Our GLP-1 Therapy Start Smart Panel Explained
What are the tests in the GLP-1 Therapy Start Smart Panel?
Your essential health check before starting GLP-1 Therapy for weight loss
Before you begin your GLP-1 Therapy journey, it's important to make sure your body is ready. The GLP-1 Therapy Start Smart Panel includes six essential lab tests designed to check for underlying conditions that could affect your results, or even make GLP-1 medications unsafe to use.
This quick and convenient blood panel helps your healthcare provider identify any hidden issues with your blood sugar, liver, kidneys, cholesterol, or thyroid, all of which can impact your ability to lose weight or respond well to medication.
Full package: R1,547
What’s Inside the Start Smart Panel?
1. Pancreatic Health (Amylase & Lipase)
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Why it’s vital: GLP-1 medications work directly on the metabolic system. Since the pancreas is involved in this process, it is standard medical practice to check these enzymes to ensure your pancreas is healthy before starting and to have a baseline for future comparison.
2. Thyroid Function (FT3 & FT4)
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The Metabolic Engine: GLP-1 medications can influence your metabolic rate. Checking your Free T3 and Free T4 ensures there are no underlying thyroid issues that might interfere with your weight-loss results or contraindicate the use of the medication.
3. Insulin Dynamics (Insulin Fasting & C-Peptide)
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Insulin Fasting: Measures how hard your body is working to manage blood sugar.
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C-Peptide: This is the most accurate way to measure how much insulin your body is naturally producing.
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The Goal: Together, these markers help your doctor determine your level of insulin resistance and provide a benchmark to see how much your metabolic health improves during treatment.
Recomended-Add Ons
TSH & Thyroid Antibodies: Vital Safety Check. GLP-1 medications are contraindicated in people with a history of specific rare thyroid cancers. A full thyroid screen ensures you are a safe candidate for the drug.
Who Should Get This Panel?
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Pre-Treatment Screening: Anyone who has been prescribed a GLP-1 agonist and needs baseline labs.
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Metabolic Tracking: Those who have already started treatment but didn’t get a baseline for insulin or pancreatic enzymes.
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Dose Adjustment: Individuals looking to move to a higher dose who want to ensure their organs are tolerating the medication well.
Critical Note: You must be fasted for at least 10 hours for the Insulin and C-Peptide results to be accurate. Avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours before the test to prevent temporary fluctuations in pancreatic enzymes.
Book with Epicentre
For over 20 years Epicentre has been studying wellness in South Africa. We are a company founded on a vision, ending disease in South Africa! So we believe in making an IMPACT.
We are an independent organization that is committed to creating a positive impact on health & wellness for all in South Africa. We want to close the gap between unscreened, undiagnosed, and uncontrolled HIV & COVID-19 infections as well as other chronic diseases for all South Africans.
By booking your tests with Epicentre, you are supporting a real local company that has worked for decades in all 9 provinces, from Pollsmoor prison to Constantia; & you’re getting a gold standard service that experts trust!
