OP: Docs spend so little time explaining labs, if one gets a 10 minute appt, that's a lot. What I've been known to do, when I see a lab that is NOT in the middle or in the range, I will go to google and try to find alternatives to raise or lower the issues. It works for me. And I don't worry if it's a slight difference than what it "SHOULD" be...I don't know about all the SHOULDS either. We are all unique. And too, if labs are down fasting or non fasting. I never go in for fasting labs...hardly ever have and I've made it good to 82 soon.

Example on your hematocrit, I would google "what to do to get hematocrit in good range" or something like this.