Diabetes is considered the scourge of the 21st century. He gained such "glory" due to the large distribution among the population, while absolutely all categories of citizens are at risk. What tests should be done for diabetes in order to identify the disease?
What is diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a pathology of the endocrine system, which is characterized by a deficiency of a hormone that is normally produced by the pancreas - insulin. Due to the development of the disease, all systems of the human body begin to suffer.
There can be many reasons for development: heredity, hormonal disruptions, obesity, unstable mental states. There are two types of diabetes - insulin dependent and insulin independent. They differ in the need to inject a hormone in the first case and simply by increasing blood sugar in the second.
You can suspect the disease if you have the following symptoms:
- drastic weight loss or, conversely, weight gain;
- constant thirst;
- unreasonable itchy skin.
When these signs appear, it is necessary to conduct the necessary tests for diabetes mellitus to determine the cause of the disease state.
What is the danger of diabetes
A greater danger than the disease itself can be its complications. They can be as follows:
- ketoacidosis - increased production of ketone bodies, which negatively affects the body and can lead to a diabetic coma;
- hypoglycemia - a decrease in the amount of sugar in the blood, while the patient feels weak, he has a cold sweat, convulsions may develop, and urgent hospitalization is required;
- hyperglycemia is an increase in the concentration of sugar in the blood, which is characterized by increased weakness, headache, indigestion, fainting. This condition is considered much more dangerous than hypoglycemia;
- diabetic foot - deformity of the foot, the appearance of difficult-to-heal ulcers. With insufficient or no treatment, amputation of the limb may be necessary.
What tests for diabetes mellitus are needed in order to start treatment for diabetes mellitus in a timely manner and avoid its unpleasant consequences.
Determining the amount of glucose
There are several ways to correctly determine the presence of glucose in the blood:
- On an empty stomach - most often blood sampling is done in the morning, when the patient did not have time to have breakfast. At the same time, about 12 hours should pass from the previous meal.
- Glucose level is determined1 hour after eating. This blood test for diabetes is needed to monitor the body's absorption of food eaten. This analysis is necessary for this disease.
- Analysis for glycated hemoglobin is performed twice a year for non-insulin-dependent patients and 3-4 times a year for patients receiving an artificial hormone.
A person with diabetes should keep a diary in which the results of these blood tests will be recorded regularly. They can be done at home using a glucometer.
Fructosamine test
This study aims to track the level of fructosamine in the blood. With its help, you can easily control the course of the course of the disease, the appearance of complications. In the absence of diabetes, the indicators should be as follows:
- under 14 years - 195-279 µmol/l;
- after 14 years - 204-284 µmol/l.
In diabetes, this level rises to 286-320 µmol/L, and in severe conditions it can be 370 µmol/L.
The increased level of fructosamine in diabetes has a bad effect on the urinary system, kidney failure, hypothyroidism may develop. Doctors recommend repeating this laboratory test every 2-3 weeks to monitor the patient's condition.
CBC
This blood test for diabetes mellitus helps to determine the amount of one or another component of the physiological fluid, identify pathology, and also identify foreign inclusions. Blood sampling for diagnostics is carried outby piercing the skin on the ring finger. People with suspected disease are advised to donate blood on an empty stomach or after a light unsweetened breakfast, while those with diabetes are drawn twice - on an empty stomach and an hour after a small meal.
In the laboratory, blood is examined according to the following indicators:
- Hemoglobin is an important component of blood. A low level of hemoglobin may indicate internal bleeding, anemia. Elevated hemoglobin most often indicates dehydration, at which time the blood thickens, as a result of which the concentration of the components increases.
- Platelets. A small amount indicates poor blood clotting. Most often this occurs against the background of infectious diseases. Elevated platelets indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
- Leukocytes are white blood cells. An increase in their level can occur due to various inflammations. A decrease indicates the inability of the body to fight the disease.
- Hematocrit is the volume of red blood cells in the blood. A decrease in hematocrit can be observed in pregnant women, as well as in anemia. An increase indicates erythrocytosis.
Complete blood test for diabetes is recommended annually, especially for people who are at risk.
Blood chemistry
What other tests for diabetes do people with suspected diabetes have? A blood test for biochemistry is common not only in diabetes, but also in many others.diseases, as it gives complete information about the composition of the blood. Blood sampling is traditionally carried out on an empty stomach or 8-10 hours after eating.
This laboratory test determines the amount and concentration of the following blood components:
- protein;
- glucose;
- creatinine;
- urea;
- bilirubin;
- cholesterol;
- amylase;
- lipase;
- ACT;
- ALT
Biochemical blood test is carried out as prescribed by the attending doctor. He althy people are recommended to conduct this study once a year to monitor their he alth.
Analysis for glycated hemoglobin
This laboratory test helps to identify the disease in its early stages. In addition, a glycated hemoglobin test can indicate a person's predisposition to the disease, so it is recommended to do it once a year, even for he althy people.
Glycated hemoglobin is present in the blood of all people, regardless of the presence of diabetes. However, the difference lies in the amount: in diabetic patients, its concentration in the blood is significantly increased, which indicates the presence of the disease. This study can be carried out both on an empty stomach and after eating, its indicators will remain unchanged.
Urine analysis
Urine analysis in diabetes mellitus plays an important role, it can be used to evaluate the following indicators:
- urine quality - color, transparency, presence of sediment andforeign matter;
- the ability of the urinary system to hold urine;
- chemical composition;
- presence of proteins, acetone, sugar.
It is recommended to take an analysis every six months, for these purposes, a morning collection is made in a special container. A general urine test is considered a rough test that gives only a superficial picture of the presence of any disease or inflammatory process, since an increase in normal values is also observed in other diseases.
Urine microalbumin test
Urine microalbumin test is used to diagnose diabetes mellitus. The analysis is as follows - all urine is collected per day, except for the first morning. Part of the resulting liquid is delivered to the laboratory for further research.
In a he althy person, albumin is present in the urine in small quantities. In the presence of diabetes mellitus, its concentration increases significantly. At a concentration of about 300 mg / day in the urine, one can speak of a severe stage of the disease and prerequisites for the development of nephropathy - a violation of the kidneys.
Ultrasound of the kidneys
The kidneys are the most commonly affected by diabetes. In the presence of a disease, ultrasound is recommended to be performed regularly to monitor kidney function. The study reveals structural changes in the organs. In parallel with ultrasound, it is recommended to take urine tests for a comprehensive study of the excretory system.
Fundus examination
First of all, in the presence of diabetes, the vessels suffer, especially the capillaries of the eyes, as the most thin and fragile. Examination by an ophthalmologist helps to determine the degree of eye damage in diabetes mellitus. In addition, against the background of diabetes, complex diseases such as:
- cataract;
- glaucoma;
- retinal damage.
Comprehensive inspection is also important to carry out at least once a year.
Electrocardiogram
The cardiovascular system is often affected in diabetes. In addition, changes in the functioning of the heart muscle can also indicate the development of latent diabetes. An electrocardiogram is included in the list of mandatory annual diagnostics that are recommended for everyone.
Dopplerography of the veins of the extremities
Hands and feet in diabetes mellitus tend to swell, as well as to blockage of the veins, which develops against the background of a deterioration in the outflow of blood. Doppler ultrasound helps to identify complications in the vessels of the extremities, which may manifest as a consequence of the disease.
Diabetes during pregnancy
Undoubtedly, pregnancy is an important event in the life of every woman. However, this special condition requires the most careful monitoring of he alth. What tests to take for diabetes during pregnancy?
Diagnostic measures for pregnant women are no different from tests for ordinary people. However, there are somefeatures.
Pregnant women undergo special screenings that show the level of sugar in the blood. At the same time, the normal indicator should not be more than 5 mmol / l on an empty stomach, 10 mmol / l 1 hour after drinking sweet water, and 8.5 mmol / l 2 hours after drinking a glucose solution.
Testing for diabetes during pregnancy may be needed if a woman has the following symptoms:
- frequent dizziness;
- feeling foggy in the head;
- thirst;
- convulsions;
- feeling hungry shortly after eating.
Normally, tests for latent diabetes mellitus are recommended to be carried out annually to monitor he alth status. In addition, this way you can identify the disease at an early stage.
