Blood test

[mrgrest]

I will be having my first blood test ever to check for diabetes. What else do they check from the blood i.e. cholesterol, kidney etc? Will they tell you the results of other underlying issues not just diabetes?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Vonny]

Welcome to the Forum 🙂

When I had my first test they definitely checked blood glucose, kidneys and cholesterol. I had to have a second set done due to the high glucose reading to make sure it was correct (it was). Kidneys appeared to be ok. I would imagine if there is anything else thrown up from the tests that they would inform you. In my case it was straightforward: type 2 diabetes and slightly high cholesterol.

 

[mrgrest]

Thanks for your reply. It put my mind to rest. Glad to know that it is standard to check for kidneys, cholesterol etc.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Thanks for your reply. It put my mind at rest. Glad to know that it is standard to check for kidneys, cholesterol etc.

Yes, they'll surely test for cholesterol, but also kidney and liver function because some diabetes medications need those to be healthy.

 

[mrgrest]

Thanks Bruce! Does it mean that they won't give you diabetes medications/insulin without checking your kidney and liver first?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Does it mean that they won't give you diabetes medications/insulin without checking your kidney and liver first?

Depends on the specifics, I think. (Some are milder than others, but some are supposed to be accompanied by regular monitoring of liver function.)

In general as a diabetic you can expect a blood test a couple of times a year which'll include lots of tests, and (once a year, I think) a urine check (to test for albumin, to check for nephropathy), amongst the various other checks.

 

[Sharron1]

Depends on the specifics, I think. (Some are milder than others, but some are supposed to be accompanied by regular monitoring of liver function.)

In general as a diabetic you can expect a blood test a couple of times a year which'll include lots of tests, and (once a year, I think) a urine check (to test for albumin, to check for nephropathy), amongst the various other checks.

Thanks for this info. I didn't realise they could test kidney stuff from the blood test as well, I thought it was only the urine check.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I didn't realise they could test kidney stuff from the blood test as well,

It's entirely possible I'm misremembering that.

 

[trophywench]

Ah well, it isn't only one test they do - you go and they take the blood in one go, but they use separate vials for each test, which they put in a polythene bag together with your details and the names of which tests are wanted and then you both wait for the lab to tell you the results.

Re the kidneys, the eGFR test uses blood and the albumin one is urine. I recently had both a CT and an MRI and for both of those you sometimes need 'dye' injected so the scan shows whatever bit of you requires scanning - mine didn't but if it had, I would have needed to have had an OK eGFR test within the last 6 months. Makes sense really, as I assume from that, that you must wee out the dye after the scan so they need to know your body is capable of doing so before they inject you with it.

 

[Sharron1]

It's entirely possible I'm misremembering that.

No problem.

 

[trophywench]

It's entirely possible I'm misremembering that.

You aren't though, not enirely anyway!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @mrgrest

Have you had a diagnosis of diabetes yet? or are these BG checks because you are at risk of diabetes?

Glad you are reassured by what others have been able to tell you

Let us know how the results go 🙂

 

[Madeline]

Definitely both blood and urine, I just had mine done!