5 health checks every midlife woman should ask for – with Dr Florence Comite

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Wellbeing Team

18 June, 2026
5 health checks every midlife woman should ask for – with Dr Florence Comite

The future of medicine isn’t treating disease – it’s predicting and preventing it. Dr Florence Comite joins Liz to talk about the five tests she recommends for tracking important health markers, and how they can reveal future risks for conditions such as diabetes and dementia years before symptoms appear.

In this episode, Liz and Florence discuss why understanding your health data could be one of the most important investments you make in your future wellbeing. Florence also shares the daily habits she uses to support healthy ageing, and the role of personalised medicine in extending healthspan.

Stream the episode below, or download the recording via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

 

5 blood tests every midlife woman should prioritise, according to a longevity doctor

If you’re struggling with fatigue, brain fog, weight gain and poor sleep in midlife, it’s often put down to perimenopause and menopause. But these symptoms can sometimes be early warning signs of underlying health issues.

According to precision medicine physician Dr Florence Comite, this is the ideal time to take a proactive approach to your health. She believes midlife women should be looking at the biomarkers and health measures that can predict future risk before symptoms appear – and even prevent potential disease.

“By the time a disease has taken hold, the treatment is complicated, less effective, and more expensive,” she explains.

Here are the five blood tests she recommends for getting a clear picture of your current and future health.

1. Fasting glucose

Your fasting glucose level provides a snapshot of how well your body is managing blood sugar after an overnight fast. Even slightly elevated levels can be an early sign that your metabolism is becoming less efficient – often years before a diabetes diagnosis.

“Diabetes, heart disease and strokes are not diseases, they’re disorders of ageing – and if we just take a hold of them, we could actually stop them in their tracks,” says Florence.

2. Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

While fasting glucose shows what’s happening today, an HbA1c test reveals your average blood sugar levels over the last two to three months. Florence believes this is one of the most important markers for understanding long-term metabolic health and future disease risk.

3. Fasting insulin

Many women are told their blood sugar is normal, yet underlying insulin resistance may already be developing. Measuring fasting insulin can provide an earlier warning sign that the body is struggling to regulate blood sugar effectively, making it a valuable marker for weight gain, fatigue and future metabolic issues.

4. Cholesterol risk ratio

Rather than focusing on total cholesterol alone, Florence recommends looking at cholesterol ratios and your overall cardiovascular picture. These measurements can offer a more accurate assessment of heart disease risk, helping identify potential problems before symptoms develop.

5. Free testosterone

Testosterone isn’t just a male hormone, explains Florence. In women, healthy levels support muscle mass, bone strength, energy, cognitive function and libido. Declining levels during midlife can contribute to many symptoms we often put down to ageing, so it’s worth checking levels if you’re experiencing low energy, changes in motivation or a waning libido.

Support the data with healthy habits

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to longevity, says Florence. Family history, hormones, metabolism, genetics and lifestyle all play a role in determining future health outcomes. Alongside testing to get a head start on your health story, she also recommends adopting the following healthy habits.

  • Prioritise strength training and adequate protein intake to support healthy blood sugar regulation, strong bones and muscle maintenance.
  • Create your meals around protein, healthy fats and fibre to modulate the release of insulin and keep you on a more even keel.
  • Optimise your sleep. Quality sleep is a non-negotiable for good health, so if yours is disrupted, try eating your last meal earlier in the evening, bathing in muscle-relaxing Epsom salts and wearing an eye mask to help you drift off.
  • Maintain social connection. Spending time with friends and relatives and involving yourself in new hobbies has a hugely positive impact on our long-term health.

Age-related diseases are not inevitable, says Florence. “By understanding how you can control your health future through how you live and the choices you make, it is possible to stop and even reverse biological ageing and diseases of ageing.”

Also in this episode:

  • The data we should be collecting about ourselves daily
  • Getting the most out of wearables
  • The five biomarkers for women’s longevity
  • Ways to adjust your lifestyle to prevent potential health disorders
  • The midlife symptoms that could indicate future health concerns
  • Why genes don’t determine our destiny

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