Pre-Diabetes

Medical Tests for Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes

 

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Medical Tests

A1c Test: A test that measures a person's average blood glucose (blood sugar) level over the previous 2 to 3 months. The most accurate clinical name for this test is the HbA1c.

 

  

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Hemoglobin is the part of a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the cells and sometimes joins with the glucose in the bloodstream. Also called hemoglobin A1C or glycosylated (gly-KOH-sih-lay-ted) hemoglobin, the test shows the amount of glucose that sticks to the red blood cell, which is proportional to the amount of glucose in the blood. Also called HbA1c, and Hemoglobin A1c, and Glycosylated HbA1c.

Doctors use the A1c test to see how well a patient is managing their blood sugars over a several month period of time. The higher a patient's A1c, the greater their risk for developing diabetes complications.

Blood Ketones Test: See "ketone tests."

C-peptide Test (Connecting peptide): C-peptide is a substance the pancreas.releases into the bloodstream in equal amounts to insulin. A test of C-peptide levels shows how much insulin the body is making.

Dilated Eye Exam: A test done by an eye care specialist in which the pupil (the black center) of the eye is temporarily enlarged with eyedrops to allow the specialist to see the inside of the eye more easily.

Electromyography (EMG): A test used to detect nerve function. It measures the electrical activity generated by muscles.

Fasting Glucose Test: A blood sample is drawn from the vein early in the morning before and food or drinks that contain calories are ingested. A fasting glucose test checks the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood stream.

Glomerular Filtration Rate: Measure of the kidney's ability to filter and remove waste products.

Glucose Tolerance Test: See oral glucose tolerance test.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin: See A1C (same things as HbA1c).

HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) Test: See A1c test.

HDL cholesterol (High-Density-Lipoprotein) Test: HDL is a fat found in the blood. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol. HDL takes extra cholesterol from the blood to the liver for removal.  The HDL test checks the level of HDL which is then compared to the LDL and total cholesterol.

Hemodialysis: The use of a machine to clean wastes from the blood after the kidneys have failed. The blood travels through tubes to a dialyzer, a machine that removes wastes and extra fluid. The cleaned blood then goes back into the body.

Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG): A condition in which a blood glucose.test, taken after an 8- to 12-hour fast, shows a level of glucose higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. IFG, also called pre-diabetes, is a level of 110 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL. Most people with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. What is impaired fasting glucose?

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT): A condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. IGT, also called pre-diabetes, is a level of 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL 2 hours after the start of an oral glucose tolerance test. Most people with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Other names for IGT that are no longer used are "borderline," "subclinical," "chemical," or "latent" diabetes. What is impaired glucose tolerance?

Islet Cell Antibodies (ICA) Test: ICA are proteins found in the blood of people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. They are also found in people who may be developing type 1 diabetes. The presence of ICA indicates that the body's immune system has been damaging beta cells in the pancreas. Presence of antibodies for any disease (including Hashimotos, hemochromatosis, etc.) indicates that the body has begun an autoimmune response and is attacking healthy cells in the body. The ICA test checks for certain types of antibodies.

Ketone Tests: Ketone tests can be done with a urine stick, a finger stick (with some types of special blood glucose meters) and a blood draw from the vein.Ketones are produced when there is a shortage of insulin in the blood and the body breaks down body fat for energy. High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. Sometimes referred to as ketone bodies. A ketone test can be done using a urine test strip or a blood test.

Benign dietary ketosis can be caused by eating too few carbohydrates. It is not the same thing as DKA but a person in benign dietary ketosis will also show ketones in a urine test.

A home kit is also available to test blood ketones using a combination blood glucose/ketone monitor made by MediSense.

The cost of blood ketones strips is much higher than urine ketone strips but can detect ketones before urine strips can. Blood ketone test strips are an important tool for managing "sick days" for people with type 1 diabetes.

Urine ketone strips can be used to detect ketones in urine.

Urine ketone test strips can be purchased over the counter for $8.00-$12.00.

They are used to measure the level of ketones in urine.

Benign dietary ketosis can be caused by eating too few carbohydrates. It is not the same thing as DKA but a person in benign dietary ketosis will also show ketones in a urine test.

Monofilament Test: A short piece of nylon, like a hairbrush bristle, mounted on a wand is used to check sensitivity of the nerves in the foot. The doctor touches the filament to the bottom of the foot to see if the patient has lost feeling or sensitivity.

Microalbumin Test: Small amounts of the protein called albumin in the urine ar. detectable with a microalbumin test. This blood test is used to help determine if the kidneys are functioning properly.

Nerve Conduction Studies: Tests used to measure for nerve damage; one way to diagnose neuropathy (nerve damage).

Noninvasive Blood Glucose Monitoring: Measuring blood glucose (sugar) without pricking the finger to obtain a blood sample.

OGTT: Same as "oral glucose tolerance test."

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: (also called Glucose Tolerance Test and OGTT). A test that can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes and diabetes.

The oral glucose tolerance test is givenby a health care professional after an overnight fast. A blood sample is taken, then the patient drinks a high-glucose beverage. Blood samples are taken at intervals for 2 to 3 hours. Test results are compared with a standard and show how the body uses glucose over time.

OGTTs are also usually given to women who are pregant to detect gestational diabetes.

  

Oral glucoes tolerance test (OGTT)

Triglycerides Test: High triglyceride levels may occur when diabetes is out of control. This test (blood is drawn from a vein. checks for levels of triglycerides.

Triglycerides (TRI) are the most common form of fat stored in the body. Hightriglyceride (hypertriglyceridemia) levels may occur when diabetes is out of control. High levels of triglycerides are associated with an increase risk of heart disease.

Body fat is almost entirely made up of triglycerides, and fats are mostly transported in the blood in this form as well.  Triglycerides can come directly from dietary fat , or from fat converted from carbohydrates. This is one reason why people who follow low carb diets (and eat mostly protein) rarely have triglycerides above normal (150 mg/dL). This is one of the most reliable results of following a low carb way of eating.

Urine Ketone Test: See "ketone tests."

 

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