Heart & metabolic

Triglycerides test

Triglycerides are the main fat in your blood, and they rise fast with sugar, alcohol and insulin resistance.

Included in every $199 draw

Key benefits of triglyceride testing

Shows how your body handles carbs, sugar and alcohol.
Can flag insulin resistance early, especially as a triglyceride/HDL ratio.
Adds heart-risk information beyond LDL.
Catches very high levels that can inflame the pancreas.
Responds quickly to diet and exercise, so it’s easy to track progress.

What are triglycerides?

Triglycerides are fats made from the calories you don’t burn right away, especially from sugar, refined carbs and alcohol. Your liver packages them into particles that carry them through your blood to be stored in fat cells.

Why triglycerides matter

High triglycerides usually travel with insulin resistance, fatty liver and low HDL. Together they raise the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Very high levels, above 500 mg/dL, can trigger pancreatitis.

What your triglyceride results mean

Below 150 mg/dL: normal on a standard panel.
150 to 199 mg/dL: borderline high. Can be an early sign of insulin resistance.
200 to 499 mg/dL: high. Linked to higher heart and metabolic risk.
500 mg/dL or above: very high. Needs prompt physician review because of pancreatitis risk.
Context matters: a meal, alcohol in the past 24 hours or skipping your fast can raise the result sharply.

Standard vs. optimal range

	Range
Standard lab range	Below 150 mg/dL
Insyght optimal range	Set by the Insyght medical team

LowHigh

Lab reference rangeYour optimal range

A value can read normal on a standard panel and still sit outside optimal. Insyght flags it.

Do I need a triglyceride test?

Crave sweets, drink most nights, or carry weight around your middle? Triglycerides show how your body is handling it, often before blood sugar changes.

See the pattern behind the number

Insyght tests triglycerides with HDL, ApoB, fasting insulin and the triglyceride/HDL ratio in one draw, reviewed by a physician. $199 a year.

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Similar biomarkers

Triglyceride/HDL ratioHDL-CApoB Fasting insulinAtherogenic index of plasma

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to fast for a triglyceride test?

Yes. Triglycerides rise after eating, so Insyght asks for an 8 to 12 hour fast. Skip alcohol the day before, too.

What causes high triglycerides?

Sugar, refined carbs, alcohol, extra body weight and insulin resistance are the most common causes. Some medications and genetics play a role.

How can I lower my triglycerides?

Cutting sugar, refined carbs and alcohol, moving daily and losing weight if needed can lower them within weeks.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Rishi Panchal, DO, FACC, Board-certified cardiologist, Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Last updated October 21, 2026.