WHAT IT IS
A guide to the lab results you'll see on a typical diabetes panel: A1C, fasting glucose, lipid panel (LDL, HDL, triglycerides), kidney function (eGFR, urine albumin), and what the ranges mean for someone with diabetes or prediabetes.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
A1C: average blood sugar over 2–3 months. Under 5.7 is normal, 5.7–6.4 is prediabetes, 6.5+ is diabetes. Most adults with diabetes target under 7. Fasting glucose: a snapshot. Under 100 is normal, 100–125 is prediabetes, 126+ on two readings is diabetes. LDL (the "bad" cholesterol): for adults with diabetes, the target is usually under 70. Standard population targets are higher. HDL (the "good" cholesterol): higher is better. Above 40 for men, above 50 for women. Triglycerides: under 150 is the standard target. eGFR: kidney filtration rate. Above 90 is normal; under 60 means reduced function and triggers a closer look. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: under 30 mg/g is normal. 30–300 is microalbuminuria — the earliest sign diabetes is affecting the kidneys.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR ASIAN AMERICANS
Standard reference ranges are derived from largely white U.S. populations. Asian American adults often have higher cardiovascular and kidney risk at lower numbers, which means the standard ranges can be falsely reassuring. If your LDL is 95 and your doctor says "that's borderline," it's worth asking what target THEY would set for someone with your background.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Save your lab results in one place — a notes app, a folder, anything
- Note the trend, not just the latest number
- Bring questions about specific numbers to your visit, not after
- Don't try to interpret a single value alone — the pattern is what matters
WHAT TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
- "What's my LDL target given my background and family history?"
- "Have I had a urine albumin test in the last year?"
- "What numbers should I watch most closely between visits?"