Everything you want to know
before you book

Valens MD is a cash-pay precision metabolic medicine clinic in Miami. We measure the biomarkers that predict metabolic disease years before it manifests — fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TG:HDL ratio, HbA1c, TyG Index — and build personalized protocols across nutrition, exercise, sleep, and supplementation based on where you actually sit on the metabolic spectrum. We are not a primary care practice. We are a metabolic evaluation and optimization practice built around what the science says actually works.

Anyone who wants to understand their metabolic health with precision — not guesswork. That includes people who have been told their labs are "fine" but feel otherwise; people with prediabetes or early Type 2 who want a structured reversal protocol; athletes and high performers who want to optimize body composition, fat oxidation, and recovery; executives managing sustained high cognitive load; and people who simply want a documented metabolic baseline.

No — and we are direct about that. Valens MD is a metabolic evaluation and optimization practice. We do not manage acute illness, chronic disease outside the metabolic domain, or medication management outside the scope of metabolic protocols. We work alongside your primary care physician and actively communicate findings to your existing care team if you want us to.

Valens MD is located in Miami, Florida. We serve patients throughout the Miami-Dade and Broward areas. For corporate wellness groups of 15 or more, on-site evaluation is available within the Miami metro area.

A fasting blood draw for the full metabolic panel (fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TG:HDL, HbA1c, TyG Index, complete lipids); InBody 770 body composition analysis; grip strength testing; staged lactate threshold testing for Tier 2–4 patients; and a 60–120 minute physician consultation with same-visit results interpretation and a written Plan of Care. You leave knowing your metabolic tier, your specific biomarker values, and a protocol that starts the next day.

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is a calculated value derived from fasting insulin and fasting glucose. It is the most widely validated non-invasive measure of insulin resistance in clinical research. A HOMA-IR below 1.0 indicates optimal insulin sensitivity. Between 1.0 and 2.0 indicates early resistance. Between 2.0 and 4.0 indicates established resistance. Above 4.0 indicates significant dysfunction consistent with prediabetes or early Type 2.

Lactate threshold testing is a staged exercise protocol on a calibrated ergometer in which blood lactate is measured at increasing intensities via fingerstick. It identifies your actual Zone 2 ceiling (LT1), your fat oxidation maximum (FatMax), and your anaerobic threshold (LT2). These numbers replace every formula-based heart rate estimate with measured, individual values. It is included for Tier 2–4 patients and available as an add-on for Tier 1.

Plan for two to two-and-a-half hours. The time breakdown: lab draw (10 min), body composition and functional testing (20 min), lactate protocol for applicable tiers (30 min), and physician consultation with results interpretation and plan review (60–90 min). We do not double-book appointment slots.

No. Valens MD is a cash-pay practice by design. Insurance reimbursement determines visit length, which tests can be ordered, and which conversations can happen. A 15-minute insurance-covered visit cannot produce what our evaluation produces. We provide a detailed superbill upon request for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

Yes. Valens MD services qualify as medical expenses for HSA and FSA reimbursement. We provide itemized receipts for all visits. Many patients cover the full cost of their initial evaluation through pre-tax health account funds.

We require 48 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Because each appointment is a dedicated two-plus hour block with pre-visit lab preparation, late cancellations affect our ability to serve other patients. A $150 late cancellation fee applies to cancellations within 48 hours. If something urgent comes up, reach out directly and we will work with you.

Sometimes — and only when the data supports it. For Tier 2 patients, the protocol is typically nutrition, exercise, and supplementation. For Tier 3 and Tier 4, low-dose pharmacological support — such as a DPP-4 inhibitor or metformin — may be part of the protocol where evidence supports meaningful benefit alongside lifestyle intervention. Nothing is prescribed by default. Everything is explained with the rationale behind it.

Tier 2 patients following a structured protocol typically see measurable biomarker improvement within 8–12 weeks. Tier 3 patients usually see meaningful movement in HOMA-IR and fasting insulin within 90 days. Tier 4 requires a longer timeline — 6–12 months for significant improvement — but subjective symptoms (energy, cognition, sleep) often improve within weeks. We measure at 90 days so you have data, not impressions.

No — and that is the entire premise. Two patients with the same HOMA-IR may have arrived there through different pathways: one through dietary pattern, one through gut axis dysfunction, one through cortisol-driven hepatic glucose output. The protocol addresses the specific mechanism, not the number.