Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

Can someone please make sense of these insulin resistance lab results for me?
I’m 24, taking Belformin 2 x500, and managing hypothyroidism on top of that.
I weigh about 110 pounds.

Here are the results:

Glucose is at 5.0. Normal range is 4.2 to 6.0. Everything looks fine.

Insulin levels are at 5.6. The normal range is 2.6 to 24.9.

Beta cell activity is at 84.3%, which is still under that 100% mark.

Peripheral insulin sensitivity is at 119.3%. That's over 100%.

Insulin resistance index is 0.8—well under the 1.0 threshold.

Hey there.
So, my 5.5-year-old just came back with an eosinophil count sitting at 37%. I don't have the rest of the lab results handy because I was just squinting at this one specific part on my phone, but we’ve already got a follow-up scheduled with the pediatrician first thing Monday morning. We're going to jump straight into stool samples for parasites, a repeat CBC, and an abdominal ultrasound to see what's going on. Aside from the obvious stuff like parasitic infections or typical allergies, what kind of "specific conditions" could actually cause such a massive spike away from the normal range?

Hannah Hernandez9 said:I’ve had some inverse blood counts before—like my lymphocyte percentage hitting 47%—but over the last few years, it’s stayed under 35%. This looks like absolute lymphocytosis to me. I’m under massive stress right now and haven't slept a wink; could that be the cause?🙂

At first glance, nothing jumps out, but when you calculate the absolute lymphocyte count, you're correct—it falls into absolute lymphocytosis territory. There is such a thing as "stress-induced lymphocytosis," though I doubt a single sleepless night would trigger this specific shift. The count isn't high enough to suggest an emergency. However, you didn't mention why the labs were ordered in the first place.

slystag4 said:Question.

RBC 3.38 (3.86-5.08)
Hematocrit 0.311 (0.356-0.470)
MCH 37.5 (27.4-33.9)
MCHC 408 (320-345)
RDW 19.1% (9-15%)
UIBC 68 (26-59)
TIBC 80 (49-75)

The values above are either low or high, but given

hemoglobin 127 (119-157)
Iron 13 (8-30)

I assume it's all fine. Is it?

First, explain why you had bloodwork done and if you're feeling any symptoms. Also, is there any chance you might be pregnant?

Ashley Taylor46 said:Could someone help me make sense of these insulin resistance results?
I'm 24, taking Belformin 2 x500, and also managing hypothyroidism.
I weigh about 108–117 lbs.

The results are:

Glucose 5.0 (4.2-6)

Insulin 5.6 (2.6-24.9)

Pancreatic beta cell activity 84.3% (
Peripheral insulin sensitivity 119.3% (>100%)

Insulin resistance index 0.8 (div>

Everything looks fine here.

For context, I'll include an answer I gave to a similar question previously:

Maria Fisher46 said:Hello,

There isn't one single, universally agreed-upon "normal" range for HOMA-IR. You'll see different ranges depending on which medical textbook or study you consult, but generally, a value above 2.0 is where we start talking about insulin resistance. In other words, if that index climbs north of 2.0, there's an issue.

Ideally, you want those values closer to 1.

Beta cell activity indicates how much insulin is being produced, while peripheral sensitivity measures how effectively that insulin actually works.

With insulin resistance, production goes up to compensate for efficiency dropping. This means you'd typically see higher beta cell activity paired with lower peripheral sensitivity.

Emily Ortiz27 said:Hi.
A 5.5-year-old child just came back with an eosinophil count of 37%. I don't have the rest of the labs handy because I was just glancing at the results on my phone, but we have a follow-up with the pediatrician this Monday. We're planning to run stool tests for parasites, repeat the CBC, and do an abdominal ultrasound. Aside from parasites or allergies, what other "specific conditions" could cause such a massive deviation from the norm?

Here is a solid, professional article containing tables and guidelines—covering causes, necessary testing, and so on. Pay close attention to tables 1, 2, and 3. Let me know if anything remains unclear.

Maria Fisher46 said:It doesn't look like much at first glance, but if you actually crunch the absolute lymphocyte count, yeah, you're right—it’s absolute lymphocytosis. There is such a thing as "stress lymphocytosis," but I highly doubt a single sleepless night is enough to trigger this. The count isn't high enough to be an emergency, though. You didn't mention why you even had the blood drawn in the first place.

I rechecked the results two days later: L 7, ly 33%..

Maria Fisher46 said:First off, could you clarify why you had the blood drawn and if you're experiencing any symptoms? Also, is there any chance you might be pregnant?

It was just for a routine physical.
I’m not pregnant.
I don't eat meat.
Otherwise, I’m perfectly healthy and haven't really been feeling any issues.

I need answers on this. My entire lab report looks perfect except for my CRP, which is sitting at 8. White blood cell count and urine tests are totally fine... just that CRP. Some people are saying it’s probably just a virus or some minor inflammation somewhere. What kind of virus actually does that? I'm confused.

Hey everyone.

Has anyone else dealt with this crap? Please tell me I'm not losing my mind because aaaaa....I'm going crazy.
Blood work looks fine, but my urine test shows blood. My CRP and white cell counts are totally normal, so nothing is elevated. It hurts like hell when I pee, and on Sunday, I actually saw blood. Everything feels fine for two days, then suddenly it just kills me again. My doctor says it’s not an infection since my CRP and white cells are normal. Now I'm stuck waiting on the urine culture results for a few more days. 😢

Nicholas Myers, I am reaching out because I could really use some insight. About a month ago, I started experiencing discomfort in my upper right abdomen, with the sensation occasionally radiating downward. It wasn't an excruciating pain—nothing that required immediate medication—but rather a persistent, nagging annoyance. However, once I began paying closer attention—largely because I read how many different conditions can manifest this way—the discomfort started spreading toward the center and sometimes even over to the left side. On top of that, I’ve been dealing with back pain between my shoulder blades, which sometimes migrates down to my lower back. Honestly, the back pain is the most debilitating part, even during times when the abdominal area feels fine. I went to see my primary care physician, who performed a physical exam; everything felt normal to the touch and there was no palpable swelling or enlargement. I am currently waiting for an ultrasound appointment scheduled for this Friday.

MY URINALYSIS RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Urine Color: Yellow Ref Value: Light yellow
Clear urine
pH Level: 5 (right at the lower limit)
Specific Gravity within ref. range
Bilirubin - negative. Ref value - negative
Nitrites - negative. Ref value - negative
ketone - negative. Ref value - negative
Protein - negative. Ref value - negative
Glucose - negative. Ref value - negative
Erythrocytes/Hemoglobin - negative. Ref value - negative

MICROSCOPIC URINE FINDINGS:

Leukocytes 6 H REF VAL. 0-2
Erythrocytes 3 H. REF VAL. 0-2
Squamous epithelial cells 11 REF VAL 0-1
MUCUS - trace (+)

What could these results indicate, and should I be concerned?

Megan Jones27 said:Here is another set of results after a few months... (from today/Tuesday)

It’s still the same thing!

Neutrophils: 34.0 L (44-72)
Lymphocytes: 53.5 H (20-46)

So it has shifted even more since last time.

By pure coincidence, I had blood drawn on Friday too (my OBGYN sent me—by the way, from her side everything looks fine, she did an exam and an ultrasound), and you can see a clear difference within those few days.

Here are a few results for comparison (the first one is from nine days before delivery when everything was normal)

From left to right—older vs. newer results.

11/12/2014 / 01/15/2015 / 02/13/2015 / 02/17/2015

WBC: 8.3 / 6.5 / 6.8 / 5.5
Eosinophils: 0.7 / none / 3.1 / 6.4
Basophils: 0.2 / none / 0.1 / 0.2
Neutrophils: 61.3 / 38.4 / 36.1 / 34.0
Lymphocytes: 29.7 / 50.7 / 54.2 / 53.5
Monocytes: 8.1 / none / 6.5 / 5.9

Lower back and abdominal pain are still present... sometimes more, sometimes less, along with general weakness during the pain episodes. For the last couple of days, my stools have been loose with some tiny black specks (???). Pain is also present during bowel movements. Stomach cramping...

Occasional itching on my head, face, etc...

I started taking the probiotic Ferzym plus.

My primary care doctor says my results are normal (though I'm not so sure), but she gave me referrals for a stool test for bacteria and parasites, and an imaging scan for my spine (since I have scoliosis).

I would also like to get a color Doppler abdominal ultrasound. In the US, waiting for that through insurance might take months (if they even do it), so I will probably go privately to see Dr. Tarle Bajic. Possibly further blood work with a hematologist later on.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts... Thank you.

Megan Jones27 said:Adding a few more symptoms... Itching on my scalp, mostly at the back, and on my face (it used to be behind my chin and on my neck too)... Little bumps appear that feel like mosquito bites. Sometimes it happens on my arms as well. Recently, I've also felt stinging sensations under my armpits.🤔

Something viral, immunological, allergies, parasites...???

I'll just have to see what the next round of tests shows.

Maria Fisher46 said:Wait for the results of the completed testing. If they come back negative, it would be wise to consult a gastroenterologist. The CBC isn't perfectly normal, but it doesn't deviate enough to require emergency intervention.

Here is the link to the most recent results (complete blood panel):http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...d957de27e3.jpg

The ratio of lymphocytes to neutrophil granulocytes looks slightly improved...

I expect to have about two bowel movements throughout the day.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance!

Hey there.

I just got my full blood work back today. My ALPHA AMYLASE levels came in at 96 (the lab range is 28-91). Is this something I should actually worry about?

Could someone please help me make sense of these urine sediment results?
Leukocytes 10
Epithelial cells 1
Thanks much

I won't repeat my previous posts, but I should add that my stool sample came back looking normal. Tests for bacteria (like salmonella or shigella) and parasites were all NEGATIVE.

The only thing I don't understand is why they only tested for those two specific bacteria when it feels like there could be much more going on. 🤷

I'm really not sure what my next step should be. I plan to repeat the colonoscopy in a few months... I think I'll skip the barium swallow since I'm breastfeeding and I'm worried about how that radiation might affect things.

I would like to get a color Doppler abdominal ultrasound, but it seems like you can only get that through private clinics here; if I go through my insurance, I'll likely just get a standard ultrasound with a months-long waiting list.

To be honest, I'm dreading the gastroenterologist appointment for the endoscopy... If I had to choose between the two, I’d much rather have a colonoscopy.

I keep having these false sensations of hunger, which I suspect are actually signs of excess acid and slow digestion. I'd love to take some Nexium or a similar antacid/PPI, but I'm still unsure what's considered safe while breastfeeding.

Why don't you just go see a hematologist?

slystag4 said:The systematic review is the reason.
I am not pregnant.
I don't eat meat.
Otherwise, I'm healthy; no issues.

There is a discrepancy in your results between the hemoglobin levels and the other CBC parameters. It might be wise to repeat the test. Certain factors can interfere with the measurement process, leading to false highs or lows in both hemoglobin and related values.

redcyclist7 said:I'm curious about this. Basically, the entire panel looks fine except for the CRP, which is at 8. White blood cell count and urine work are all okay... just that CRP. Some people suggest it could be a virus or a minor inflammation somewhere. What kind of virus could cause that? I'm confused.

What was the reason for the blood work? Are you experiencing any symptoms?

amberskipper10 said:Hi everyone.

Please share your experiences if you've dealt with something similar, because I am losing my mind here.
Blood work is fine, but there is blood in my urine—yet the CRP and white blood cells are normal, so nothing is elevated. It hurts when I pee, and on Sunday, I saw blood. Two days go by where everything feels fine, no symptoms, and then it hits me again. My doctor said it isn't an infection since the CRP and white blood cells are normal. I'm waiting on the urine culture results, which should be back in a few days.😢

With bladder infections, CRP and white blood cell counts don't necessarily have to be elevated; sometimes the only indicator is the urinalysis itself. What did the urine sediment show specifically? There is also hemorrhagic cystitis, where bladder inflammation presents with blood in the urine. Of course, blood in the urine doesn't always point to inflammation; there could be other underlying causes.

Angela Moore63 said:URINE ANALYSIS RESULTS:
Color: yellow | Ref range: pale yellow
Clear urine
pH level: 5 (right at the lower limit)
Specific gravity within normal range
Bilirubin - negative. Ref range: negative
Nitrites - negative. Ref range: negative
ketone - negative. Ref range: negative
Protein - negative. Ref range: negative
Glucose - negative. Ref range: negative
Erythrocytes/hemoglobin - negative. Ref range: negative

MICROSCOPIC URINALYSIS FINDINGS:

Leukocytes 6 H REF RANGE 0-2
Erythrocytes 3 H. REF RANGE 0-2
Squamous epithelial cells 11 REF RANGE 0-1
MUCUS - trace (+)

What could these results mean? Should I be worried?

Get an ultrasound done regardless, and you should repeat the urine test. There are quite a few squamous epithelial cells present, which suggests the sample might not have been collected properly—specifically, it likely wasn't a midstream catch. Are you experiencing any discomfort when you urinate?

Megan Jones27 said:Here is the link to the latest labs (full blood panel): http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...d957de27e3.jpg

The lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio looks a bit better...

The CBC looks mostly fine. However, your phosphorus and calcium levels are elevated... Are you taking any supplements or medications?

Megan Jones27 said:I won't re-quote my previous posts; I'll just add that the stool sample came back clear. Bacteria (Salmonella, Shigella) and parasites were NEGATIVE.

The only thing I don't get is why they only tested for those two bacteria if there are obviously more possibilities. 🤷

It depends on the lab, but typically routine panels cover Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, and sometimes E. coli.

Gregory Kim5 said:Hi there.

I just picked up my full blood work today. My ALPHA AMYLASE levels are elevated at 96 (normal range is 28-91). Is this something to worry about?

And what was the reason for running these tests?

Scott Lee6 said:Can someone explain these urinalysis results for me?
WBC 10
epithelial cells 1
thanks

The context matters—why were the tests ordered in the first place? These numbers could point toward a urinary tract infection, but they don't always guarantee one is present.

Maria Fisher46 said:Your blood work looks almost perfect. However, your phosphorus and calcium levels are elevated... Are you currently taking any supplements or medications?

The only thing I’m taking is Ferzym plus probiotic.

Do you have any idea what might be causing those high levels?

Could it be related to diet, kidneys, or maybe the thyroid?..

Maria Fisher46 said:So what was the point of running those tests?

I was just in for a routine checkup since my Crohn's is currently in remission. I'm on Azathioprine.

Maria Fisher46 said:You definitely need to get an ultrasound, and you should probably redo the urinalysis. The presence of numerous squamous epithelial cells suggests the sample might not have been collected properly—specifically, you might not have caught the midstream flow. Are you experiencing any discomfort or irritation when you urinate?

I went in for an abdominal ultrasound, and everything came back pristine. The doctor told me it looks perfect; kidneys are fine, ureters are clear, and my gallbladder, liver, and spleen all look like they're in top shape. About two months ago, I had blood work done as well, which also showed nothing out of the ordinary. Today, I received my urine culture results—completely sterile. Back in September of last year, I dealt with an E. coli infection, but I managed to clear that up using Bactrim and some probiotic drops. Since then, I’ve had at least five or six different urine cultures, and every single one has been sterile.

Regarding urination, I sometimes get this sensation like I haven't completely emptied my bladder, even though there's nothing left in there. I also deal with frequent mild vaginal inflammation, which I manage with various over-the-counter treatments. My Pap smear was normal, and I recently had a gynecological exam where the doctor said everything looked perfect.

Is it possible that the elevated red blood cells are due to the fact that I had my period just a few days before providing the sample? There wasn't any visible blood when I went; I was certain my period had ended, as there hadn't been any spotting for at least two or three days prior. Furthermore, I am extremely meticulous about hygiene.

I made sure to let the initial stream go into the toilet and collected only the midstream portion into the sterile container after thoroughly washing my hands.

The reason I sought an abdominal ultrasound in the first place was due to some dull pains in my lower back and upper abdomen. However, the doctor insisted my abdomen is in perfect condition and suggested the pain might just be muscular. But once I showed him the urinalysis, he mentioned it could potentially indicate some sort of inflammation. I will certainly be requesting a repeat test... 😵 thanks! 😉