Supplementary diabetes tests.
Urine tests for diabetes.
Urine lab tests may be needed, if the individual seems to be not  well or if the blood glucose level is more than 240mg/dL. The test may be ordered for diagnosis of gestational diabetes, as well. A urine test will indicate the potential presence of ketones in urine. Such a test can be done at home. Special strips for monitoring ketones are available at any drug store. Usually, the instructions are very self-explanatory and the use of these strips is easy.
Our body produces ketones, when the insulin presence in blood stream is poor and consequently, the metabolism of fat is promoted for energy production.
High concentrations of ketones lead to low pH in the blood and increased acidity.
A doctor must be contacted as soon as significant amounts of ketones are traced, after a urine test, especially if they coexist with high blood glucose levels. This is strongly recommended, since a dangerous condition which is referred to as ketoacidosis may occur. Patients, suffering from type 1 diabetes are more prone to ketoacidosis.
Ketoacidosis if not treated, may be fatal. Typical symptoms of ketoacidosis include sickness, fatigue, vomiting, "sweet" breath smell or fast and short breathing.
The A1C test for blood glucose level.
A test that can help in monitoring blood glucose level overtime is the A1C also referred to as hemoglobin A1C, glycosylated hemoglobin and glycohemoglobin test. This is a very useful test for the patient and healthcare provider, because it gives important information about the glucose levels and the fluctuation of this figure over a certain period of time. The A1C test indicates the concentration of glucose on the surface of the red blood cells. A physician may need the hemoglobin A1C test to determine, whether a treatment plan is sufficient or not. The individual is recommended to have this test done every three or six months, unless other reasons require the test to be done more often.
A result of fewer than 7 is a good indication that diabetes management is effective. If the A1C figure is 8 or higher, it means that blood glucose level may be high enough to increase the risk for diabetes complications. In such a case, changes in the dietary plan, daily physical activity and diabetes medication may be needed.
Fructosamine test for monitoring diabetes management.
This test measures the levels of fructosamine in serum which is proportional to blood glucose levels. Alike the hemoglobin A1C, the fructosamine test is a means for monitoring blood glucose rather than a diagnostic tool. Fructosamine test gives a good piece of information about the glucose control over the last two or three weeks prior to the examination.
Fructosamine test is mainly ordered to help in evaluation of a drastic change in diabetes management, including medications, dietary and exercise plan.
The drawbacks of the test are that it cannot be performed more often than a month’s time and the results may be false, if the protein blood levels are low. Since fructosamine is a considerably stable product, occurring from the biochemical combination of glucose and protein, low levels of the latest will lead to “distorted” measurements. If glucose binds with protein the produced fructosamine will remain in the bloodstream for nearly three weeks. Thus, new measurements cannot be reliable, earlier than a month’s period.
The results given by fructosamine test are approached in a total different way than other results are. The fluctuations of the fructosamine levels are more important rather than the figures themselves. In other words, a single test will not give any significant information unless it is compared to previous or following tests. The monitored trend will determine, whether a diabetes treatment plan is sufficient or not.
Urine microalbumin test in diagnosis of kidney complications due to diabetes.
Urine microalbumin test can give information about renal complications, such as nephropathy due to diabetes. If kidneys are healthy and work properly, no protein can be traced in urine. When a malfunction is established, small quantities of albumin can be found in urine. Albumin is a water-soluble protein and it is
abundant
in serum. The presence of albumin in the urine is referred to as microalbuminuria. Apart from diabetes, cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease can result in microalbuminuria.
For a urine microalbumin test a random urine sample is needed and no preparation is required prior to the examination. Typically, the test is recommended to be repeated once a year.  |
