According to the International Diabetes Federation, 463 million adults lived with diabetes in the United States in 2019. Diabetes is a disease in which your body is unable to turn glucose found in food into usable energy. This is caused by the body’s lack or misuse of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps this process by moving glucose from your blood to your cells.
But what does this look like for those who live with diabetes? There are a number of physical effects that are caused by the disease, including damage to the eyes, feet, kidneys and cardiovascular system.
To avoid any serious complications, it’s important to stay up-to-date on all tests and treatments. These three blood tests are especially important to your preventative health care plan.
Hemoglobin A1c Blood Test
Also known as the glycosylated hemoglobin test, the A1c test is used to diagnose and monitor diabetes. This test, while it does measure blood sugar, is not the same as the daily blood glucose test performed by those with diabetes.
The A1c test surveys your average glucose level over the span of three months. It observes hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and determines how much of your hemoglobin is coated with sugar. These results provide a long-term estimation of your blood sugar levels:
- Less than 5.7 percent – Normal blood sugar
- 5.7-6.4 percent – Pre-diabetes
- 6.5-7 percent – Diabetes range (mild, with relatively healthy blood sugar)
- More than 7 percent – Diabetes range (with risk of complications)
Why does the A1c test matter if you’re already monitoring your blood sugar daily?
This test offers a more comprehensive view of what your glucose is doing. Managing and anticipating your blood sugar’s activity is a critical part of preventative care. Your short-term levels are only a small piece of the puzzle.
Short-term complications include hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. Hypoglycemia, otherwise known as low blood sugar, is caused by having too much insulin in your blood stream and can lead to unconsciousness or, in some cases, diabetic coma. On the flip side, diabetic ketoacidosis is caused by not having enough insulin, resulting in too much sugar in your blood stream. This condition leads to an increase in acids called ketones, which can cause increased urination and abdominal pain.
There are also a number of long-term complications that result from blood sugar issues. Diabetic neuropathy results from having high blood sugar levels over extended time. With this condition, nerves throughout the body are damaged, most often in the legs and feet.
Diabetic retinopathy happens over time as high blood sugar begins to damage the blood vessels in the back of the eyes. This increases your risk of conditions like glaucoma, and can cause blurred vision and even vision loss.
Finally, kidney disease and end stage renal disease (ESDR) can be caused by high blood sugar. ESRD symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and swelling in the hands, legs, eyes or lower back.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
Your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is measured to determine how well your kidneys are filtering your blood. The results of this test can tell you if you’re at risk of kidney disease, or what stage you are in. The eGFR test measures how much creatinine is in your body to determine your kidneys’ efficiency. Creatinine is waste that we produce as we build muscle, and our kidneys, when functioning properly, filter it out of our blood. Results can vary between healthy kidneys and end stage renal disease.
- 90 or higher – Healthy kidneys (Or, if kidneys are damaged, stage 1 of kidney disease.)
- 89-60 – Stage 2, mild loss of kidney function.
- 30-59 – Stage 3, ranging from mild to severe loss of kidney function.
- 29-15 – Stage 4, severe loss of kidney function.
- 15 or less – Stage 5, end stage renal disease.
The eGFR test is important to include in your regular routine because it is estimated that 1 in 3 people with diabetes also has chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, kidney disease can’t be cured, but it can be managed with the right balance of dietary and medical treatment.
Those with diabetes also have a higher risk of kidney disease and people often don’t detect it until it has advanced into later stages, so regular testing is important for early discovery and effective management.
Lipid Panel/Lipid Profile
Lipids are fats that store energy and play a key role in cell structure and function. A lipid panel or lipid profile tests the blood to measure various fats, including high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) – you may have heard of them as “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol.” These levels are important to monitor because people with diabetes are more likely to have irregularities in their lipids.
Maintaining good cardiovascular health is imperative for those with diabetes because of the risks involved, like coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia and other conditions. Cholesterol and lipids help small blood vessels in the feet, eyes and kidneys maintain a good flow of blood, reducing the risk of damage.
You can prevent a lot of complications on your own with diligent blood sugar management, but there are still some abnormalities in the lipids that can’t be fixed without specific treatment. For this reason, lipid screenings should be performed annually.
Living with a chronic disease like diabetes is, no doubt, more challenging than living without it. However, with the right level of attention and preventative care, it doesn’t have to stop you from living a full and vibrant life.
