{"id":1838,"date":"2026-02-07T06:12:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T06:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tonypanariello.com\/blog\/wordpress\/?p=1838"},"modified":"2026-02-07T06:12:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T06:12:50","slug":"initial-blood-panel-aka-how-bad-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tonypanariello.com\/blog\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/02\/07\/initial-blood-panel-aka-how-bad-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Initial Blood Panel (AKA How bad is it?)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I recently got some routine blood work done, and instead of just glancing at the numbers and moving on, I actually sat with it. This felt like one of those moments where your body is quietly tapping you on the shoulder and saying, \u201cHey \u2014 pay attention now, not later.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here\u2019s the honest snapshot of where I\u2019m at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Looking Good<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the encouraging stuff \u2014 because there\u2019s plenty of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My testosterone levels are normal<\/strong>, which is a relief. Energy, strength, mood \u2014 all of that matters, and this tells me my foundation is still solid. My kidney function came back strong<\/strong>, and my triglycerides and HDL (the good cholesterol)<\/strong> are both in a healthy range. Those are markers you want<\/em> on your side as you get older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My basic blood counts and urinalysis were also clean. Translation: no red flags, no silent alarms, no \u201cwe need to talk right now\u201d moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That alone is something I\u2019m grateful for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stuff I Can\u2019t Ignore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, a couple numbers stood out \u2014 not in a scary way, but in a \u201cthis is your warning light\u201d<\/em> kind of way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big one: prediabetes<\/strong>. My A1c came in at 6.1%, which means my average blood sugar is creeping up. I\u2019m not diabetic \u2014 but I\u2019m close enough that pretending it\u2019s fine would be a mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is LDL cholesterol<\/strong> (the \u201cbad\u201d kind), which is higher than I\u2019d like. Not off-the-charts, not medication-level yet \u2014 but high enough that it deserves attention, especially at this age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were also a couple smaller things \u2014 a blood marker that might<\/em> point toward low iron or inflammation, and potassium sitting at the high end of normal. Nothing urgent, but definitely things to keep an eye on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How I\u2019m Looking at This<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the important part: I don\u2019t see this as bad news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I see it as a window<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the stage where lifestyle changes actually work<\/em>. Where you can still reverse trends instead of managing consequences. Where lifting weights, eating better, walking more, and sleeping properly don\u2019t just make you feel better \u2014 they move the numbers in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s a good place to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Plan (and the Point of Sharing This)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m focusing on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n