Luca’s diabetes risk hiding in plain sight

A 31-year-old Luca underwent a fasting glucose test and received a result of 80 mg/dl. He quickly checked the reference ranges online and confirmed his numbers were well within normal limits.

Relief washed over him. Surely this meant diabetes wasn’t something he needed to worry about. His love for desserts and sugary snacks, irregular eating habits, and limited physical activity due to his demanding job hadn’t seemed to catch up with him yet.

Something didn’t feel quite right, though. Given his family history and recent weight gain, Luca decided to have his lab results automatically interpreted through LabTest Checker by Labplus®, which combines test results with a comprehensive health questionnaire.

The patient’s result is normal, which could reassure him enough to delay further tests. However, due to a family history of diabetes and other risk factors resulting from his lifestyle, glycemic control should be repeated annually in his case, even in the absence of symptoms.

Additionally, early lifestyle changes (before the development of carbohydrate metabolism disorders) may prevent the onset of diabetes in the future.

says Dr. Leopold Rehan, PhD, MD

Doctor of Medical Sciences, graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University in Wrocław, specialist in internal medicine, professionally associated with the Enel-Med Medical Center.

Understanding one’s complete risk profile and taking proactive steps can safeguard against diabetes and other serious health complications down the road. Since “normal” results may indicate to patients that no changes or additional consultations are necessary, it’s so important to have lab test results professionally interpreted.

Just like in Luca’s case, results that fall within normal ranges don’t always mean everything is perfectly fine. Had he simply looked up his numbers online, he might have concluded no action was needed. Instead, he now understands the true meaning behind his lab results and the importance of ongoing preventive care.

Labplus addresses this challenge by providing automated test results interpretation that combines laboratory data with comprehensive medical questionnaires. Our Health Reports deliver personalized preventive recommendations, helping healthcare providers offer enhanced patient value and improved clinical outcomes.