Blood tests for triglycerides are usually part of a lipid profile used to identify the risk of developing heart disease. If you are diabetic, it is especially important to have triglycerides measured as part of any lipid testing since triglycerides increase significantly when blood sugar is out of control.

Lipid profiles, including triglycerides, are recommended as routine tests to evaluate risk of heart disease. The test for triglycerides is not often ordered alone since risk of heart disease is based on cholesterol levels (see cholesterol, HDL, LDL), not triglycerides. However, if you have been found to have high triglycerides and are being treated for it, a triglyceride test may be used to see if treatment is working.

If you have a high fasting triglyceride level, your doctor may wish to find out whether you have a high fat diet, a high intake of alcohol, or have diabetes. It is unusual to have high triglycerides without also having high cholesterol. Having high lipids may increase your risk of developing heart disease and you may be given treatment aimed at lowering your lipid levels. The type of treatment used may differ depending on whether cholesterol, triglycerides, or both are high.

When triglycerides are very high, there is a risk of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

NOTE: A standard reference range is not usually available on this site for tests. Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric test results have different meanings in different laboratories. Your laboratory report should include the specific reference range for your test. Lab Tests Online AU strongly recommends that you discuss your test results with your doctor. For more information on reference ranges, please read Reference ranges and what they mean.

Testing should be done when you are fasting. For 10 to 16 hours before the test, only water is permitted. In addition, alcohol should not be consumed for the 24 hours just before the test.

If you are diabetic and your blood sugar is out of control, triglycerides will be very high.

Triglycerides may change dramatically in response to meals. Even fasting levels vary considerably day to day. Therefore modest changes in fasting triglycerides measured on different days are not considered to be abnormal.