Cholesterol, diabetes and liver blood test
This category brings together profiles related to glucose and diabetes, cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, fatty liver and some endocrine causes of hypertension. These problems are connected through metabolism, but each test answers a different question.
At Análisis Médicos we have separated those questions so that a cholesterol check is not confused with a diabetes diagnosis, or a liver assessment with a hormone blood test for hypertension. The right breadth depends on the goal, not on always choosing the profile with the most tests.
Cholesterol, diabetes and liver blood tests
If you are not sure which one suits you, there is a guide below the list to help you choose.
- Análisis MédicosInsulin resistance blood testDr. Antonio Mas€59.00
Insulin resistance blood test (HOMA-IR)
Insulin resistance blood test with glucose, fasting insulin, glycated haemoglobin and the HOMA-IR index. It looks at how the body regulates blood sugar before an abnormality becomes obvious in a conventional blood test and, at the same time, checks whether there are signs of prediabetes or diabetes.
- Análisis MédicosDiagnosing diabetes with a glucose tolerance testDr. Antonio Mas€79.00
Blood test for diagnosing diabetes with a glucose tolerance test
Blood test for diagnosing diabetes with fasting glucose, glycated haemoglobin and a glucose curve after a 75 gram oral glucose load. It brings together the three laboratory criteria recognised by the guidelines and can reveal abnormalities that may not show up in a single fasting glucose. It requires an appointment and staying about two hours at the partner centre.
- Appointment required
- Análisis MédicosAnnual diabetes checkDr. Antonio Mas€109.00
Annual diabetes check
Blood test for the annual diabetes check with glucose and glycated haemoglobin, kidney function, urine albumin/creatinine ratio, cholesterol, liver function, full blood count, vitamin B12 and other monitoring parameters. It is designed to bring together the most important periodic checks for diabetes that has already been diagnosed in a single sample.
- For follow-up
- Análisis MédicosCardiovascular risk blood test with ApoB and Lp(a)Dr. Antonio Mas€179.00
Cardiovascular risk blood test with ApoB and Lp(a)
Cardiovascular risk blood test with ApoB, ApoA-I, lipoprotein(a), high-sensitivity CRP and a full cholesterol profile, plus TSH and kidney function. It looks at the number of atherogenic particles, identifies a raised Lp(a) of mainly genetic origin and adds context when LDL cholesterol alone does not explain risk well.
- First line
- Análisis MédicosFatty liver assessmentDr. Antonio Mas€99.00
Fatty liver assessment (MASLD)
Blood test to assess fatty liver, also known as hepatic steatosis or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). It includes transaminases, the FIB-4 index, glucose, glycated haemoglobin, cholesterol, iron metabolism, TSH and hepatitis B and C serology. It assesses the metabolic component, estimates the risk of fibrosis and looks for other causes that can coexist with fat build-up in the liver.
- Análisis MédicosHypertension with an endocrine causeDr. Antonio Mas€149.00
Hypertension with an endocrine cause
Blood test to investigate a possible endocrine cause of hypertension: primary aldosteronism. It includes aldosterone, renin, the aldosterone/renin ratio, sodium, potassium and kidney function. The preparation should be coordinated by the doctor who manages your blood pressure, because several antihypertensive medicines and low potassium can alter the result.
- Requires a medical indication
- Análisis MédicosLDL cholesterol particle sizeDr. Antonio Mas€123.00
LDL cholesterol particle size (Liposcale®)
Liposcale® blood test that uses nuclear magnetic resonance to measure the number, size and composition of the particles that carry cholesterol. It provides a detailed analysis of LDL, HDL and VLDL subclasses, although its usual value is limited compared with simpler measures such as ApoB.
- Secondary relevance
How it works
You can order our cholesterol, blood sugar and liver blood tests yourself, and almost all of them without your doctor having to request them:
- Price
- From €59.00
- Prescription
- Depends on the test
- Appointment
- Depends on the test
- Results
- 1 to 10 working days
- Your test request, in minutes. Order the profile you want and it arrives in your inbox straight away, with the preparation instructions.
- Wherever suits you. You can have your test at any of the 45 partner centres, and the laboratory emails you the results within a few days. Tests that need an appointment say so on their page.
- With an invoice. When you order, you receive an invoice you can submit if you have reimbursement health insurance. How it works, step by step.
How to choose between these blood tests
This is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation: it is the reasoning I would use to choose, in case it helps you decide which one to order.
To assess glucose and insulin, the insulin resistance profile allows HOMA-IR to be calculated. It is a complementary estimate and does not diagnose insulin resistance on its own. If the question is to confirm or exclude diabetes with a glucose tolerance test, the right profile is the diabetes diagnosis test, which requires an appointment.
If diabetes has already been diagnosed, the annual diabetes check brings together markers of control and of possible complications. It does not replace clinical follow-up and is not designed as an initial diagnostic test.
To extend the assessment of cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, the profile with ApoB and lipoprotein(a) adds information that LDL cholesterol does not always reflect. Liposcale analyses particle size and number and is marked as a secondary test.
To assess fatty liver, the liver and metabolic profile brings together liver enzymes, platelets and metabolic markers. For hypertension with a suspected endocrine cause, the specific profile requires a well-founded indication and rigorous preparation.
Dr. Antonio Mas
Four questions within one category
Glucose, glycated haemoglobin and insulin describe different aspects of carbohydrate metabolism. Glycated haemoglobin summarises average exposure to glucose over the previous weeks. The glucose tolerance test looks at the response after taking a measured amount of glucose.
In the lipid assessment, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides make up the usual profile. ApoB approximates the number of atherogenic particles, and lipoprotein(a) is a mainly genetic factor that is usually enough to measure at least once in adult life.
Liver enzymes give information about the liver, but on their own they do not quantify fat or replace an imaging test. The hormone assessment of hypertension belongs to a different question and can be altered by medication, posture, time of day and preparation.
What the advanced tests add
An advanced test makes sense when it adds a piece that can change the assessment. ApoB and lipoprotein(a) can refine risk beyond conventional cholesterol. Liposcale offers a more detailed analysis of the particles, but it is not the first step for everyone.
The FIB-4 index uses age, AST, ALT and platelets to estimate the risk of liver fibrosis. It gives an approximate figure, does not diagnose fibrosis and does not replace the tests that may be indicated afterwards.
What these blood tests do not replace
They do not replace blood pressure measurement, urgent assessment of chest pain or other acute symptoms, or scheduled diabetes reviews. Nor do they turn an isolated insulin or cholesterol result into an automatic treatment recommendation.
Before your blood test
Most of these profiles require 8 to 12 hours of fasting. You can drink water. Avoid alcohol and intense exercise the day before.
The glucose tolerance test for diagnosing diabetes requires an appointment and staying at the centre for the duration of the test.
The assessment of an endocrine cause of hypertension has specific instructions about time of day, posture and medicines that can interfere. Check its profile page before ordering it, and do not stop any medicine on your own.
Frequently asked questions
- Does HOMA-IR diagnose insulin resistance?
- Not on its own. It is a calculation based on fasting glucose and insulin that provides an estimate and has to be interpreted within the clinical context.
- Does glycated haemoglobin require fasting?
- The test on its own does not, but the profiles in this category include other parameters that do require fasting.
- What are ApoB and lipoprotein(a) for?
- ApoB helps estimate the number of atherogenic particles. Lipoprotein(a) gives information about a mainly genetic risk factor.
- Does the fatty liver blood test confirm that there is fat in the liver?
- No. It provides liver and metabolic data and allows approximate indices to be calculated, but fat and fibrosis may require other tests.
- Can all these tests be done without an appointment?
- No. The glucose tolerance test requires an appointment. Each profile page says whether you have to book and how to prepare.
If you already have your results
A figure only makes sense in its context. Medical history, symptoms, medication and the conditions of the sample can change what it means. Results are assessed in a consultation; this page is for comparing and ordering profiles.
The laboratory sends you the results directly. You can then review them with the professional of your choice.
See cholesterol, blood sugar and liver blood tests
Guide reviewed by Dr. Antonio Mas, specialist in Endocrinology and Nutrition, Spanish medical licence no. 080846289, in September 2026.
And if you were looking for something else, here are all the blood tests in the catalogue, grouped by topic.