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MERHI ONE — METABOLIC HEALTH

Metabolic health is a connected system—not a single score.

Understand how glucose regulation, lipoproteins, blood pressure, liver fat, muscle, adiposity, sleep, and daily behavior interact—without turning one biomarker into a diagnosis.

Explore the map Read the first article

Scientific core reviewedAugust 29, 2026

The metabolic map

Seven connected domains. Different questions, different measurements.

Each domain can affect the others, but correlation does not make every marker interchangeable.

Glucose regulation

Fasting glucose · A1C · oral glucose tolerance

Established tests identify prediabetes and diabetes. Each captures a different time window and can disagree.

Read prediabetes article →Read normal glucose article →

Insulin resistance

Clinical phenotype · selected insulin measures · research methods

A biological continuum. Routine diagnosis is not defined by one universal fasting-insulin or HOMA-IR cutoff.

Read insulin resistance article →Compare metabolic syndrome and HOMA-IR →

Atherogenic lipoproteins

LDL-C · non-HDL-C · ApoB · triglycerides · Lp(a)

Cardiovascular risk is not summarized by glucose alone. Lipoprotein burden and global risk require their own assessment.

Read triglycerides and HDL article →

Blood pressure

Office · home · ambulatory measurements

Repeated, technically sound measurement matters more than one isolated reading.

Read blood pressure confirmation article →Read salt and blood pressure article →

Liver and MASLD

ALT/AST · platelets · FIB-4 · imaging when indicated

Fatty liver is a metabolic-risk signal, yet normal liver enzymes do not exclude it.

Read fatty liver and weight article →Read liver enzymes guide →Read alcohol, fatty liver, and MetALD article →

Body composition and function

Waist · weight trajectory · muscle · strength

Distribution and function can add context beyond BMI, without creating a universal ‘ideal’ body scan.

Read waist circumference article →

Sleep, movement, and nutrition

Sleep apnea risk · activity · diet pattern · alcohol

These are not background details: they can alter glucose, appetite, blood pressure, liver fat, and treatment feasibility.

Read sleep and sleep apnea article →Read alcohol dose and risks article →Read exercise beyond weight article →Read eating pattern article →

Our framework

Measure disease, risk, cause, and response separately.

A clear metabolic assessment distinguishes four layers instead of mixing them into one promise.

Disease

Are criteria for diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, MASLD, or another condition met?

Risk

What is the probability of future cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, or glycemic harm?

Drivers

Which modifiable and nonmodifiable factors plausibly contribute?

Response

Which validated outcomes will show whether a plan is helping?

First questions

Practical pages built from one governed evidence core.

What can a coronary calcium score add?

When CAC can inform a decision, what zero means, and the limits of the examination.

Read the coronary calcium guide →

Scientific foundation

Current professional and public-health guidance.

The overview uses disease-specific guidance. Individual articles carry claim-level citations, limitations, and review dates.

American Diabetes Association · 2026

Standards of Care in Diabetes — Diagnosis and Classification

Open source ↗02

American Diabetes Association · 2026

Prevention or Delay of Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities

Open source ↗03

Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes · 2026

Brazilian Diabetes Guideline

Open source ↗04

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force · 2021

Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Open source ↗05

AACE · 2026

Consensus Statement: Management of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Open source ↗

Editorial record

PublishedAugust 29, 2026

Scientific reviewAugust 29, 2026

Medical editorElias Tamer Merhi Júnior

ScopeGeneral health education

Metabolic health is a connected system—not a single score.

Seven connected domains. Different questions, different measurements.

Glucose regulation

Insulin resistance

Atherogenic lipoproteins

Blood pressure

Liver and MASLD

Body composition and function

Sleep, movement, and nutrition

Measure disease, risk, cause, and response separately.

Disease

Risk

Drivers

Response

Practical pages built from one governed evidence core.

What is insulin resistance—and how is it assessed?

Metabolic syndrome and HOMA-IR: are they the same thing?

Prediabetes: what do the criteria actually mean?

Do triglycerides and HDL diagnose insulin resistance?

What does waist circumference add after 40?

Can normal glucose hide metabolic risk?

How do sleep and sleep apnea affect metabolism?

Does one high reading mean hypertension?

Is high blood pressure always caused by salt?

Is fatty liver always caused by excess weight?

Is any amount of alcohol safe?

Alcohol, fatty liver, and MetALD: when does drinking change the diagnosis?

Can exercise improve metabolic health without weight loss?

Which eating pattern best supports metabolic health?

What can a coronary calcium score add?

Current professional and public-health guidance.

Standards of Care in Diabetes — Diagnosis and Classification

Prevention or Delay of Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities

Brazilian Diabetes Guideline

Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Consensus Statement: Management of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Metabolic health is a connected system—not a single score.

Seven connected domains. Different questions, different measurements.

Glucose regulation

Insulin resistance

Atherogenic lipoproteins

Blood pressure

Liver and MASLD

Body composition and function

Sleep, movement, and nutrition

Measure disease, risk, cause, and response separately.

Disease

Risk

Drivers

Response

Practical pages built from one governed evidence core.

What is insulin resistance—and how is it assessed?

Metabolic syndrome and HOMA-IR: are they the same thing?

Prediabetes: what do the criteria actually mean?

Do triglycerides and HDL diagnose insulin resistance?

What does waist circumference add after 40?

Can normal glucose hide metabolic risk?

How do sleep and sleep apnea affect metabolism?

Does one high reading mean hypertension?

Is high blood pressure always caused by salt?

Is fatty liver always caused by excess weight?

Is any amount of alcohol safe?

Alcohol, fatty liver, and MetALD: when does drinking change the diagnosis?

Can exercise improve metabolic health without weight loss?

Which eating pattern best supports metabolic health?

What can a coronary calcium score add?

Current professional and public-health guidance.

Standards of Care in Diabetes — Diagnosis and Classification

Prevention or Delay of Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities

Brazilian Diabetes Guideline

Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

Consensus Statement: Management of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Understand one health topic at a time.