Blood : Special Tests

Blood: Special Tests

Diabetic Profile Tests

These can be categorized into three groups of tests:

Group I Tests

These tests when performed give us an idea of the severity of diabetes mellitus.

1. Blood sugar (F- fasting)

	Normal value: (fasting) - 70 to 110 mg/dl
	Increased glucose levels found in diabetes mellitus, liver disorders, hyperactivity of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands.
	Decreased levels found in lower activity of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands.

2. Blood sugar (post-prandial (PP) -- Two hours, after lunch.

	Normal value: Up to 130 mg/dl
	Increased and decreased levels are same as above, in fasting blood sugar.

3. Urine sugar (F)

4. Urine sugar (PP)

	Normal value: Absent or very small amount of 2 to 20 mg/dl present
	If the glucose stripe test is positive, then the amount of glucose is determined.

5. Urine ketone bodies

	Normal value: Absent
	If present, indicates diabetes mellitus.
	It is also +ve if the person is fasting (where fats are broken down to ketone bodies.)

6. Blood urea nitrogen

	Normal value: 7-23 mg /dl.
	Elevated in diabetes mellitus

Group II Tests

These tests when performed gives us an idea of the disturbed lipid (fat) metabolism and atheroma (it is an abnormal condition where walls of arteries are clogged with fatty tissue). Serum (fasting) sample is required of these tests.

7. Serum total cholesterol

	Normal value: 150 -250 mg/dl
	Increased in diabetes mellitus.

8. Serum HDL cholesterol

	Normal value
	Men = 30-60 mg/dl
	Women = 40-70 mg/dl

9. Serum total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio

Given depending on values of the above tests

10. Serum triglycerides

	Normal range: 10 -190 mg/dl
	Increase in diabetes mellitus

Group III Tests

These tests are performed in acidosis (a serious condition in which the body's acid -alkali balance is disturbed) and ketosis (in this, excessive amounts of ketones are formed when fat is used instead of sugar to provide energy. (Ketone is a substance which results during the breakdown of fats and fatty acids into carbon dioxide and water). These tests are done to know the acid-base balance of the body.

11. Blood pH

Normal range: 7.36 to 7.42

12. Serum bicarbonate

Normal range: 21 - 28 mEq/1

13. Serum sodium, potassium and chlorides

	Normal serum: Sodium: 133 - 14 mEq/1
	Normal serum: Potassium: 3.8-5.6 mEq/1
	Normal serum: Chloride: 95 - 106 mEq/1
	Increased sodium found in Diabetes Insipidus
	Increased potassium found in Diabetes Ketoacidosis.

14. Blood gases (PCO₂, PO₂)

The amount of PCO₂ is directly proportionate to the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood and the amount of PO₂ indicates the oxygen carrying capacity of hemoglobin in the blood. The decreased oxygen affinity of hemoglobin is indicated by the elevated PO₂ values.

All these tests in Group III help in determining uncontrolled diabetes with ketosis known as Diabetic Ketoacidosis. It is characterized by electrolyte imbalance, and extremely high blood sugar levels frequently resulting in coma.

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