The moment a blood test report lands in your WhatsApp, you scan it for anything in red. That is a fine instinct — but not every red flag is a real one, and not every 'normal' number is truly normal for you. Here is a plain-English walk-through of the three panels every family sees most often: CBC, lipids and blood sugar.
- Reference ranges are population averages — your history matters more.
- Trends across two or three reports say more than a single value.
- Slightly low haemoglobin in women is common but still worth investigating.
- LDL and HbA1c are the two numbers to obsess about after 35.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The CBC is a snapshot of your red cells, white cells and platelets. Haemoglobin below 12 in women or 13 in men suggests anaemia — very common in Indian adults and almost always fixable. A high white cell count usually means recent or ongoing infection. Platelets outside 150,000–450,000 warrant a repeat test before any conclusion.
Lipid profile — cholesterol
LDL is the number that matters most. Under 100 is ideal; under 70 if you are diabetic or have known heart disease. HDL above 40 in men and 50 in women is protective. Triglycerides above 150 indicate lifestyle-related risk. Total cholesterol on its own is a weak indicator — always look at the components.
Blood sugar — fasting, PP and HbA1c
Fasting sugar under 100 mg/dL is normal, 100–125 is pre-diabetes, 126 or above (on two occasions) is diabetes. Post-prandial sugar should stay under 140. HbA1c gives you a three-month average and is the single most useful number — under 5.7% is normal, 5.7–6.4% is pre-diabetes, 6.5% or above is diabetes.
When to actually worry
- Haemoglobin below 10.
- LDL above 160 or triglycerides above 200.
- HbA1c above 6.5% on a repeat test.
- Any two consecutive reports moving in the wrong direction.
Frequently asked
Have a personal question about this?
Book a short consultation with Dr. B.P. Singh at Sanjeevani Clinic Pvt. Ltd., or WhatsApp us and we will guide you.