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What Labs Should You Monitor on GLP-1s? A Complete Biomarker Guide
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10 min
Weight loss

Get expert guidance and a personalized care plan designed around you.
If You Choose to Start Monitoring
If you and your provider decide that some baseline testing makes sense before starting GLP-1 therapy, common initial tests might include:
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) covering kidney function, liver enzymes, electrolytes, and glucose. Hemoglobin A1C if you have diabetes, prediabetes, or risk factors. Lipid panel if you have cardiovascular risk or high cholesterol. TSH if you have thyroid conditions or take thyroid medication. These baseline values provide comparison points for monitoring changes during treatment.
Some providers also check vitamin D, B12, and iron at baseline if nutritional deficiencies are suspected, though this is optional.
The decision about which baseline tests (if any) should be based on your individual health history and goals, not a standardized protocol applied to everyone.
Ongoing Monitoring: Frequency and Selection
If you start with baseline testing, ongoing monitoring frequency depends on what you are tracking and why.
For people with diabetes: A1C every three to six months helps track blood sugar improvements. More frequent testing makes sense if your diabetes treatment is changing or you are not meeting glucose targets. Less frequent testing (every six months) is appropriate when blood sugar is stable and well-controlled.
For people with kidney or liver concerns: Kidney and liver function tests every three to six months during active weight loss, then less frequently once weight stabilizes. More frequent monitoring if baseline function is abnormal.
For people tracking metabolic improvements: Lipid panels every six to 12 months can document cardiovascular risk factor improvements. A1C at six to 12 months can show whether prediabetes is resolving.
For people on thyroid medication: TSH every three to six months during active weight loss if taking levothyroxine, as weight changes can affect thyroid hormone requirements.
These are general patterns, not requirements. Your provider can help determine what monitoring schedule (if any) makes sense for your situation.
What Improvements You Might See in Labs
For people who do choose lab monitoring, understanding what improvements are commonly seen helps set expectations.
GLP-1 medications in people with prediabetes often improve A1C into the normal range (below 5.7%). Clinical trials showed 84% to 85% of people with baseline prediabetes achieved normal A1C after 68 weeks of semaglutide treatment.
Weight loss generally improves lipid profiles with decreases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increases in HDL (good) cholesterol. These changes reduce cardiovascular risk.
Liver enzymes (ALT, AST) often improve in people with fatty liver disease as weight loss reduces liver fat. Studies show maximum ALT reduction occurs around 30 weeks of GLP-1 treatment.
Inflammatory markers like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) typically decrease with weight loss and GLP-1 treatment, reflecting reduced systemic inflammation.
For people with diabetes taking GLP-1s, kidney function markers like urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio may improve, suggesting kidney protective effects, though the magnitude of benefit is less than with some other diabetes medications like SGLT2 inhibitors.
Not everyone sees identical improvements. Individual results vary based on baseline health status, amount of weight lost, lifestyle changes, and other factors.
The Bottom Line
Lab testing on GLP-1 medications is a tool, not a requirement. For many people taking these medications for weight loss, clinical monitoring (how you feel, weight trends, side effects) provides sufficient information without lab work.
For others with specific health conditions or goals, selective lab testing offers valuable data that guides treatment decisions and documents health improvements. The key is making informed decisions about what monitoring makes sense for your individual situation rather than following a one-size-fits-all protocol.
At Mochi Health, we recognize that every person’s health journey is unique. Our providers work with you to determine what monitoring (if any) makes sense based on your health status, goals, and preferences. Labs are never required for GLP-1 treatment, but if you and your provider decide testing would be helpful, we can facilitate appropriate lab orders. The decision is always based on shared decision-making about what serves your individual needs.
Beyond GLP-1 medications, we offer comprehensive weight management support including registered dietitian nutritionists who can help ensure you are meeting nutritional needs during weight loss, and access to medications that support various aspects of your health. You can explore treatment options at https://joinmochi.com/medications.
Check Your Eligibility
If you want to learn whether GLP-1 treatment is right for you and receive personalized guidance from providers who understand individualized approaches to monitoring and care, you can start by completing Mochi’s eligibility questionnaire. Check your eligibility.
References:
American Diabetes Association. (2023). Standards of medical care in diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care, 46(Supplement 1), S1-S291. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-Sint
Davies, M., Færch, L., Jeppesen, O. K., Pakseresht, A., Pedersen, S. D., Perreault, L., Rosenstock, J., Shimomura, I., Viljoen, A., Wadden, T. A., & Lingvay, I. (2021). Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): A randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet, 397(10278), 971-984. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00213-0
Garvey, W. T., Frias, J. P., Jastreboff, A. M., le Roux, C. W., Sattar, N., Aizenberg, D., Mao, H., Zhang, S., Ahmad, N. N., Bunck, M. C., Benabbad, I., Zhang, X. M., Hope, K., Haluzík, M., & SURMOUNT-2 Investigators. (2023). Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (SURMOUNT-2): A double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet, 402(10402), 613-626. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01200-X
National Kidney Foundation. (2025). GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/glp-1-receptor-agonists-glp-1-ras
Perreault, L., Davies, M., Frias, J. P., Laursen, P. N., Lingvay, I., Machineni, S., Varbo, A., Wilding, J. P. H., Wallenstein, S. O. R., & le Roux, C. W. (2023). Changes in glucose metabolism and glycemic status with once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg among participants with prediabetes in the STEP program. Diabetes Care, 46(12), 2252-2262. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-1785
Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Calanna, S., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Lingvay, I., McGowan, B. M., Rosenstock, J., Tran, M. T. D., Wadden, T. A., Wharton, S., Yokote, K., Zeuthen, N., & Kushner, R. F. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989-1002. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Consult with healthcare providers about whether lab monitoring is appropriate for your individual health needs and circumstances while taking GLP-1 medications.
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