Metabolic & Diabetes Panel

A nine-biomarker metabolic snapshot assessing blood glucose regulation, insulin production, kidney function, and liver health in a single fasting draw. At PKBH Olomouc, HbA1c is quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography on the Tosoh G8 analyser — the gold-standard method used in clinical trials — giving a precise three-month average blood glucose that point-of-care glucometers cannot replicate. C-peptide (a proxy for endogenous insulin production) distinguishes insulin resistance from deficiency. Walk-in, no referral needed, results by end of day.

Metabolic dysfunction typically develops silently for a decade before a diabetes diagnosis, and even modest early intervention during the pre-diabetic phase dramatically reduces lifetime risk. This panel combines glucose-regulation, renal, and hepatic markers into a single morning visit — giving a complete picture of metabolic health that general practice bloods often omit. Biomarkers included: - **Glucose** — fasting blood sugar; the primary screening value for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. - **HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin)** — reflects average blood glucose over the prior 8–12 weeks. At PKBH, HbA1c is run on the Tosoh G8 HPLC analyser, the same platform used in the landmark DCCT and UKPDS diabetes trials. This method is certified by NGSP and IFCC, ensuring comparability with international reference ranges. - **C-peptide** — produced in equal quantities to insulin during pancreatic beta-cell secretion. Elevated C-peptide suggests insulin resistance; very low levels indicate beta-cell exhaustion. Knowing whether the body is over-producing or failing to produce insulin shapes the treatment approach. - **Creatinine and endogenous creatinine clearance** — assess kidney filtration capacity. Poorly controlled blood sugar damages renal tubules years before symptoms appear; tracking creatinine catches this early. - **Urea** — a second kidney-function marker reflecting protein catabolism and hydration status. - **ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase)** — three liver enzymes that collectively detect fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD), the hepatic face of metabolic syndrome. ALT is the most sensitive early marker; AST and ALP together distinguish hepatocellular from cholestatic patterns. - **Total bilirubin and albumin** — liver function markers that reveal synthetic capacity: falling albumin is an early sign of liver reserve impairment. All biochemistry markers run on the automated Mindray BS-800 M2 at the central Olomouc laboratory. The Tosoh G8 HPLC is dedicated to HbA1c, ensuring it is not affected by haemoglobin variants that can produce falsely low or high readings on immunoassay-based methods. **Who benefits:** Anyone with suspected pre-diabetes or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), people with central obesity (waist circumference > 94 cm men / > 80 cm women), those on medications that affect glucose (corticosteroids, antipsychotics), and people tracking metabolic progress during dietary intervention. **Preparation:** A strict 10–12 hour fast is required before the draw. Take usual medications unless advised otherwise by your physician. Arrive at any PKBH Olomouc site from 07:00 without an appointment. **Results:** Printed and electronic results are ready the same working day. STATIM critical values (e.g. glucose > 16 mmol/L) trigger a direct phone call within two hours.