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There isn’t a family in India which wouldn’t have a diabetic patient. Diabetes has become so common that people are beginning to take it lightly. But here is a truth bomb alert that this metabolic disease can lead to serious health problems such as kidney damage, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, eye issues, sores and skin infections on feet, and gum disease that can lead to loss of teeth.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes. But it can be managed with certain lifestyle adjustments such as regular exercising, a sugar-free diet and no smoking. Another essential factor missing from the list is the regular monitoring. You cannot undermine the importance of regular monitoring as blood sugar levels can spike any day without a bell. Hence, to avoid that and the resulting complications, monitoring sugar levels becomes more than essential.
For people living with diabetes, getting the below 10 tests can be a key part of finding any new health problems at an early stage.
HbA1C
This blood test measures your usual glucose level over several months. It measures the rate at which glucose binds to haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen. The more there is sugar-attached haemoglobin in the blood, the higher the glucose levels. You have diabetes if your two separate tests yield an A1C result of 6.5 per cent or above. A1C values between 5.7 and 6.4 per cent indicate prediabetes. Below 5.7 is thought to be typical. This lab test should be undergone every three to six months.
Fasting blood sugar test
This test is an easy and safe approach to find out if you have prediabetes, diabetes, or gestational diabetes. It measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in a sample of your blood. A level between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L) is considered to be normal.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The complete blood count (CBC) test measures the number of blood components and features, including white blood cells, red blood cells that carry oxygen, haemoglobin, hematocrit, the amount of plasma in a person’s blood, and platelets.
A complete blood count (CBC) may reveal abnormal increases or decreases in certain cell counts, which could suggest the presence of an underlying medical issue that has to be further diagnosed.
Postprandial Glucose Glucose Test (PPBS)
This blood glucose test determines the amount of blood glucose, especially after a meal.
After a meal, blood glucose levels typically rise. The pancreas releases insulin as a result of this expansion, assisting the body in removing glucose from the blood and storing it for use in producing energy. Diabetic patients may not produce enough insulin or respond to it appropriately, which raises blood glucose levels. Elevated blood glucose levels can cause severe damage to the kidneys, eyes, veins, and nerves.
Cholesterol Test
Diabetes significantly raises a person’s risk of heart disease; thus, they must undergo blood testing more frequently to check their cholesterol levels.
Triglycerides
The blood normally contains triglycerides, which are a type of fat. The risk of coronary artery disease is increased with elevated triglyceride levels, particularly in females.
Triglycerides typically rise in an individual because of:
- Lack of exercise
- Excessive smoking
- Being overweight
- Alcohol
- Genetic disorders
Triglyceride levels may be lowered with a combination of lifestyle changes like:
- Losing weight
- Balanced diet
- Regular physical activity
Blood pressure
A medical practitioner should check your blood pressure if you have diabetes at least once a year. This is due to the fact that having high blood pressure puts strain on your blood vessels. This may impede the blood’s ability to circulate throughout the body and reach all the important places, including your heart. Furthermore, your chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke is increased. Additionally, it increases your chance of acquiring any kind of diabetes-related complications, such as major issues with your kidneys, eyes, or feet.
Creatinine test
This test determines the amount of creatinine in the blood. Your muscles contain creatine. When creatine separates, a waste product called creatinine is produced. Blood creatinine levels might give your specialist information about the health of your kidneys.
Electrolytes test
This blood test measures the primary electrolytes in the body, which are sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. It can be used to assess heart disease symptoms and track how heart failure, high blood pressure, liver, and kidney disease treatments are working.
C-Peptide Test
The test is primarily used to measure the amount of insulin that a person’s body is making because levels of this peptide typically correspond with insulin levels in the body. Insulin and C-peptide levels below normal typically indicate type 1 diabetes.
Closing thoughts
Diabetes is a complex condition that affects everyone differently, so regular health tests can be helpful tools for managing diabetes — especially for those who take insulin. If your tests show that your diabetes is not under control, talk to your doctor about a detailed treatment plan and specific steps you can take to be your healthiest self.
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