Diabetes Diagnosis -Tests

Introduction - Diabetes Diagnosis -Tests

Blood and urine tests help show if your diabetes treatment is working and can alert your doctor to early signs of diabetes complications, such as kidney disease.

Glycated hemoglobin test

A glycated hemoglobin test, also called a glycosylated hemoglobin test or hemoglobin A1C test, reflects your average blood sugar level for the two- to three-month period before the test. Your doctor uses it to determine how well you're managing your blood sugar.

How the test is done

A lab technician takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm and sends the blood sample to a lab for analysis.

Recommended results

Normal ranges often vary among laboratories. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that your glycated hemoglobin level be 7 percent or less.

How often to have the test

How often you have this test depends on the type of diabetes you have and how well you're managing your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is consistently within your doctor's recommended target range, the ADA recommends that you have this test twice each year. If you start a new diabetes medication regimen or have trouble keeping your blood sugar within target range, the ADA recommends that you have this test four times each year.

Serum creatinine test

This test measures the level of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is a chemical waste product that's produced when you use your muscles. If your kidneys aren't functioning properly, they aren't able to remove as much creatinine from your blood.

How the test is done

A lab technician takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm and sends the blood sample to a lab for analysis.

Recommended results

The normal ranges are:

* Women. 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
* Men. 0.9 to 1.4 mg/dL

How often to have the test

People with diabetes typically have this lab test at least once each year.

Urine microalbumin test

A urine microalbumin test assesses the health of your kidneys by screening for protein leakage into your urine. If your kidneys become damaged, waste products normally filtered out by your kidneys remain in your blood, and protein (albumin) that should remain in your blood leaks into your urine.

How the test is done

When you visit your doctor, you provide a fresh urine sample. The urine is sent to a laboratory for analysis, or a technician in your doctor's office performs the test using a chemically treated test strip. In addition, your doctor may ask you to collect all of your urine in a container over a 24-hour period and bring it in to be assessed.

Recommended results

Results of the urine microalbumin test are measured as milligrams (mg) of protein leakage. Typically, here's what your results will mean:

* Less than 30 mg is normal.
* 30 to 299 mg indicates early-stage kidney disease (microalbuminuria).
* 300 mg or more indicates advanced kidney disease (macroalbuminuria).

Without appropriate treatment, your kidneys are likely to fail within a few years of developing macroalbuminuria.

How often to have the test

The frequency of urine microalbumin testing depends on your individual situation. In general, you have the test yearly after your diagnosis, but you may need it more often if your levels are high. Talk with your health care team about how often you need the test.

Lipids test

A lipids test measures the level of fats (lipids) in your blood. A rising level of certain blood fats can alert your doctor to an increased risk of blood vessel damage. The test measures the level of two such substances, which increase your heart disease risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides. The test also determines your level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, which protects against heart disease.

How the test is done

A lab technician takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm and sends the blood sample to a lab for analysis.

Recommended results

Optimal levels are:

* LDL: Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
* HDL: Greater than 40 mg/dL if you're a man or greater than 50 mg/dL if you're a woman
* Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

How often to have the test

The ADA recommends that you have this test at least once each year and more often if your levels aren't normal or you're taking lipid-lowering medication.