Testing for Diabetics

Anyone with insulin dependent diabetes will probably be advised to monitor his or her blood glucose at home. Approximately half of those with non-insulin dependent diabetes also monitor their blood in this fashion.

How often should you test?

People with IDDM should test their blood twice a day or even more often (some people test four times day). Since the object is to monitor the range of your blood glucose, it is a good idea to test at different times through the day.

If you blood test only once a day, it is wise to alter the times you do it (after discussion of the most appropriate regimen for you with your health professional). If you find a high blood glucose level, say around mid-afternoon, try testing at the same time for the next few days to see if it's always high then. This could be in reaction to what you're eating for lunch, and your diet or medication may need adjustment.

Home monitoring can also be a very useful way to check out new foods, to see what effect they have on your blood glucose levels.

When you get the flu, or an type of illness, it can throw your blood glucose levels out of whack, so you should test more often when you're sick... and t sure to keep taking your insulin.

It helps your doctor if you keep a record your blood glucose levels; a sort of "diabetes diary". This requires discipline, and it's easy to let record-keeping slip. If you do, it's better to own up. Don't fill a record with invented figures just to keep him or her off your back. It could be dangerous, as the doctor could mark changes to your treatment based on them. Your blood sugar record are information you're sharing with your health professional so that together, you can manage your diabetes better.

People with insulin dependent diabetes should check their urine ketones. Ketones are chemicals produced as a by-product of the burning of fat for fuel; they can be caused by dieting and also, oddly enough, by a high-fat diet At high levels they are toxic, and they are responsible for ketoacidosis.

Ketones in the urine can be detected with a simple dipstick tea and it's a good idea to always keep some dipsticks in the house to check your urine if you're feeling any of the symptoms of hyperglycemia. You should always test for ketones when you are ill, when blood glucose levels tend to be more erratic. If you find ketones and your blood glucose levels are also high, call your doctor fast.

• Glycosylated (glycated) haemoglobin test . This complicated sounding test is, in fact, a sophisticated form of blood glucose testing. It gives your doctor a picture of how your diabetes has been managed for the last 90 days. This test is usually done three or four times a year.
• Fructose test. This is another form of blood glucose testing that gives the doctor a picture of how your diabetes has been manages over the last two or three weeks. This also usually done three or four times a year, together with the glycosylated haemoglobin test.
• Blood fats test (cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein).

Because people with diabetes are more prone to high blood fat levels, which lead to narrowing of blood vessels and attendant complications, they should have their blood fats tested annually.

• Microalbimuinaris test. This is a test which picks up microscopic amounts of protein (albumin) being lost in the urine — very early warning signs of kidney damage. This test should be performed annually.

• Eye test:  Your eyes should be checked by an ophthalmologist or diabetes specialist annually or biannually. Older people should have eyes tested immediately their diabetes is diagnosed, because there may already be tiny changes to the blood vessels in the eyes.

It may be you have to encourage your doctor to order some of these tests. This may be hard if he has a busy practice and your appointment is only of a few minutes duration, but you can insist. It is your right as a medical consumer.