Description

Diabetes is extremely prevalent in today's society. Diabetes causes numerous complications. Many people with diabetes have had issues for years before they have symptoms that provokes testing. It is helpful to evaluate your risk for diabetes intermittently especially if there is a family history or weight issues.

This panel includes the following test:

Glucose Serum Test

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Blood Test

Fasting recommended.

Additional information about each test is listed below:

A Glucose Serum Test measures the amount of glucose, or sugar, circulating in your bloodstream. Glucose is the primary source of energy for your body's cells, and it comes from the foods you eat, particularly carbohydrates. The body uses a hormone called insulin to help regulate glucose levels by allowing sugar to enter cells. The test is often used to diagnose or monitor conditions like diabetes, prediabetes, or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as these conditions affect how the body processes glucose. It can also be used to check for gestational diabetes in pregnant women or to evaluate how well your treatment for diabetes is working.

The Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Blood Test is a diagnostic tool for monitoring and diagnosing diabetes. This test measures the average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months, providing an indication of the patient's blood sugar control over time. HbA1c is a protein in red blood cells that binds to glucose in the blood. Because red blood cells live for about 3 months, the HbA1c test gives an average of blood sugar levels over that period. 

The HbA1c Blood Test is a useful tool for monitoring the long-term management of diabetes because it can detect changes in blood sugar levels before symptoms occur.