What Is a Basic Metabolic Panel?

Written by: Jordan Stachel M.S., RDN, CPT

A Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) is a blood test that measures essential substances in your blood to assess your body's metabolism and overall health.^[1] It provides important information about your kidney function, blood sugar levels, electrolyte balance, and acid-base balance. A BMP will typically measure levels such as ^[1] :

• Glucose - This is the measure of your blood sugar. Testing your glucose levels is important to ensure that your blood sugar levels are in normal range, as glucose is the main source of energy that your body uses to function. If your glucose is too high, you may be at a higher risk of certain health conditions such as diabetes. If blood sugar is too low, also known as hypoglycemia, you may be at risk of feeling lightheaded or having nutrient deficiencies.
• Calcium - Testing calcium levels is important as calcium plays a role in several different bodily functions. Calcium has roles to play in your nerves, heart, and muscles. It also plays a role in how well your blood clots and the health of your bones.
• Electrolytes - Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride can also be measured on a BMP. Proper electrolyte balance is also important for overall health and well-being. If your electrolytes are out of balance, you may not be properly hydrated or feel differences in your energy levels.
• Kidney function tests- A BMP tests for levels known as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. These are two tests that help show how well your kidneys are functioning, which is important as the kidneys help to filter out waste from the blood.

Who Should Get a BMP Done?

The short answer is that it is likely a good idea for all people to have a BMP completed at some point. Even if you are in good health, having a BMP completed can help you understand your baseline levels just in case anything ever happens in the future.

For example, if you get a BMP test done and your glucose levels are normal, and then in five years, your glucose levels are higher, you will have more information to paint a picture of where your health is and why. ^[2] Both adults and children may be good candidates for a BMP.

Conditions That Warrant a BMP

Since a BMP screens for several different levels in the blood, a healthcare provider may also request that you have one done if you are experiencing certain symptoms or if you have certain health conditions. This is because a BMP gives healthcare providers good insights into what is happening with your heart, kidneys, and liver.

Two of the most common conditions that warrant a BMP are heart failure and high blood pressure. ^[2]

• Heart failure- This condition is also known as congestive heart failure. ^[3] The heart does not pump blood well enough, which can affect the whole body. Many people are diagnosed with heart failure, and it is important to be managed by a team of qualified healthcare professionals. Certain lab markers in the BMP help to tell your healthcare provider how your heart is functioning and if you need any sort of additional care or interventions. ^[3]
• High blood pressure- This is another very common medical condition and is also known as hypertension. ^[4] If you have high blood pressure, the blood flow through your arteries is affected. High blood pressure should also be managed by a qualified healthcare provider. A BMP can help to show you if high blood pressure is affecting the organs in your body.

Other conditions that may require you to get a BMP are diabetes and kidney disease. ^[5] While there are additional lab tests required for these medical conditions to get a diagnosis, you will likely need a BMP completed if you have blood sugar and/or kidney concerns.

• Diabetes- Testing glucose levels in a BMP can be a stepping stone to diagnosing certain conditions like diabetes. ^[5] While more testing will be needed, having very high blood sugar is a concern that will need to be addressed by your healthcare provider.
• Kidney disease - When someone is living with kidney disease, certain values in the BMP like creatinine and BUN may be affected. ^[5] If these levels are abnormal, you will also likely need further testing to assess the health of the kidneys. However, having a BMP completed is still a good first step.

What Do The Results of a BMP Mean?

Understanding the results of a BMP can be helpful so that you know how your levels might compare to others, or to what is considered normal or optimal. While everyone is different, and it is important to discuss your results with a healthcare provider, there are some normal ranges for values found on a BMP. Some of these include ^[5]:

• Glucose: 74 to 99 mg/dL
• Calcium: 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL
• BUN: 7 to 21 mg/dL
• Creatinine: 0.58 to 0.96 mg/dL
• Sodium: 136 to 144 mmol/L
• Potassium: 3.7 to 5.1 mmol/L

If your results fall within these ranges, that can help provide reassurance that your health is in order. If your results are out of the normal ranges, this may not be a reason to worry, but it is always best to follow up with your care provider to ensure that your levels are okay.

How to Improve Your Health After Getting a BMP

Taking control of your health includes going for regular lab work and check-ins with your care providers to ensure that you are in tip-top shape. If your levels look good, keep doing what you are doing. If your levels are abnormal, the guidance will vary for next steps.

Use some of these general tips and tricks for improving your health after getting abnormal lab results ^[6]:

• Assess your nutrition. Looking at what you are eating can be a simple and easy way to begin to improve your health. If you need more personalized guidance, work with a dietitian or qualified professional.
• Get moving. If your exercise routine could be improved, this is another straightforward way to embark on a healthier path. Start with a movement type that feels and sounds good to you. Walking, biking, swimming, or Pilates-based movements are all examples of movements that you can begin to incorporate for better health.
• Get serious about your water intake. Hydration is another basic pillar of health. Making sure that you are properly hydrated is key for cellular and full-body health.
• Reduce less helpful habits like drinking and drug use. While it may seem straightforward, reducing less healthy habits like alcohol use or drug use is always helpful for improving health outcomes.
• Look at your sleep habits. Sleep is important when optimizing health outcomes. Sleep affects all hormones in your body, including both stress and hunger hormones. It is hard to take care of any part of your body if you are not sleeping long enough or well enough.
• Stress management. Working on your stress levels, whether that be through meditation, yoga, or therapy, helps improve health outcomes. If you feel as though you could benefit from reducing stress levels, try adopting one new stress-relieving habit daily to improve your health. Your mind and body will thank you.

Take Control of Your Health With Everlywell

If you or someone you know could benefit from getting a better picture of their overall health, enlist the help of Everlywell. This is not a process that you need to go through alone. Everlywell has many testing options, including a heart health panel and a metabolism test. You can take these tests from the comfort of your own home and receive personalized guidance and support. Optimizing your health doesn’t have to be confusing or a burden. Start today with Everlywell.

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1. Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP). Last reviewed September 10, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/basic-metabolic-panel-bmp/
2. Blood tests | NHLBI, NIH. NHLBI, NIH. Published March 24, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-tests
3. What is heart failure? | NHLBI, NIH. NHLBI, NIH. Published March 24, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-failure
4. What is high blood pressure? | NHLBI, NIH. NHLBI, NIH. Published April 25, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure
5. Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP). Cleveland Clinic. Published October 25, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17301-basic-metabolic-panel
6. Godman H. The little things that can improve your health. Harvard Health. Published August 1, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-little-things-that-can-improve-your-health-202208012800