Blood tests done in a doctor's office gives allows the primary health care provider to diagnose diabetes, prescribe medication and determine the best course of action for their patient. However, once diagnosed, diabetics also test their own blood...
In 2007, approximately 23.6 million Americans had diabetes, according to Umesh Masharani, M.B., Professor of Medicine at the University of California in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment." Insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into...
Regular testing of blood glucose levels is essential for diabetic patients, as it allows them to determine how well their diabetes is being controlled by their medications and lifestyle changes. There are a variety of manufacturers that make...
There are a number of different tests diabetics ought to have on a routine basis. The most important is a hemoglobin A1C (hgA1C), which is performed every 6 months or so, usually depending on the preference of the doctor treating the diabetes....
Doctors routinely test pregnant women for gestational diabetes since this condition can harm the baby if it isn't treated. High blood glucose levels may be the only sign of this condition, so this blood test is needed to determine whether a...
Used diabetic testing supplies in the trash may cause problems for landfills and the people who work there. Contaminated sharps can spread germs, injure others and spread deadly diseases. Disposing of sharps while traveling is dangerous for those...
Low-carb diets restrict the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods, such as rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, baked goods, potatoes, desserts, soft drinks and all sugar-containing foods. These foods cause large blood-sugar fluctuations, and...
During your pregnancy, you're probably doing everything you can to stay healthy for your unborn baby. Because your behaviors and well-being can directly affect your baby's development, it's important to maintain good nutrition, follow your...
Using diabetic testing supplies is a fairly easy process once you are familiar with the necessary supplies. You will need a lancing device and corresponding lancets. The lancing devices pricks your finger with the lancet inserted into its tip to...
An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, according to 2007 statistics, the most recent published by the American Diabetes Association. If you have a family history...
Those with diabetes must make an extra effort to get tested regularly for high cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, you're at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Diet and lifestyle changes, as well as medication, can help...
Blood and urine tests are vital to the diagnosis, monitoring and management of diabetes. This is true whether you have type 1 diabetes, caused by the body's inability to make insulin, type 2 diabetes, arising from the body's inability to use...
Testing for abnormal glucose metabolism is an important part of diagnosing diabetes. High blood glucose levels indicate that sugar in the body is not making its way into the cells to be used for energy. Advances in technology have lead to new and...
Diabetes is a condition that causes patients to have elevated levels of glucose in the blood due to problems with insulin, which helps regulate blood glucose levels. There are two kinds of diabetes: Type 1 is marked by a lack of insulin production...
Diabetes is a serious medical condition. If it is well controlled you can successfully manage this condition and prevent complications. The goal is to start treatment as early as possible. Diabetes can be challenging to treat because in the early...
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body cannot properly use glucose, allowing it to remain in the bloodstream. This elevated glucose, or blood sugar, is damaging to the organs of the body. When the cells of the body do not have a good...
Diabetes is a metabolic disease where blood glucose (sugar) levels are high because the body cannot make enough insulin and/or is insulin resistant. Insulin helps the body use blood glucose for energy and helps lower blood glucose levels. A...
Blood tests are available to diagnose diabetes and monitor sugar levels. Decades ago, people had to test their urine for the presence of sugar. This showed only that blood sugar levels were much too high. Today's diagnostic tools show both the...
Diabetes is a serious disease. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness, amputations, heart disease and other complications. One way to help yourself avoid complications is to test your blood glucose levels regularly. This allows you to make...
If you think you have diabetes, testing your blood glucose will be an essential component of an overall management plan. Your blood glucose levels change based on your eating habits and activity level. You need to test regularly to prevent your...
Diabetes is a disease that results from high levels of blood sugar, also known as glucose. In a healthy individual, glucose levels are regulated by the pancreatic hormone, insulin. In people with diabetes, either a person develops insulin...
In 2010, the American Diabetes Association released recommendations for the A1C test to be used to identify and diagnose diabetes. It is a blood test that gives health care providers a picture of how well the body metabolizes glucose over a...
Diabetes, or high blood sugar, was the seventh highest cause of death in the United States in 2006 and affects 23 percent of people over age 60, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports. Early diagnosis of diabetes is essential for treating...
Diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are too high due to problems with a hormone called insulin. Patients who do not make enough insulin or who are resistant to its function can develop diabetes. One method of measuring blood...
According to the American Diabetes Association, an international expert committee recommends the A1c blood test as the gold standard for diabetes testing. As of June 5, 2009, the American Diabetes Association, the International Diabetes Federation...
Diabetes is an illness that decreases the body's ability to break down sugar for fuel. The body requires a chemical called insulin to metabolize sugars that are ingested. In type I diabetes, the body may fail to make insulin at all. Type II...
According to the American Diabetes Association's 2010 Standards of Care, checking blood glucose at home is an important component of effective diabetes therapy. Blood glucose numbers give important information about how well diet, medications and...
Individuals with blood sugar instability such as the kind that occurs with diabetes benefit from testing and monitoring their blood sugar levels regularly. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels helps prevent extended periods of instability, which...
People with diabetes need to keep a close watch on their blood sugar level. When the levels are too high or too low, the diabetic can quickly take a shot of insulin or eat something to increase or lower the sugar count. In the past, tests were...
Acupuncturists sometimes use bleeding needles, which are similar to the needles typically used by diabetic patients. Learn more about acupuncture and bleeding needles from our medical expert in this free video.
There are two primary ways to diagnose diabetes. Learn how doctors use fasting blood sugar and glucose tolerance test to diagnose diabetes in this free video from a nutritionist specializing in diabetic diets.
There are several forms and sizes of needles that acupuncturists use for treatment. Learn more about acupuncture needles and treatment from our medical expert in this free video.
Testing your blood sugar is crucial for diabetics. Learn how blood sugar monitors work in this free video from a nutritionist specializing in diabetic diets.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease wherein the body does not produce adequate, or any, insulin to control blood sugar, which can result in coma or death if insulin is not delivered into the body regularly. Learn more about diabetes type 1...
