Lipid panel
Triglycerides
Measured in mg/dL
What it measures
The concentration of triglyceride fats carried in the blood.
Why it is tracked
A sensitive marker of metabolic health and insulin resistance, and highly responsive to diet and alcohol. The triglyceride-to-HDL ratio is often more informative than either value alone.
What a provider considers
- Requires fasting for a reliable reading
- Markedly raised by alcohol and refined carbohydrate
- Very high values carry pancreatitis risk
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.