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Is the ‘glucagon stimulation test’ a test that evaluates how much insulin secretion capacity the pancreas has left?
1. Why Evaluate the Pancreas’s Insulin Secretion Capacity? When planning treatment for a person with diabetes, knowing how much ability their pancreas has left to produce its own insulin is crucial. This is key information for differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, or for determining when a patient with Type 2 diabetes needs…
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Does the ‘fructosamine test’ reflect a longer period of average blood sugar (4-6 months) than the Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test?
1. Another Average Blood Glucose Indicator: Fructosamine Fructosamine, like hemoglobin A1c, is a substance formed when glucose in the blood binds to proteins. While HbA1c is glucose bound to the ‘hemoglobin’ protein in red blood cells, fructosamine is primarily glucose bound to ‘albumin,’ the most abundant protein in blood serum. 2. The Difference in the…
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Is a point-of-care A1c test done with a small machine in a clinic as accurate as one analyzed in a large hospital laboratory?
1. Two Methods of HbA1c Testing There are two main ways to measure Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). – Point-of-Care Testing (POCT): This method uses a small, portable device in a doctor’s office or clinic to get a result from a capillary blood sample (fingertip) within minutes. – Standard Laboratory Test: This method involves drawing venous blood…
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Are self-monitoring blood glucose meters always accurate under any condition and completely unaffected by other drugs or physical states?
1. The Principle of Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Meters Most self-monitoring blood glucose meters use an electrochemical principle. When blood is applied to a test strip, an enzyme on the strip reacts with the glucose in the blood to generate a tiny electrical current. The meter measures the strength of this current and converts it into…
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For 3 days before an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), should you minimize carbohydrate intake as much as possible for an accurate test?
1. The Purpose of the Test: To See the Usual Response The purpose of the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is to see how efficiently our body, while maintaining its ‘usual’ dietary habits, copes when a large amount of glucose (75g) is suddenly introduced. Therefore, if you eat an extreme or unusual diet for a…
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Does ‘Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)’ have autoantibodies like Type 1 diabetes, but an onset pattern that is slow and gradual like Type 2 diabetes?
1. LADA, the Diabetes Between Type 1 and Type 2 LADA stands for Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults and is also known by the nickname ‘Type 1.5 diabetes.’ As the names suggest, it is a special form of diabetes that has characteristics of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and is therefore often misdiagnosed…
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Is MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young) similar in symptoms to Type 2 diabetes, but is a monogenic form of diabetes caused by a specific gene defect, unrelated to obesity or lifestyle?
1. What is MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young)? MODY stands for ‘Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young’ and is a rare form of diabetes caused by a defect (mutation) in a single specific gene, different from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. 2. Key Characteristics of MODY – Clear Genetic Inheritance: MODY is inherited in…
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For a diagnostic blood glucose test for diabetes, are the results the same regardless of whether arterial, venous, or capillary (fingertip) blood is used?
1. Glucose Levels Differ Depending on Where You Measure Our body’s blood glucose levels show slight differences depending on the type of blood and the time of measurement. Blood can be broadly categorized into arterial blood, venous blood, and capillary blood from the fingertip. 2. Differences in Glucose Levels by Blood Type – During Fasting:…
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Is ‘postprandial blood glucose’ generally measured based on the 2-hour mark from the *start* of the meal?
1. The Importance of Postprandial Blood Glucose Monitoring Postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose is a crucial indicator of how effectively our body’s insulin responds to the food we eat, especially carbohydrates. Measuring and managing post-meal blood sugar against a consistent standard is essential for reducing glycemic variability and preventing complications. 2. Why is the ‘Start of…
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Does a blood ketone test reflect the body’s current ketone status more accurately and in real-time than a urine ketone test?
1. Two Methods of Measuring Ketones There are two main ways to measure ketones to assess the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): urine tests and blood tests. Both are useful, but they differ in terms of accuracy and real-time reflection. 2. Urine Ketone Test – Principle: When ketones increase in the blood, they are excreted…
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