Do-It-Yourself Health Tests

You don’t have to wait until your next doctor’s appointment to find out if you need to work on your health.

- Karen ASP

1 WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO

Why do it: The more overweight you are, the more resistant to insulin you are, which can lead to type 2 diabetes or worsen your diabetes. Yet the problem isn’t always how much fat you’re carrying but where that fat accumulates. The type of fat around your belly is most associated with insulin resistance and heart disease.

How to do it: Wrap a tape measure around the narrowest part of your waist (belly) and log your measurement; then measure your hips at the widest part. Divide waist circumference by hip circumference. If under age 60, women should be under 0.86, men under 0.95.

2 TRACK WEIGHT

Why do it: Many things could cause unexplained weight gain. For people with prediabetes, it could mean a progression to diabetes or worsening insulin resistance. If you have diabetes, both weight gain and weight loss could reflect worsening pancreatic function. Certain medicines can also cause you to put on pounds, so talk with your doctor. More concerning causes of weight gain may be fluid retention as a result of heart failure, worsening kidney function, and hypothyroidism.

How to do it: Unless you’re trying to lose weight — some studies suggest that daily weighing is best — jump on a scale weekly. Weigh in at the same time of day, preferably right away in the morning and without clothes.

3 RESTING HEART RATE