Your cholesterol test, also called lipid panel, measures all the types of cholesterol in your blood stream. Your advanced diabetes check (HbA1c) measures your average blood glucose levels over the last 2-3 months.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are fats which are made from the excess calories you have eaten which haven’t been used by your body. If you consistently eat more calories than you burn off, your triglycerides levels are likely to be high.

HDL

HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) or “good” cholesterol helps remove excess cholesterol from your blood. Low levels of HDL therefore put you at higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

LDL

LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) or “bad” cholesterol can build up in your artery walls. Over time these deposits harden, narrowing the arteries and increasing the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Cholesterol ratio

This is the ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol. This ratio is more indicative of your risk of cardiovascular disease and heart disease risk than cholesterol alone. The higher the ratio, the higher your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Advanced Diabetes (HbA1c)

Your diabetes check measures the average level of glucose in your bloodstream over a period of time. Because the test looks at your average glucose levels, it gives a more accurate indication of your diabetes risk than a basic glucose test, which simply gives a snapshot of your glucose levels at the time the test is taken. If type 2 diabetes is identified early in the pre-diabetes stage, it can usually be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes.