1. Blood Sugar (Fasting):
- What it is: This measures your blood sugar levels after fasting for at least 8 hours (usually done in the morning before eating or drinking anything).
- Relevance: A high fasting blood sugar level can indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes. For someone without diabetes, normal fasting blood sugar levels should be below 100 mg/dL. Levels above this may suggest insulin resistance or inadequate blood sugar control.
2. Blood Sugar (Postprandial – PP):
- What it is: This measures your blood sugar levels 2 hours after eating a meal (postprandial).
- Relevance: Elevated postprandial blood sugar levels may indicate impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. A normal PP blood sugar level is generally less than 140 mg/dL. Higher levels can show how well the body handles glucose after eating.
3. HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin):
- What it is: This test measures the average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months by looking at the amount of glucose bound to hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
- Relevance: HbA1c is a key test for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. A normal HbA1c level is typically between 4% and 5.6%. A level between 5.7% and 6.4% is considered pre-diabetic, and 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
4. Serum Creatinine:
- What it is: Creatinine is a waste product that is filtered by the kidneys. The serum creatinine test measures its level in the blood.
- Relevance: Elevated serum creatinine levels can indicate kidney dysfunction or kidney disease. Since diabetes can damage the kidneys over time (diabetic nephropathy), this test helps assess kidney health. High levels may suggest the kidneys are not filtering properly.
5. Total Cholesterol:
- What it is: Total cholesterol is a measure of all the cholesterol in the blood, including LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol.
- Relevance: High cholesterol levels, especially high LDL cholesterol, increase the risk of heart disease, a common complication of diabetes. Regular monitoring is important to prevent cardiovascular issues in diabetic patients.
6. Triglycerides:
- What it is: Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood, often resulting from excess calories consumed and converted into fat by the body.
- Relevance: Elevated triglyceride levels are common in people with diabetes and insulin resistance. High triglycerides can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
7. Urine R/E (Routine Examination):
- What it is: A test that examines the urine for signs of infection, abnormal cells, and other substances.
- Relevance: Urine examination is important for detecting signs of kidney problems and urinary tract infections, which are common in people with diabetes. It can also detect protein in the urine (a sign of early kidney damage), which is especially important for diabetic patients.
8. Urine ACR (Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio):
- What it is: This test measures the ratio of albumin (a protein) to creatinine in the urine. Albumin is a protein that should not be present in large amounts in the urine, as healthy kidneys typically prevent protein leakage.
- Relevance: A high ACR suggests early signs of diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage due to diabetes). Monitoring urine ACR helps in early detection of kidney issues, allowing for preventive measures to reduce the risk of kidney failure.