Diabetes Health
SmarTest Labs offers Diabetes Tests to determine levels of various substances.
Diabetes Mellitus is caused by high levels of blood sugar (glucose). The hormone insulin regulates glucose levels. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (type I) or when cells are resistant to the effects of insulin (type II). Chronically uncontrolled diabetes can cause serious problems including blindness, peripheral neuropathy, renal failure, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.
Hemoglobin A1C (Diabetes Monitoring)
While a serum glucose measures the glucose level right now, measuring the hemoglobin A1C tells us how well the glucose has been managed over the last three months.
A1C is a blood test for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. It measures your average blood glucose, or blood sugar, level over the past 3 months. Doctors may use the A1C alone or in combination with other diabetes tests to make a diagnosis. They also use the A1C to see how well you are managing your diabetes.
Glucose
- The Glucose (Serum) Test measures the amount of glucose in the blood after a fasting period. It is a standard test used to diagnose hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), and diabetes.
- This test determines if your blood glucose is within a healthy range. It is used to screen for, diagnose, and monitor pre-diabetes.
- These conditions may not have obvious symptoms and can damage organs in the long-term.
- Abnormally high/low levels, slow return to normal levels from either of these conditions and/or inability to normalize blood sugar levels means that the person being tested probably has some kind of medical condition like type 2 diabetes which is caused by cellular insensitivity to insulin. Glucose tests are thus often used to diagnose such conditions.
Comprehensive Diabetes Health Panel
This panel provides comprehensive maintenance for patients with diabetes. It includes a CBC which monitors for anemia and signs of infection, a comprehensive metabolic panel to monitor electrolytes and enzymes, Hemoglobin A1C to assess long term management of glucose, and diabetic urinalysis to look for signs of kidney disease.