Would Diabetes Show Up In A Routine Blood Test

Blood Tests

Blood tests help doctors check for certain diseases and conditions. They also help check the function of your organs and show how well treatments are working. Specifically, blood tests can help doctors: Evaluate how well organs, like the kidneys, liver, and heart, are working Diagnose diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, anemia, and heart disease Learn whether you have risk factors for heart disease Check whether medicines you're taking are working Overview Blood tests are very common. When you have routine checkups, your doctor often orders blood tests to see how your body is working. Many blood tests don't require any special preparations. For some, you may need to fast (not eat any food) for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Your doctor will let you know whether this is necessary. During a blood test, a small amount of blood is taken from your body. It's usually drawn from a vein in your arm using a thin needle. A finger prick also may be used. The procedure is usually quick and easy, although it may cause some short-term discomfort. Most people don't have serious reactions to having blood drawn. Lab workers draw the blood and analyze it. They use either whole blood to count blood cells, or they separate the blood cells from the fluid that contains them. This fluid is called plasma or serum. The fluid is used to measure different substances in the blood. The results can help detect health problems in early stages, when treatments or lifestyle changes may work best. However, blood tests alone can't be used to diagnose or treat many diseases or medical problems. Your doctor may consider other factors, such as your signs and symptoms, your medical history, and results from other tests and procedures, to confirm a diagnosis. Outlook Blood tests have few risks. Most com Continue reading >>

3 Diabetes Tests You Must Have

Mike Ellis was fly fishing when he first noticed a change in his vision. Ellis, an avid angler, had so much trouble focusing he struggled for 20 minutes before he was finally able to get a fly on his hook, something he'd done countless times over many years of fly fishing. Then, after casting his line, he was unable to see his lure on the water. "I thought I'd scorched my eyeballs from being out in the sun too much," says Ellis, 63, a retired mechanical engineer in Denver. An eye exam the following month revealed an equally unsettling reality: Ellis had type 2 diabetes, the most common type of the disease. Years of going undiagnosed had taken a toll on his eyesight. He had diabetic retinopathy. The blood vessels in the back of his eye were damaged, a problem that often comes with the condition. "Diabetes damages every blood vessel in your body, including the ones in your eyes," says Robert Rizza, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. "Similar damage can also occur in your heart, your head, and your kidneys. But if you take care of yourself -- if you control your blood sugar, blood cholesterol, and blood pressure -- the chances of bad things happening to you are very low." Certainly, that's the case with Ellis. With the help of three basic tests, he has his diabetes in check. These tests can help you, too. A simple blood test, the A1c (your doctor may call it "glycosylated hemoglobin") is done on a sample of blood taken from a finger-stick or from a small vial of it drawn from your arm. Not to be confused with the daily at-home monitoring that allows some people with diabetes to measure their blood sugars in the moment, the A1c test paints a picture of your average blood sugar level for the past 3 months. If you can keep your hemoglobin A1c in the range of about Continue reading >>

What Is A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (cmp)?

What Is a Blood Test? A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken from the body to be tested in a lab. Doctors order blood tests to check things such as the levels of glucose, hemoglobin, or white blood cells. This can help them detect problems like a disease or medical condition. Sometimes, blood tests can help them see how well an organ (such as the liver or kidneys) is working. The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is a blood test that gives doctors information about the body's fluid balance, levels of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and how well the kidneys and liver are working. Why Are Comprehensive Metabolic Panels Done? A CMP is done to learn information about the levels of: Glucose, a type of sugar used by the body for energy. High glucose levels may point to diabetes. Electrolytes: Sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide, and chloride, which help control the body's fluid levels and its acid-base balance. Normal levels of these electrolytes help keep cells in the body working as they should. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, which are waste products filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. These levels show how well the kidneys are working. Albumin and total protein, which are needed to build and maintain muscles, bones, blood, and organ tissue. Low levels may be seen with liver or kidney disease, or nutritional problems. Liver tests: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and bilirubin. When these levels are high, it can be a sign of a problem with the liver. How Should We Prepare for a CMP? Your child may be asked to stop eating and drinking for 8 to 12 hours before a CMP. Tell your doctor about any medicines your child takes because some drugs might affect the test results. Wearing a T-s Continue reading >>

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Out of the estimated 24 million people with diabetes, one third, or eight million, don’t know they have the disease. According to Martin J. Abrahamson, M.D., Medical Director and Senior Vice President at Joslin Diabetes Center, this is because people with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms. However, a simple blood test is all you need to find out if you are one the millions with untreated diabetes. Who should be tested? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that everyone aged 45 and over should be tested for diabetes, and if the results are normal, re-tested every three years. Testing should be conducted at earlier ages and carried out more frequently in individuals who have any of the following diabetes risk factors: You have a parent or sibling with diabetes You are overweight (BMI higher than 25) You are a member of a high-risk ethnic population (African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander) You had gestational diabetes or a baby weighing over 9 pounds Your HDL cholesterol levels are 35 mg/dl or less, and/or your triglyceride level is 250 mg/dl or above You have high blood pressure You have polycystic ovarian syndrome On previous testing, had impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting tolerance What tests are used for diagnosis? Fasting Plasma Glucose –This blood test is taken in the morning, on an empty stomach. A level of 126 mg/dl or above, on more than one occasion, indicates diabetes. Casual or Random Glucose - This blood test can be taken anytime during the day, without fasting. A glucose level of 200 mg/dl and above may suggest diabetes. If any of these test results occurs, testing should be repeated on a different day to confirm the diagnosis. If a casual plasma glucose equal to 200 mg/dl or Continue reading >>

What Is A Standard Blood Test?

Laboratory blood tests can help doctors to diagnose problems in their patients. While there is no such thing as a "standard blood test," there are several common blood test panels that your doctor may recommend. These can be ordered as part of a routine checkup, or may be ordered if the patient complains of symptoms. Some medications can cause problems in the body that can be easily detected through blood testing. If you do not know why your doctor is recommending a particular blood test, be sure to ask. In many cases, blood tests rule out illnesses before having to resort to more invasive testing. Video of the Day Doctors often order a complete blood count, or CBC, as part of a routine or yearly exam. A CBC measures the amounts of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and iron in your blood. This test can detect anemia, inflammation, infections and bleeding disorders. A CBC can also help the doctor determine if medications that you are on need to be adjusted. Blood Chemistry Tests A doctor may order a basic metabolic panel, or a BMP. This is a series of tests that is run on the plasma of your blood. These tests measure how much glucose and calcium is in your blood, and whether you have the right amount of electrolytes and minerals in your blood. A BMP can detect diseases such as diabetes, cancer, bone disease, kidney disease and other disorders. Some tests require that you fast beforehand, and others don't. Ask your doctor if you are unsure. Enzyme tests can show your doctor whether you have damage or disease in various organs of the body. A creatine kinase, or CK, test can help your doctor determine if you've had a heart attack. A troponin test is another test that can indicate a heart attack. Creatinine tests measure kidney function. Liver enzyme tests can he Continue reading >>

Your Blood Work, On The Edge Of Normal

What to do when routine test results are at the high or low end of the acceptable range. Image: Ca-ssis/Thinkstock As a smart medical consumer, you know it's important to look over the results of your routine blood work, even when the numbers are all within the normal range. But what if you notice that some results are at the high or low end of that range? Should you be concerned about this? Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School. Continue reading >>

Getting Diagnosed

Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed following blood or urine tests for something else. However, if you have any symptoms of diabetes you should see your GP straight away. To find out if you have type 2 diabetes, you usually have to go through the following steps: Speak to your GP about your symptoms. Your GP will check your urine and arrange a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. It usually takes about 1 to 2 days for the results to come back. If you have diabetes, your GP will ask you to come in again to explain the test results and what will happen next. If you’re diagnosed with diabetes What your GP will discuss with you during your appointment depends on the diagnosis and the treatment they recommend. Generally, they’ll talk to you about: what diabetes is what high blood sugar means for your health what medication you’ll have to take your diet and exercise your lifestyle, for example alcohol and smoking Your GP will do their best to discuss the diagnosis with you but this first appointment might only be 10 to 15 minutes. If you have questions about your diagnosis It’s usually difficult to take in everything the GP tells you during the appointment. Talk to family and friends about what the GP told you and write down all the questions you have. Then make another GP appointment and take your list of questions with you. There’s also a lot of information on diabetes available. What happens after the diagnosis Usually the following things happen after your diagnosis: Your GP will prescribe medication. It might take time for you to get used to the medication and to find the right amounts for you. You might need to make changes to your diet and be more active. You’ll have to go for regular type 2 diabetes check ups. You’ll have to look out for certain s Continue reading >>

Full Blood Count

A full blood count (FBC) is a common blood test to check a person's general health or to screen for conditions such as anaemia. In a laboratory the number of red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood are assessed. Red cells are vital for transporting oxygen around the body. Haemoglobin makes up part of the red blood cells. The body uses white cells to fight infections. Platelets play a role in blood clotting, stopping bleeding. How is the full blood count carried out? A small sample of blood is taken from a vein in the arm by a nurse, doctor or phlebotomist (someone specially trained to collect blood from patients for laboratory tests). The test may be taken in a clinic, GP's surgery or hospital department. The area of skin where the needle will go in to take the sample may be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe. A tourniquet is then usually put round the upper arm to make the vein swell to make it easier to take the sample. A slight pricking sensation may be felt from the needle. If a person is nervous about needles, the person taking the sample should be told so they can make the patient feel more at ease. One collection needle device can be used to collect several samples for different types of blood test. After the test, pressure is put on the small puncture in the skin for several minutes with a cotton wool pad. This stops any bleeding and helps prevent bruising. A plaster is usually applied to keep the area clean and prevent infection. The vial of blood is sent to a laboratory where the different types of blood cells are measured or counted. Understanding full blood count test results The results of the full blood count test will be known quickly, or in a few days, depending on the urgency of the test. Results may be given to doctors in hospital for day case p Continue reading >>

All The Symptoms But Negative Tests

I recently saw the following question: I have all the symptoms for diabetes but the test always comes back negative. Why? My reply: If you have symptoms of diabetes, it’s almost 100% likely that testing for diabetes will be positive. As I see it, there are two issues to be tackled in answering your question as to why: What symptoms do you have? Classic symptoms include extreme thirst, excessive volumes of urine, and hunger (these are called polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia in medical jargon). There are lots of other symptoms, and some people have a lot of them, while other folks may have few or no symptoms. Here’s a comprehensive list: extreme thirst, excessive volumes of urine, and hunger fatigue/tiredness nighttime urination blurred vision slow healing of wounds frequent infections, including vaginal yeast infections in women weight loss despite increased appetite (much more common in uncontrolled type 1 diabetes than in type 2) Tingling, pain, and/or numbness in the hands or feet dry itchy skin What testing did you have done? There are basically three tests for diabetes: Urine sugar. A positive test is likely if your blood glucose level has been over 180 mg/dl or thereabouts during the time between the current and previous urination. Blood sugar (AKA blood glucose). A fasting level of 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/L) or higher on more than one testing occasion is diagnostic of diabetes. Sometimes BG is measured repeatedly after ingesting a lot of glucose, in what is called a Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT or GTT); BG values of 200 or higher are abnormal. A1C (this test is also called hemoglobin A1C or glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1c). A value of 6.5 or more indicates diabetes. The A1C test is influenced by BG changes over a period of about 2 or 3 months, so if your Continue reading >>

What Your Pet's Blood And Urine Tests Can Actually Reveal

Why does your veterinarian recommend routine testing of blood and urine, particularly in senior dogs and cats? The goal of every veterinarian is to identify any problems your pet may have very early, because sometimes, early detection can mean better treatment options or possibly slowing the progression of a disease. It is amazing what can be learned about your pet’s health with a few tests conducted on samples of blood and urine. Drawing the blood sample or catching a bit of urine is the first part of the equation. So what happens after your veterinarian obtains samples of your pet’s blood and urine? The blood sample is usually divided into two different types of tubes — a red top and a lavender top. The red-topped tube allows the blood cells to clot so the fluid in the blood, called serum, can be tested for levels of certain chemicals and enzymes. This serum can be used for a number of different tests that will tell your veterinarian how some ofyour pet’s internal organs are functioning. Your veterinarian may refer to these tests as a “chemistry panel” and may even request specific panels that can help diagnose problems with your pet’s thyroid, kidneys or liver, just to name a few. The lavender-topped tube contains a chemical that prevents the blood from clotting so that the red blood cells (which carry oxygen to tissues) and white blood cells (which help fight infections) can be counted. This is called a CBC (complete blood count). A drop of this unclotted blood will also be placed on a slide and viewed under a microscope because a lot can be learned from looking at the shape and condition of your pet’s blood cells. And that just covers the basic blood tests. A basic urine test (urinalysis) can provide additional information on many health conditions. Continue reading >>

5 Important Tests For Type 2 Diabetes

It takes more than just one abnormal blood test to diagnose diabetes.Istockphoto For centuries, diabetes testing mostly consisted of a physician dipping his pinkie into a urine sample and tasting it to pick up on abnormally high sugar. Thankfully, testing for type 2 diabetes is lot easier now—at least for doctors. Urine tests can still pick up diabetes. However, sugar levels need to be quite high (and diabetes more advanced) to be detected on a urine test, so this is not the test of choice for type 2 diabetes. Blood tests Almost all diabetes tests are now conducted on blood samples, which are collected in a visit to your physician or obstetrician (if you're pregnant). More about type 2 diabetes If you have an abnormal resultmeaning blood sugar is too high—on any of these tests, you'll need to have more testing. Many things can affect blood sugar (such as certain medications, illness, or stress). A diabetes diagnosis requires more than just one abnormal blood sugar result. The main types of diabetes blood tests include: Oral glucose-tolerance test. This test is most commonly performed during pregnancy. You typically have your blood drawn once, then drink a syrupy glucose solution and have your blood drawn at 30 to 60 minute intervals for up to three hours to see how your body is handling the glut of sugar. Normal result: Depends on how many grams of glucose are in the solution, which can vary. Fasting blood sugar. This is a common test because it's easy to perform. After fasting overnight, you have your blood drawn at an early morning doctor's visit and tested to see if your blood sugar is in the normal range. Normal result: 70-99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or less than 5.5 mmol/L Two-hour postprandial test. This blood test is done two hours after you have eate Continue reading >>

Diabetes Tests

Diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s ability to either produce or use insulin. Insulin helps the body utilize blood sugar for energy. Diabetes results in blood sugar, or blood glucose, that rises to abnormally high levels. Over time, diabetes results in damage to blood vessels and nerves, causing a variety of symptoms, including: difficulty seeing tingling and numbness in the hands and feet increased risk for a heart attack or stroke An early diagnosis means you can start treatment and take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. In its early stages, diabetes may or may not cause many symptoms. You should get tested if you experience any of the early symptoms that do sometimes occur, including: extreme thirst feeling tired all the time feeling very hungry, even after eating blurry vision urinating more often than usual have sores or cuts that won’t heal Some people should be tested for diabetes even if they aren’t experiencing symptoms. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends you undergo diabetes testing if you’re overweight (body mass index greater than 25) and fall into any of the following categories: you’re a high risk ethnicity (African American, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, Asian American) you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, or heart disease you have a family history of diabetes you have a personal history of abnormal blood sugar levels or signs of insulin resistance you don’t engage in regular physical activity you’re a woman with a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or gestational diabetes The ADA also recommends you undergo an initial blood sugar test if you are over the age of 45. This helps you establish a baseline for blood sugar levels. Because your risk for diabetes i Continue reading >>

Routine Blood Screening Is Essential To Detecting Diabetes

THE SPECIALIST: DR. TRACY BREEN ON DIABETES The clinical director of the Mount Sinai Diabetes Center, Breen is a general endocrinologist who treats people with hormone disorders ranging from thyroid- to estrogenrelated. Her speciality is treating Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which make up the majority of her practice. WHO’S AT RISK One of the most common health problems in the United States today, diabetes is a group of conditions that affects how your body manages glucose levels in the blood. “Diabetes is a problem with blood sugar being too high,” says Breen. “It can happen because a person’s body is not making insulin, or is resistant to the insulin it’s making.” Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that is essential for regulating the body’s glucose and energy metabolism. Diabetes has become increasingly prevalent in the past 20 years. “During that time, there’s been a growing epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes,” says Breen. “We estimate that at least 10% of the adult population of the U.S. has diabetes, whether they know it or not.” A full quarter of the population has an abnormal fasting blood-sugar level or some other sign of pre-diabetes. The majority of diabetes cases fall into one of two categories: Type 1, which was formerly referred to as juvenile diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult-onset diabetes. “With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin altogether, for reasons we don’t always under-stand,” says Breen. Only about 10% of diabetes patients have Type 1, and they will depend on insulin therapy for the rest of their lives. “Type 2 is often a problem of insulin resistance,” says Breen. “In the early stages of the disease, the pancreas may make extra insulin, but the body is resi Continue reading >>

Diagnosing Diabetes In Dogs

How Diabetes is Diagnosed The primary symptoms of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in dogs are increased thirst and water consumption, increased urination, increased appetite, increased food intake and weight loss. While the presence of these symptoms can lead to a tentative diagnosis of diabetes, in order to confirm the diagnosis the veterinarian must perform a number of tests to rule out other possible causes of the dog’s symptoms and to determine an appropriate course of treatment. Fortunately, diabetes mellitus is not particularly difficult to diagnose, and it is one of the more manageable metabolic diseases of companion dogs. Dogs with diabetes mellitus cannot properly metabolize or use dietary sugars either due to insulin insufficiency or insulin resistance. Unprocessed sugars will build up in circulating blood, which is called “hyperglycemia.” Eventually, glucose will start to be excreted in the urine (this is called “glycosuria”). Hyperglycemia and glycosuria can easily be detected through simple blood and urine tests that can easily be conducted at almost any veterinary clinic. One of those tests involves fasting the dog for a period of time and then assessing a blood sample for its glucose levels. Dogs with fasting hyperglycemia probably have diabetes. Routine blood work (a complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile) can also help identify kidney or liver disease. Any detectable amount of glucose in a dog’s urine is abnormal and highly suggestive of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes also causes the dog’s body to enter starvation mode. Because the dog is unable to process and use glucose normally, over time its body begins to break down and use stored proteins and fats for energy, so that essential bodily functions can continue. The breakdow Continue reading >>

Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis

Your health care professional can diagnose diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes through blood tests. The blood tests show if your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Do not try to diagnose yourself if you think you might have diabetes. Testing equipment that you can buy over the counter, such as a blood glucose meter, cannot diagnose diabetes. Who should be tested for diabetes? Anyone who has symptoms of diabetes should be tested for the disease. Some people will not have any symptoms but may have risk factors for diabetes and need to be tested. Testing allows health care professionals to find diabetes sooner and work with their patients to manage diabetes and prevent complications. Testing also allows health care professionals to find prediabetes. Making lifestyle changes to lose a modest amount of weight if you are overweight may help you delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes Most often, testing for occurs in people with diabetes symptoms. Doctors usually diagnose type 1 diabetes in children and young adults. Because type 1 diabetes can run in families, a study called TrialNet offers free testing to family members of people with the disease, even if they don’t have symptoms. Type 2 diabetes Experts recommend routine testing for type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older are between the ages of 19 and 44, are overweight or obese, and have one or more other diabetes risk factors are a woman who had gestational diabetes1 Medicare covers the cost of diabetes tests for people with certain risk factors for diabetes. If you have Medicare, find out if you qualify for coverage . If you have different insurance, ask your insurance company if it covers diabetes tests. Though type 2 diabetes most often develops in adults, children also ca Continue reading >>