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Common Blood Tests |
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This page gives some information about the blood tests you may have when you have a diabetes check-up.
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HbA1c |
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A marker of average blood glucose control over the previous 6 weeks. This number is not the same as the blood glucose level. Roughly speaking the HbA1c reflects average blood sugar as follows:
| HbA1c |
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Average blood sugar |
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| 7% |
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around 6-8mmol/L |
| 9% |
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around 12-13mmol/L |
| 11% |
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around 15-16mmol/L |
| 14% |
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over 20mmol/L |
HbA1c is only a target. An ideal level may be 7%, but control of diabetes has to be fitted into normal daily life, work, and risks of hypoglycaemia.
The way your average blood glucose (HbA1c) is measured reported will shortly change. Please click here for more information.
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Lipid Profile |
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The lipids are made up of:
"bad" cholesterol - "LDL"
"good" cholesterol - "HDL"
"triglycerides"
You may be asked to fast for this blood test. A decision to use lipid lowering tablets will be made depending on your other medical conditions. As a rule of thumb, a cholesterol level below 5mmol/L, with an LDL below 3mmol/L, and Triglycerides below 2.2mmol/L is good.
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Calcium And Phosphate |
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These levels are checked if you are known to have nephropathy (kidney problem related to diabetes). The calcium can go low and the phosphate high. Tablet therapy to remedy the imbalance may then be suggested.
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U & E's |
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This stands for Urea and Electrolytes and these are tests of kidney function.
urea (should be less than 6.5mmol/L)
creatinine (should be less than 120mmol/L)
Values above these suggest that diabetes has affected the kidneys (Nephropathy) and tests salt content.
sodium (usually between 135 and 145mmol/L)
potassium (usually between 3.5 and 5 mmol/L)
Diuretics (water tablets used for blood pressure or heart failure) can cause both these salts to go too low. Some blood pressure tablets (ACE inhibitors) as well as Nephropathy can cause potassium to go too high. "Lo-salt" should be avoided.
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LFT's |
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This stands for liver function tests. A number of chemicals produced by the liver are measured:
bilirubin (jaundice pigment)
ALT
GGT
AP
If you are on Metformin or one of the glitazones for diabetes control, or if you are on a "statin" for cholesterol control, then liver function tests will be checked periodically to ensure that you can continue to take the tablets.
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