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Introduction
Introduction
Blood and urine tests help show if your diabetes treatment is working and can alert your doctor to early signs of diabetes complications, such as kidney disease.
Click on the tabs to the left to find out what these diabetes lab tests measure, how they're done, what results are desirable and how often to have the tests.
Serum creatinine test
Serum creatinine test
This test measures the level of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is a chemical waste product that's produced when you use your muscles. If your kidneys aren't functioning properly, they aren't able to remove as much creatinine from your blood.
How the test is done
A lab technician takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm and sends the blood sample to a lab for analysis.
Recommended results
The normal ranges are:
- Women. 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- Men. 0.9 to 1.4 mg/dL
How often to have the test
People with diabetes typically have this lab test at least once each year.
Lipids test
Lipids test
A lipids test measures the level of fats (lipids) in your blood. A rising level of certain blood fats can alert your doctor to an increased risk of blood vessel damage. The test measures the level of two such substances, which increase your heart disease risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides. The test also determines your level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, which protects against heart disease.
How the test is done
A lab technician takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm and sends the blood sample to a lab for analysis.
Recommended results
Optimal levels are:
- LDL: Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- HDL: Greater than 40 mg/dL if you're a man or greater than 50 mg/dL if you're a woman
- Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL
How often to have the test
The ADA recommends that you have this test at least once each year and more often if your levels aren't normal or you're taking lipid-lowering medication.
Last Updated: 04/06/2007
