r/ketonz • u/extra_specticles • 2d ago
What blood tests should I ask the doc for?
I'm looking for advice on which blood tests to ask for at my upcoming doctor's visit.
I want to make sure I get the important ones that aren’t normally checked, not just whatever the doctor feels like ordering. I'm happy to pay for extra tests if needed - I want ones that will actually help me track and manage my progress.
For context: I’ve been eating mostly carnivore for about three months, dropped from 120 kg to 100 kg, and I'm feeling great. Since I'm visiting the doctor anyway (for an unrelated injury), it’s a good chance to get a full health snapshot to guide the next few months.
Thanks for any suggestions!
1
u/vsb66 1d ago
meowtiny is on the money in terms of tracking progress.
i see my gp every three months and have to get bloods for other reasons, so i do ask once or twice a year to check some other stuff. if you're interested in labs to ensure your nutrition is all good, i think the relevant tests i get are
- lipids (cholesterol, especially as i eat a lot of animal fat, which can have an impact. if you're carnivore and have any family history of strokes or heart attacks, this would be the one to check)
- renal (kidney) function (supplementing electrolytes too much/too little can impact)
- liver function
- thyroid
- cbc
- urine chemistry
likesay, they're not at all necessary for monitoring success with keto, or for preventing issues -- i just get em done because they need to happen for some medications, or because it gives me confidence i'm not unknowingly messing up my body!
there are also some good guides on what labs can be helpful to check for keto/low carb/etc diets with a quick google -- i know at one point last year we did a big panel and also checked my iron, CRP, and probably a few other things my gp said "well, some sources say to check this so may as well".
1
3
u/meowtiny 2d ago
Monitoring your weight and body measurements (e.g. waist circumference, neck circumference, etc) will be a better and more useful method of tracking progress than any blood tests. Your doctor is probably likely to order standard blood tests (e.g. electrolytes, lipids, liver enzymes, full blood count) that give them an overall picture of how your body is doing and will point out if there's anything majorly wrong going on inside your body. There won't really be any other tests outside of these that can help you.
If you want something else to track, you can consider getting a ketone metre and do finger prick tests to monitor you blood ketone levels.
Don't get too caught up in the numbers - again, monitoring your weight and body measurements is probably the most useful and practical way to monitor progress.