Medical Tests For Diabetics.
One thing you can be sure of when you have diabetes is that the word "test" will come up over and over. Test for this, test for that and test for the other.
But to start with these assorted tests, how they are done, what they are done for and what their results can tell us are all a mystery and one that is seldom explained.
I am going to try and give you the basics of these tests without going into technical detail. If you are interested in that sort of thing (and having trained as a microbiologist I must admit I am) I will point you at web sites such as Lab Tests On Line that will fill in the details.
If you tend to be the forgetful type (accidentally on purpose?) and do not remember when you need to have your tests done the web even has a site that will remind you to do so. Go to My Health Reminder to get them to send you a reminder email!
One other thing I must explain here is that what are considered acceptable test results may vary from country to country, even amongst the large first world countries like the UK & USA.
I know, I know, I do not understand it either. I can agree that people vary, after all I am different to you and you are different to cousin Jim, but surely we are all Homo-sapiens (I certainly hope so!) and therefore an acceptable range for the same test should be the same world-wide?
Sounds like every authority is jealously guarding their little patch of turf.
Oh well, that scenario applies to many things in life, why not to diabetes too? It does confuse folk who move to a new region and suddenly find their previously acceptable test scores are now unacceptable! So remember this warning if it happens to you and don't panic.
The complete blood count incorporates:-
1.White blood cell (WBC) count
2. White blood cell differential, incorporating:-
. - - lymphocytes
. - - monocytes
. - - neutrophils
. - - eosinophils
. - - basophils
3. Red blood cell (RBC) count
4. Red cell distribution width (RDW)
5. Haemoglobin (Hg)
6. Hematocrit (HCT)
7. Erythrocyte (RBC) indices, incorporating:-
. - - Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
. - - Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH)
. - - Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
8. The platelet count
9. Mean platelet volume (MPV)
Below are the links to various tests. Click and go!
Blood Glucose Monitoring.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Test.
Complete Blood Count.
C-Peptide Test.
Creatinine Clearance Test.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test.
Fasting Lipid Profile Test.
Fractional Excretion of Sodium Test.
Fructosamine Test.
Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) Test.
Glycohaemoglobin Test.
Ketone Tests.
Microalbumin Test.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).
Serum Creatinine Test.
Urinalsis For Protein Test.
Urine Glucose Test.
Zinc Diagnostic Tests.