Diagnostic methods of Diabetes (Glucose Level)

 Diagnostic Methods of Diabetes (Glucose Level)

There are many methods and tests to diagnose Glucose levels or diagnose Diabetes. Tests and their methods are mentioned below.

01- Home Based Tests

02-Laboratory Based Tests

01- Home Based Tests:

Glucometer is used at homes to guess the Glucose/Sugar Level in blood.

This test is performed at home. Anyone can do this test perfectly. This type of test is recommended for only Type 2 Diabetes. If someone who is normal, performs this test, the result is shown abnormal. This type of test is only for those Diabetic patients who have a higher level of Glucose/Sugar level in the blood. For example, A person's blood sugar level is always more the 350 mg/dl, he/she should always use a Glucometer to check the glucose level in the blood because he/she cannot visit the Laboratories every time and the only option is Glucometer test. This test result is always not exact as the Laboratory test result. Glucometer always shows some number high or low than the exact level of Glucose. So it is recommended that always test your Glucose level only in Diagnostic Laboratories for best results.

02-Laboratory Based Tests:

The Laboratory is the main Diagnostic center where the diseases were diagnosed. Glucose/Sugar Levels should be always monitored in laboratories. There are several tests perform in labs for monitoring and diagnosis of Glucose/Sugar. Following are the names of different tests which are available in every lab.

1- Glucose Level Test is also known as RBS (random blood sugar), FBS (fasting blood sugar)

2- OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test)

3- HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1C)

01-Glucose Level Test (RBS or FBS):

A blood sample should be taken by the Laboratory Philbotomists when you ask them to perform a Glucose Level test. The blood sample is shifted to further process. When it reached the Pathologist/Lab. Technologist/Lab. Technician he/she Centrifuged the blood. A Centrifuge is a machine that is used to spin the blood for the sake of separation of serum, plasma, RBCs, and WBCs. Then the Sugar/Glucose Reagent/Chemical of a good and well-known company product (Human Diagnostic Worldwide) used to perform the test. 

No 1st: Take 3 disposable tubes and label them Blank, Calibration/Standard, Test/Sample.

No 2nd: Put Human Diagnostic Worldwide Reagent 1000 mg/dl into all the above-labeled tubes.

No 3rd: Let the blank as blank, put standard/control given by Human Diagnostic Worldwide 10ul into the Calibration/Standard label tube, and put 10ul of serum/plasma into Test/Sample label tube.

No 4th: Mix and let the test be incubated for 5-10 minutes.

No 5th: After the completion of the incubation period the test should be ready to read to the Chemistry Analyser/Microlab Machine

02- OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test):

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test is the test which Doctors especially Gynaecologists advise pregnant women. When the patient visits the laboratory the receptionist provides 75g of Glucose mixed water to the patient for drinking. After 1 hour, the Phlebotomists collect blood samples after every 1 hour and check the Glucose level. In this test, Doctors monitor the Glucose level every hour after orally taken Glucose water. The test is performed to check that either the body able to tolerate the oral glucose or not. 

03- HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1C):

It can be measured by affinity chromatographic methods. Four basic types of methods are used most commonly to measure HbA1c: immunoassay, ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), boronate affinity HPLC, and enzymatic assays.

The sample was taken by the Philobotomist and shifted to the working area. Where a machine is used to perform tests. (Icroma Smart etc)