)

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

Lipid Panel

CBC with Differential and Platelets

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

DH-1 Diabetes Health Panel (CMP + HbA1c)

DH-2 Diabetes Health Panel (adds CBC, Lipid Panel, urine microalbumin)

DH-3 Diabetes Health Panel (adds CRP and Insulin)

DH-4 Diabetes Health Panel (adds glucose tolerance and insulin response)

Deep-dive the key markers: Fasting Glucose, HbA1c, Fasting Insulin, LDL-C, HDL-C, Triglycerides, eGFR, ALT

Key biomarker ranges

Commonly used adult reference ranges for markers this panel measures, labs vary, so always interpret results against your lab's stated ranges and with your doctor.

Fasting Glucose (mg/dL)

Commonly used reference ranges place fasting glucose at 70–99 mg/dL; results vary with sleep, stress, and recent illness, and labs differ slightly.

Fasting Glucose reference ranges (mg/dL)
ZoneRange
Low50–70 mg/dL
Optimal70–100 mg/dL
Prediabetic range100–126 mg/dL
Diabetic range126–160 mg/dL
Hemoglobin A1c (%)

Commonly used reference ranges place HbA1c below 5.7%; conditions affecting red blood cells can skew results, so labs and clinicians interpret in context.

Hemoglobin A1c reference ranges (%)
ZoneRange
Optimal4–5.7 %
Prediabetic range5.7–6.5 %
Diabetic range6.5–10 %
Fasting Insulin (µIU/mL)

Commonly used reference ranges accept up to ~25 µIU/mL, but many clinicians view single-digit fasting insulin as the more informative target; assays vary by lab.

Fasting Insulin reference ranges (µIU/mL)
ZoneRange
Low0–2 µIU/mL
Optimal2–10 µIU/mL
Above optimal10–25 µIU/mL
High25–30 µIU/mL

The importance of testing

Blood sugar looks different depending on the time window you measure. HbA1c reflects your average glucose over the past two to three months, fasting glucose is a point-in-time snapshot, and fructosamine captures the most recent two to three weeks. Testing more than one of these gives you a trend line rather than a single number, which is far more useful when you and your doctor are evaluating changes in diet, activity, or medication.

Insulin-focused tests add a second layer. Fasting insulin and C-peptide show how much insulin your body is producing to keep glucose in range, and the two-specimen glucose tolerance and insulin response tests show how your body handles a measured glucose load. Markers associated with insulin resistance often shift years before glucose itself moves, which is why many people track them alongside HbA1c.

Blood sugar rarely travels alone. The collection also covers markers frequently reviewed with it: the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and eGFR for kidney function, a lipid panel for cardiometabolic context, and CRP for inflammation. The bundled DH-1 through DH-4 panels combine these into single orders of increasing depth, from a foundational CMP-plus-HbA1c check to a broader workup that includes insulin, glucose tolerance, and urine microalbumin.

The practical value is the trend: establish a baseline, retest on a schedule you agree on with your clinician, and bring flagged results to your next appointment. According to the partner page, most results post privately to your online portal within 24 to 48 hours.

Part of our complete guide to Diabetes & Blood Sugar Lab Tests — browse every panel and biomarker guide in this hub.

Promo code

DH20

Save 20% with code DH20, current promotion; confirm final pricing on the partner page.

Ready to get your numbers? Order online, visit a nearby draw site, and receive private results to review with your doctor.

Order Now

Frequently asked questions

Can I order these diabetes tests without a doctor's visit?

Yes, no doctor's appointment is needed, because the partner lab provides the physician-authorized requisition when you order online. You choose your tests, visit one of about 2,100 draw sites, and receive private results you can then review with your own clinician.

Which blood sugar test should I start with?

Most people start with HbA1c plus fasting glucose, which together show both your long-term average and your current level. For a more complete picture, the partner page suggests adding fasting insulin or C-peptide, the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and a lipid panel, or choosing a bundled DH panel that includes them.

Do I need to fast before these tests?

Fasting for 8 to 12 hours is typically recommended for fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid panel tests, while HbA1c usually does not require fasting. Follow the prep instructions provided at checkout or by your provider, especially for the two-specimen glucose tolerance test.

How quickly will I get my results?

Many results post within 24 to 48 hours to a private online portal, according to the partner page. Turnaround can vary by test and location, and the glucose tolerance tests involve a longer draw-site visit because two specimens are collected.

Is this testing available in every state?

No, direct-to-consumer lab testing is restricted or prohibited in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, so residents of those states may be blocked at the partner's checkout. Availability of specific tests, such as the oral glucose tolerance test, can also vary by draw-site location.

Can I pay with HSA or FSA funds?

Yes, HSA and FSA cards are accepted at checkout, according to the partner page. Pricing is transparent cash-pay, insurance is not billed, so there are no surprise insurance charges.

References

  1. [1] Hidden Risks behind Normal Fasting Glucose: Is It Significant? — Diabetes & Metabolism Journal (Korean Diabetes Association, via PMC)
  2. [2] Good to Know: Factors Affecting Blood Glucose — Clinical Diabetes, American Diabetes Association (via PMC)
  3. [3] Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  4. [4] Interpreting A1C: Principles of the A1C Assay — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  5. [5] Interpreting A1C: Diabetes and Hemoglobin Variants — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  6. [6] The A1C Test & Diabetes — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  7. [7] What Is Diabetes? — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  8. [8] Surrogate markers of insulin resistance: A review — World Journal of Diabetes (via PMC)
  9. [9] Insulin Assay Standardization: Leading to Measures of Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion for Practical Clinical Care — Diabetes Care, American Diabetes Association (via PMC)
  10. [10] LDL: The 'Bad' Cholesterol — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  11. [11] Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel — European Heart Journal
  12. [12] Familial Hypercholesterolemia — GeneReviews, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  13. [13] Hypercholesterolemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  14. [14] Low HDL Cholesterol — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  15. [15] HPS2-THRIVE, AIM-HIGH and dal-OUTCOMES: HDL-cholesterol under attack — Global Cardiology Science & Practice
  16. [16] Metabolic syndrome — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  17. [17] Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  18. [18] Triglycerides — MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
  19. [19] Hypertriglyceridemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM)
  20. [20] High Blood Triglycerides — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
  21. [21] Physiology, Glomerular Filtration Rate — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  22. [22] Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) — National Kidney Foundation
  23. [23] What Is Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults? — NIDDK (NIH)
  24. [24] Is It Time for a Requiem for Creatine Supplementation-Induced Kidney Failure? A Narrative Review — Nutrients
  25. [25] Estimated GFR (eGFR) Test: Kidney Function Levels, Stages, and What to Do Next — National Kidney Foundation
  26. [26] Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Test — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  27. [27] Definition & Facts of NAFLD & NASH — NIDDK (NIH)
  28. [29] Liver Function Tests — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)

Reviewed by

Jason August

Jason August

Founder & Editorial Lead

Jason August is the founder of Metabolic Markers and its parent company, Advancing Development. He has spent his career building and scaling real-world ventures, including as a founding team member at Build-A-Bear Workshop during its growth from startup to global public company, and since then across capital, real estate, adaptive reuse, and hospitality. He founded Metabolic Markers to make blood-biomarker testing easier to understand and access, and oversees the site’s content and editorial accuracy. Jason is not a medical professional; all content on this site is educational, reviewed for accuracy, and never a substitute for advice from a licensed physician.

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