What is basic metabolic panel?

What is basic metabolic panel?
Metabolism is a biological process in which the body use to get energy needed for all body functions, such as; circulation, breathing, digestion as well as functions of organs, muscles… etc.
To ensure that metabolism is working properly, a blood test named as "basic metabolic panel" is done. This test mainly measures the following items:
- Glucose:
- It's the sugar form that body uses as a source of energy.
- Normal level of fasting blood glucose level is 70-99 mg/dL after 8-12 hours of fasting.
- Abnormal increased level of glucose suggests diabetes or prediabetes, while decreased level suggests hypoglycemia.
- Calcium:
- It's needed for many body functions such as building bones as well as ensuring proper functions of heart, muscles, nerves… etc.
- Normal level of calcium ranges between 8.5-10.2 mg/dL.
- Abnormal findings of calcium level suggests the following medical conditions; bone disease, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, malnutrition and cancer.
- Creatinine:
- It's the waste product which the kidney excretes outside the body.
- Normal level of creatinine for men is 0.7-1.3 mg/dL for men & 0.6-1.1 mg/dL for women.
- Abnormal increased level of creatinine suggests kidney disease or dehydration, while decreased level suggests malnutrition.
- Blood urea nitrogen:
- It's the waste product which the kidney excretes outside the body.
- Normal level of blood urea nitrogen is 6-20 mg/dL.
- Abnormal increased level of blood urea nitrogen suggests kidney disease or dehydration or heart failure, while decreased level suggests malnutrition or liver failure.
- Electrolytes:
- Electrolytes are minerals which act to maintain chemical and fluid balance inside the body.
- They include; bicarbonate, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium.
- Abnormal results of electrolyte level suggests the following medical conditions; dehydration, hypertension, heart failure, renal failure and hepatic failure.