- Mon - Sat / 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- 0741509202
1-HBA1c Test: Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to all the cells of the body. Like other proteins, hemoglobin can join with sugars, such as glucose. When this happens, it becomes glycated hemoglobin, referred to as A1C or glycohemoglobin (or sometimes as HbA1c). The more glucose there is in the blood, the more hemoglobin will join with it. Once joined, hemoglobin and glucose stay that way for the life of the red blood cell—about 3 months.
The A1C test measures the amount of glycohemoglobin in your red blood cells. A lab usually does the A1C test. A sample of your blood is taken. The blood can be taken at any time of the day. It does not matter what food you last ate, and it does not matter what your blood glucose level is at the time of the test.
What the A1C Test Can Do
• Tell you about your average blood glucose level for the past 2 to 3 months. You can then see how your blood glucose control has been. An A1C below 7% is good for most people, while an A1C above 8% is considered very poor control. One should do it 3-6 months. Recommended target levels; <7%A1c
2- Blood pressure: Pressure within blood vessels. You should have a blood pressure test during every hospital visit. Consider purchasing a blood pressure monitor for home use. Diabetes and high blood pressure tend to occur together because they share certain #Physiological traits –- that is, the effects caused by each disease tend to make the other disease more likely to occur. In the case of diabetes and high blood pressure, these effects include:
-Diabetes increases the total amount of fluid in the body, which tends to raise blood pressure
-Diabetes can decrease the ability of the blood vessels to stretch, increasing average blood pressure
-Changes in the way the body produces and handles insulin can directly cause increases in blood pressure
Though these common biological traits partially explain why diabetes and high blood pressure are such a common pair, in many cases, the two diseases are likely to occur together simply because they share a common set of risk factors.
Some important shared risk factors are: —
-Being overweight significantly increases the risk of both diabetes and high blood pressure.
-High-fat diets rich in salt and processed sugars are known to contribute to the development of organ problems that can lead to both diabetes and high blood pressure
-A low level of physical activity makes insulin less effective (which can lead to diabetes) and can contribute to the development of stiff blood vessels, increasing the risk of high blood pressure. Recommended target levels; <130/80 mm Hg
3-Microalbumin (Urine test): A urine microalbumin test is a test to detect microscopic levels of a blood protein (albumin) in your urine. A microalbumin test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage in people at risk of developing kidney disease. Do the test after every six months or once every year. Recommended target levels; Generally:
4- Creatinine (Blood test): A creatinine test is a measure of how well your kidneys are performing their job of filtering waste from your blood. Do the test once every year. Recommended target levels; Results from creatinine in blood or urine are measured and interpreted in many ways, we will highlight the standard methods used in Kenya:
Creatinine usually enters your bloodstream and is filtered from the bloodstream at a generally constant rate. The amount of creatinine in your blood should be relatively stable. An increased level of creatinine may be a sign of poor kidney function.
Serum creatinine is reported as milligrams of creatinine to a deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or micromoles of creatinine to a liter of blood (micromoles/L). The typical range for serum creatinine is:
The measure of serum creatinine may also be used to estimate how quickly the kidneys filter blood (glomerular filtration rate). Because of variability in serum creatinine from one person to another, the GFR may provide a more accurate reading on kidney function.
The formula for calculating GFR takes into account the serum creatinine count and other factors, such as age and sex. A GFR score below 60 suggests kidney disease. The range of scores below 60 may be used to monitor treatment and disease progression.
Other labs can use Creatinine clearance or Albumin/creatinine ratio to interpret your results.
5-Complete cholesterol test: This test includes the calculation of four types of fats in your blood:
Recommended total cholesterol levels: Below 5.18 mmol/L. Your numbers will be considered borderline high if they are within 5.18-6.18 mmol/L and high if above 6.18 mmol/L
Recommended LDL cholesterol levels; Below 2.6 mmol/L (Optimal for people at risk of coronary artery disease or who have a history of diabetes)
Recommended HDL cholesterol levels: POOR; Below 1 mmol/L, menBelow 1.3 mmol/L, women. BETTER; 1-1.5 mmol/L, men1.3-1.5 mmol/L, women. BEST; Above 1.5 mmol/L
Recommended Triglycerides levels: DESIRABLE; Below 1.7 mmol/L. BORDERLINE HIGH; 1.7-2.2 mmol/L. HIGH; 2.3-5.6 mmol/L VERY HIGH;
Above 5.6 mmol/L
6-Dilated eye exam; Pupil dilation is done to increase the size of the pupils during an eye exam so that the eye doctor can fully examine the health of the optic nerve and retina. Eye dilation also makes your vision blurry and your eyes more light sensitive, which, for a few hours, can affect your ability to drive or work. Your Doctor can spot problems like a torn or detached retina or an eye tumor during a dilated exam. They can also diagnose and monitor common eye diseases that can take away your sight: i.e
-Diabetic retinopathy: Signs include blood vessels that leak, swell, or grow abnormally in the retina.
-Glaucoma: Your Doctor looks for damage to the optic nerve.
-Age-related macular degeneration: Protein or pigment buildup and unusual growth of blood vessels are symptoms of a breakdown of the macula.
-Cataract: A clouding of your natural lens.
7-ECG/Echo once a year; An ECG test typically takes 5 to 10 minutes. An ECG machines measures the electrical activity of your heart. Every time your heart beats, an electrical impulse is created. A healthy heart will have a consistent form of waves. The purpose of an electrocardiogram is to help your Doctor understand the health of your heart and check for any abnormalities.
An echocardiogram is a live-imaging test doctors use to monitor your heart activity. The test delivers a live view of the heart by using sound waves that bounce off your heart to produce an image of your heart and valves. It is also called an Echo test for this reason. Echocardiograms are a 20-minute affair (5 minutes of preparation time and 15 minutes for the procedure). The Doctor will apply an ultrasound conductive gel on your body and then run the ultrasound probe over your chest to get the requisite images. Echocardiograms are recommended to confirm the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
8-Examination of your feet every visit; Ideally, people with diabetes should check their feet every day and ensure they look healthy. Ensure you wear shoes that fit your feet well so as not to cause blisters, callouses, or irritation.
Complications in the feet may arise more quickly due to the decreased blood supply and reduced sensation in the feet that accompany diabetes. In addition to having your feet regularly inspected by a physician or podiatrist, here are a few guidelines to follow for the care of your feet. Please check both your feet daily, as per this list. If your vision is impaired, have a family member or friend inspect them.
A. Check for signs of sores, redness, cracks, blisters, or other irritations. It is important to inspect between your toes as well. The use of a mirror can aid in seeing the bottom of the feet.
B. Cut nails straight across.
C. Exercise daily.
D. Do not apply hot water bottles, heating pads, or very hot water to your feet.
E. Do not apply strong antiseptics or chemicals to your feet.
F. Feet should be washed daily with warm water and mild soap. Pat dry after washing.
G. To avoid foot injury, NEVER walk barefoot, especially outdoors.
H. Wear properly fitted cotton socks, avoiding socks with seams.
I. Do not wear shoes without socks.
J. Shoes should fit properly at the time of purchase.
K. Do not wear sandals with thongs between the toes.
L. Inspect the inside of your shoes daily for foreign objects, nails, points, and torn linings.
Notify your Doctor if any of the following occur:
A. Cuts or scrapes that do not heal
B. Redness or swelling spreading along the foot
C. Ingrown, infected toenails
D. Any kind of injury to the foot
E. Discoloration of the foot
F. Loss of sensation in the foot
9-An exercise tolerance test (ETT): This test provides an excellent way to see how your heart behaves during exercise. Your doctor will use an electrocardiograph (ECG) to monitor your heart’s activity and see how your blood pressure and pulse change during the test. Small electrodes are attached to your chest to record the electrical activity of your heart.
Why is an exercise tolerance test done? While you exercise, your heart beats faster and needs more oxygen, which it gets from blood. The test shows if your heart can supply itself with enough blood during exercise.
The exercise tolerance test helps nurses and doctors to:
A. Work out possible causes of chest pain and other symptoms
B. Find out if arteries to the heart are narrowed or blocked
C. Assess your general fitness
D. Find irregular heart rhythms during or after exercise
E. Monitor your heart’s response to treatment.
Your Doctor will ask you to exercise on a treadmill or an exercise bike. The exercise starts at an effortless pace and is gradually made harder by increasing the speed and slope of the treadmill or by putting some resistance on the bike wheel. Electrocardiograph tracings are made while you exercise, and you will also have your blood pressure and heart rate measured from time to time. These are rechecked at the end of the test to make sure everything returns to normal
10-WEIGHT CHECK; To be done during every visit. Doctors use body mass index (BMI) to determine if a person’s weight is healthy. Body mass index, or BMI, combines your weight and height into one number. BMI applies to both men and women and is related to total body fat. People whose BMI is more than 25 face an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, lipid disorders, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and cancer.
To find your BMI:
Calculate your Body Mass Index.Your weight (in kilograms) ÷ [your height (in meters) x your height (in meters)] = BMI. For example, 60 kilograms ÷ (1.65 meters x 1.65 meters) = 22.03.
BMI Categories:
#Underweight = <18.5
#Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
#Overweight = 25–29.9
#Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Keep in mind that the BMI is only a guideline. A very muscular, active person could have a high BMI without health risks. On the other hand, a couch potato may have a lower BMI yet have too much body fat. If you are overweight or obese, the good news is that losing just 10% of your body weight will bring significant improvements in your health and diabetes control.
If you haven’t been religiously following up with your clinics it’s never too late to restart them. Speak with your doctor about the above tests.
We are a Kenyan-owned online Pharmacy and Diabetes Care Center built from a patient-perspective. We are a licensed Online Pharmacy operating from Nairobi and delivering medical supplies countrywide.
