Basic Metabolic Panel

• 1). Evaluating the glucose in your blood is important, especially if you are at risk for diabetes. Your doctor may request that you fast before she takes your blood. Fasting glucose levels should be in the range of 70 to 99 mg/dL. Non-fasting glucose should range between 64 and 128 mg/dL. Higher than normal values may indicate pre-diabetes or pancreatitis. Lower than normal values may be caused by not consuming enough food or from fasting for a long period of time.
  
  
• 2). Creatinine is measured to evaluate renal, or kidney, function. Normal creatinine levels range between 0.6 and 1.2 mg/dL in men and 0.5 and 1.1 mg/dL in women.
  
  
• 3). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is measured to evaluate your renal function, also known as kidney function. Your BUN should range from 5 to 20 mg or urea nitrogen/dL. Depending on your lab, your results may also be listed in the normal range of 1.8 to 7 mmol/L.
  
  
• 4). Calcium is important for strong bones. Your doctor will want to know your total calcium, which should range between 8.5 and 10.5 mg/dL.
  
  
• 5). Sodium levels can affect many functions in your body, most importantly heart health. Normal sodium levels range between 135 and 145 mEq/L. Your doctor may want to know your sodium levels if you are having problems with high or low blood pressure.
  
  
• 6). Potassium levels are also contained in your BMP under the serum electrolytes. Normal potassium levels of 3.6 to 5 mEq/L are vital for living cells. Low potassium levels can cause weakness or fatigue.
  
  
• 7). Carbon dioxide bicarbonate may be listed under the serum electrolytes portion of your BMP. It may be listed as HCO-3 or total CO2. Normal values are 21 to 31 mEq/L. This molecule is important for transporting oxygen into the red blood cells.
  
  
• 8). Chloride is also part of the serum electrolytes and may be listed as Cl-. Normal values of chloride are 101 to 111 mEq/L. Chloride functions in food metabolism.