So, I’m 52 and I finally paid out of pocket to get some lab work done. Including testosterone and other markers that my health care didn’t cover. I’ve never taken TRT or any medication, really, but wanted to make sure my T levels were in a good place to keep training and showing progress.
What do you think? My other levels were all within range (vitamins, minerals, cholesterol, blood count), but wanted to post my testosterone levels here:
The only thing slightly out of range was my fasting glucose, which is 100 mg/dL and the reference range is 70-99. Mine has always been relatively high (like 95 - 100) and I’m not sure why. I’m not a big sugar eater, and obviously I work out.
Your labs at face value do not warrant TRT.
How do you feel? What prompted this or just curiousity?
FWIW my fasted glucose is always around 95-100. No explanation. I eat virtually 0 sugar.
FWIW my fasted glucose is always around 95-100. No explanation. I eat virtually 0 sugar.
I’d ask a similar question regarding proximity to a hard training session and the labs being drawn.
Dr. Shawn Baker, Robert Sikes and a few others have espoused this idea that hard training in and of itself has an insulingenic effect. People will wear CGMs and watch their blood sugar increase simply as a result of training, and many of these people are folks in a ketogenic state: sugar and carbs are low by default.
It’s kinda similar to how your liver enzymes can show up jacked up on a blood draw if you train hard beforehand. Or how you can lower your LDL by eating Oreos, or raise your triglycerides by fasting. Labs are always a snapshot in time, and depending on the context, that snapshot can be misleading.
The day prior I did a CF workout, and played soccer that day. More conditioning-focused than usual, but nothing too extreme.
Thanks! I thought the lipids looked good too, but I’m no expert. I agree that TRT doesn’t seem worth exploring at this point, but wanted to get feedback from people like you. I appreciate it!
Mostly the latter. Given my age and the fact I haven’t been tested for it in about a decade.
That’s good to hear. I eat pretty healthy and workout, so it’s not a diet/exercise thing for me either.
For 52 I think m your doing great. How are all other labs?
As was mentioned above. Exercise will affect test levels on a blood test. If you want more accurate testing take a week off training prior to bloods.
Agreed. I’ve seen friends with normal T hop on despite my advice not to. They never benefited and most stopped. Yours are slightly better than normal IMO.
I wore a cgm for 4 months on my last growth phase.
My fasting bg was usually mid 90s but my A1c was 5.2.
I would advise a fasting insulin test next go round though as elevated fasting glucose can be the canary in the coal mine and the fasting insulin test will pick that up.
A lower carb diet can also lead to higher fasted blood sugar as the release of ffa will cause carbs to not be readily burned for energy.
