Diabetes is a disease in which above normal levels of glucose circulate in the bloodstream, an unhealthy condition that can, over time, damage the body's organs and circulation system. A major objective for people with diabetes is to manage and control the levels of their blood sugar (in the form of glucose).
For the person with diabetes, knowing the levels of sugars in the blood is essential in assessing their state of health and how well their diabetic condition is being controlled, a major task for all diabetics.
Home blood glucose monitoring
Performing a self-administered blood test is a daily routine for most diabetics and essential for them to know the status of the blood glucose levels that determine their diabetic condition. Some people with diabetes may only make the test once a day while others may need to take several blood tests throughout the day in order to more closely monitor the effects of their food intake and exercise levels that play a significant role in the rise and fall of blood sugar levels.
The home blood test is performed with the aid of a small hand-held measuring device that provides a digital reading after the application of a small droplet of blood from the end of a finger -- obtained after making a small pinprick with a special lancet designed for the purpose.
There are two main blood sugar level targets to aim for, known as the fasting blood sugar level and the post-prandial blood sugar level.
Fasting blood test
In the United States, blood sugar levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and in most other countries they are measured in millimoles per liter (mmol/L)
The fasting blood test is usually made in the morning after a night's sleep and before eating. According to the American Diabetes Association, the normal range for fasting blood sugars for a person who does not have diabetes is 70 to 100 mg/dl (4 to 5.6 mmol/L)
For the person with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting blood glucose level of 70-130 mg/dl.
The post-prandial test
After eating food, the sugars in the blood increase depending on the sugar content of the food consumed and in a healthy non-diabetic person they usually return to normal levels after about 2 hours.
For the post-prandial test, the test taken 2 hours after a meal, the recommended target level is to be less than 180 mg/dL (<10.0 mmol/L) For many diabetics, that level is difficult to achieve and requires much attention to the types and amounts of food consumed.
Clinical blood tests
There are also important blood tests to determine blood sugar levels that are requisitioned by a doctor. For the person with diabetes, these blood tests are usually ordered periodically at about 3 or 4-month intervals, called the A1c (or variously as the glycated hemoglobin test or glycosylated hemoglobin test). The A1c blood test results, obtained after chemical analysis, provide an indication of the blood sugar levels that have existed during the prior 12 week period approximately. The test is based on the fact that blood cells are constantly being produced by the body and have a lifetime of about 12 weeks. Some of the hemoglobin molecules in those blood cells will have glucose attached to them and the A1c measures the percentage of hemoglobin cells that do have them attached.
The A1c target levels
The target for the A1c levels for the non-diabetic person is to be below 6 %, for the person with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association suggests that the typical range should be at less than 7%.
Clinical blood tests provide an analysis of many other important blood components, including cholesterol, tryglycerides, that can help the doctor determine a patient's state of health.
For the person with diabetes, knowing the levels of sugars in the blood is essential in assessing their state of health and how well their diabetic condition is being controlled, a major task for all diabetics.
Home blood glucose monitoring
Performing a self-administered blood test is a daily routine for most diabetics and essential for them to know the status of the blood glucose levels that determine their diabetic condition. Some people with diabetes may only make the test once a day while others may need to take several blood tests throughout the day in order to more closely monitor the effects of their food intake and exercise levels that play a significant role in the rise and fall of blood sugar levels.
The home blood test is performed with the aid of a small hand-held measuring device that provides a digital reading after the application of a small droplet of blood from the end of a finger -- obtained after making a small pinprick with a special lancet designed for the purpose.
There are two main blood sugar level targets to aim for, known as the fasting blood sugar level and the post-prandial blood sugar level.
Fasting blood test
In the United States, blood sugar levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and in most other countries they are measured in millimoles per liter (mmol/L)
The fasting blood test is usually made in the morning after a night's sleep and before eating. According to the American Diabetes Association, the normal range for fasting blood sugars for a person who does not have diabetes is 70 to 100 mg/dl (4 to 5.6 mmol/L)
For the person with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting blood glucose level of 70-130 mg/dl.
The post-prandial test
After eating food, the sugars in the blood increase depending on the sugar content of the food consumed and in a healthy non-diabetic person they usually return to normal levels after about 2 hours.
For the post-prandial test, the test taken 2 hours after a meal, the recommended target level is to be less than 180 mg/dL (<10.0 mmol/L) For many diabetics, that level is difficult to achieve and requires much attention to the types and amounts of food consumed.
Clinical blood tests
There are also important blood tests to determine blood sugar levels that are requisitioned by a doctor. For the person with diabetes, these blood tests are usually ordered periodically at about 3 or 4-month intervals, called the A1c (or variously as the glycated hemoglobin test or glycosylated hemoglobin test). The A1c blood test results, obtained after chemical analysis, provide an indication of the blood sugar levels that have existed during the prior 12 week period approximately. The test is based on the fact that blood cells are constantly being produced by the body and have a lifetime of about 12 weeks. Some of the hemoglobin molecules in those blood cells will have glucose attached to them and the A1c measures the percentage of hemoglobin cells that do have them attached.
The A1c target levels
The target for the A1c levels for the non-diabetic person is to be below 6 %, for the person with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association suggests that the typical range should be at less than 7%.
Clinical blood tests provide an analysis of many other important blood components, including cholesterol, tryglycerides, that can help the doctor determine a patient's state of health.
0 comments:
Post a Comment