E D U C A T I O N

TESTS

T E S T S

Learning About Tests When You Have Diabetes

Why do you need regular diabetes tests?

Diabetes can be hard on your body if it's not well controlled. But having tests on a regular schedule can help you and your doctor find problems early, when it's easier to start managing them.

What tests do you need?

The tests you may have, how often you should have them, and the goals of the tests are:

A1c Blood Test

This test shows the average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. It helps your doctor see whether blood sugar levels have been staying within your target range.

How often:
Every 3 to 6 months

Goal:
A blood sugar level in your target range
Cholesterol Test

This test measures the amount of a type of fat in the blood. It is common for people with diabetes to also have high cholesterol. Too much cholesterol in the blood can build up inside the blood vessels and raise the risk for heart attack and stroke.

How often:
At the time of your diabetes diagnosis, and as often as your doctor recommends after that

Goal:
A cholesterol level in your target range
Blood Pressure Test

This test measures the pressure of blood flow in the arteries. Controlling blood pressure can help prevent damage to nerves and blood vessels.

How often:
Every 3 to 6 months

Goal:
A blood pressure level in your target range
Albumin-Creatinine Ratio Test

This test checks for kidney damage by looking for the protein albumin (say "al-BYOO-mun") in the urine. Albumin is normally found in the blood. Kidney damage can let small amounts of it leak into the urine.

How often:
Once a year

Goal:
No protein in the urine
Blood Creatinine Test/Estimated Glomerular Filtration (eGFR)

The blood creatinine (say "kree-AT-uh-neen") level shows how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine is a waste product that muscles release into the blood. Blood creatinine is used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate. A high level of creatinine and/or a low eGFR may mean your kidneys are not working as well as they should.

How often:
Once a year

Goal:
Normal level of creatinine in the blood. The eGFR goal is greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m².
Complete Foot Exam

The doctor checks for foot sores and whether any sensation has been lost.

How often:
Once a year

Goal:
Healthy feet with no foot ulcers or loss of feeling
Dental Exam and Cleaning

The dentist checks for gum disease and tooth decay. People with high blood sugar are more likely to have these problems.

How often:
Every 6 months

Goal:
Healthy teeth and gums
Complete Eye Exam

High blood sugar levels can damage the eyes. This exam is done by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. It includes a dilated eye exam. The exam shows whether there's damage to the back of the eye (diabetic retinopathy).

How often:
Once a year. If you don't have any signs of diabetic retinopathy, your doctor may recommend an exam every 2 years.

Goal:
No damage to the back of the eye
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Blood Test

This test checks for thyroid disease. Too little thyroid hormone can cause some medicines (like insulin) to stay in the body longer. This can cause low blood sugar. You may be tested if you have high cholesterol or are a woman over 50 years old.

How often:
As part of your diabetes diagnosis, and as often as your doctor recommends after that

Goal:
Normal level of TSH in the blood

Follow-up Care

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Care instructions adapted under license by Alliance In Health Diabetes Control Center. This care instruction is for use with your licensed healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

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A 1 C T E S T

Hemoglobin A1c: About This Test

What is it?

Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test that checks your average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. This test also is called a glycohemoglobin test or an A1c test.

Why is this test done?

The A1c test is done to check how well your diabetes has been controlled over the past 2 to 3 months. Your doctor can use this information to adjust your medicine and diabetes treatment, if needed.

How can you prepare for the test?

You do not need to stop eating before you have an A1c test. This test can be done at any time during the day, even after a meal.

What happens during the test?

The health professional taking a sample of your blood will:

Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
Clean the needle site with alcohol.
Put the needle into the vein.
Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage.

What else should you know about the test?

The test result is usually given as a percentage. The normal A1c is less than 5.7%.

The A1c test result also can be used to find your estimated average glucose, or eAG. Your eAG and A1c show the same thing in two different ways. They both help you learn more about your average blood sugar range over the past 2 to 3 months.