If you live with diabetes, you are probably familiar with constantly being protruding and protruding for blood.
But in addition to testing blood glucose levels, people with diabetes also need regular clinical tests to monitor everything, from HBA1C to vitamin D levels (someone with diabetes tends to flow low), even the amount of protein in their urine.
This article provides an overview of the most important regular lab tests that people with diabetes should get, how to measure, and how to advocate for themselves to make sure they are included in their care plan.
Why is daily lab testing important?
Just like the famous proverb “what is measured is controlled,” what is measured in diabetes usually manages better management as well.
Think of an example of blood glucose measurement. Without regular measurements of blood glucose levels, it is not possible to minor adjustments to insulin dosages, which can make all the difference between higher HBA1C and lower (regular measurements and insulin adjustments can significantly improve the percentage of time (TIR) in the range).
This is important because you may not always be able to do it feel The difference between sitting between 140 mg/dl and 218 mg/dl means the difference between living with complications of diabetes and without them over time.
Similarly, it is important to regularly measure the health of important organs that may be affected by diabetes compared to the later part of life when problems become more severe, more serious, and interventions can become more serious.
What are the most important lab tests for diabetes management?
If you’ve been suffering from diabetes for a while, some of these lab tests are familiar, but other lab tests may look brand new.
While all clinical tests are important for health, it is most important to include them in diabetes management to prevent the development of diabetes complications and ensure that your body is healthy.
Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin A1c, or “Hba1c,” for short, is a measure of the amount of glucose that has been attached to red blood cells over the past 3-4 months.
Blood samples are taken from patients and sent to the lab for results within hours and days.
This is average, Therefore, a typical HBA1C test can miss many hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, while giving the patient a good percentage.
For a better representative sample of overall patient control, more providers are turning to range (TIR) times.
However, access to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is required. Anyone living with diabetes can measure overall control via the HBA1C test, which could be more affordable.
The American Diabetes Association recommends less than 7% HBA1C for most adults with diabetes.
You can also measure the A1C yourself A1C Home Test. They are cheap and reliable.
blood pressure
This may seem routine, but as a person with diabetes, it is important to measure your blood pressure (BP) regularly for good care.
According to Johns Hopkins’ medicine, people with diabetes are 2-4 times higher than others who develop heart disease. Careful monitoring of your blood pressure is key to preventing problems early.
When you measure your blood pressure, it shows how many vessels your blood vessels are passing through and how much resistance is present in the heart that moves blood throughout the body. The narrower the artery, the higher the blood pressure.
Most providers recommend blood pressure readings of around 120/80, but anything above 140/90 requires immediate emergency medical attention.
This simple, non-invasive test can really save lives.
Microalbumin
Microalbumin tests are urine tests that show kidney functionality by measuring the amount of protein (if any) in the urine.
Microalbumin is detectable in the blood, but large amounts of urine can mean larger, more dangerous problems in the kidneys.
Measurements above 30 mg are a cause of concern. Uncontrolled diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure worldwide, so it is important to ensure that your kidneys are functioning well.
Doctors usually order the lab to take a microalbuminuria test at the same time that normal blood draws.
You can learn more about how our diabetes affects your kidneys Guide to diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease).
Vitamin d
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, such as salmon, mackerel, eggs, and cod liver oil.
It can also be used as a dietary supplement, and is produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays (UV) from the sun hit the skin, causing vitamin D synthesis.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of diabetes, and a study from Denmark showed that chronic low levels of vitamin D in diabetic patients may lead to increased risk of complications and death.
Many people with diabetes have low levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream, so it is helpful to test this regularly, especially in winter when the sun does not release high levels of UV rays due to vitamin D production.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to an increased risk of death from depression, weak bones, cognitive impairment, severe asthma, cancer, and cardiovascular disease in children.
Vitamin D tests can be included in regular blood draws or in full blood count (CBC).
Extended eye examination
It is especially important for diabetics to have an eye examination that is expanded annually to prevent eye complications.
An expanded eye examination is an image of the optic nerve, retina, and surrounding blood vessels, all of which can be easily damaged by chronic hyperglycemia.
Diabetic eye diseases and retinopathy can be treated without symptoms, so it is most important to check your eyes with an ophthalmologist every year.
You may not need new glasses every year (insurance may cover new glasses every two years), but due to diabetes, most health insurance plans cover at least the retinopathy prevention tests each year.
However, please check with your individual health insurance plan.
Lipid Profile
A lipid profile or panel is a series of blood tests used to measure abnormalities in blood fat. This is especially important as heart disease and its complications are the biggest cause of death in diabetic patients.
Typical lipid profiles are:
- Total cholesterol (normal is less than 200 mg/dL)
- LDL (“bad”) cholesterol (optimal is below 100 mg/dl. This is the goal for people with diabetes or heart disease)
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol (levels should be above 40 mg/dl)
- Triglycerides (Normally less than 150 mg/dl)
Depending on the results of your lipid profile, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or medications to restore lipids to normal range.
Recognize that this blood test requires quick (all but water!) 12-14 hours before blood collection. Eating or drinking before a test can change your results.
Doctors often prescribe statins to patients with high LDL cholesterol. Guide Statins and Diabetes: Everything you need to know is a great place to learn more about the pros and cons of statins.
Conclusion
Regular examinations with your doctor and visits with an endocrinologist are great ways to grasp diabetes, but these six routine clinical tests are important for better diabetes management.
Check with your doctor to see if you can get one of these tests if you haven’t completed them in a while.
Like everything, like diabetes, prevention is important, and what is measured is (better) controlled.
