What Tests Should Be Done for Patients with Diabetes

Diabetes is a kind of chronic metabolism disease. It is often accompanied with changes on many tissues and organs. Taking related tests in time is very important for the prevention and treatment of the complications.

Blood and urine tests:

1. Blood sugar: Patients should decide the frequency and times of sugar test according the disease condition. In the early stage or when regulate treatment therapy, change eating habits and exercise, patients should increase the frequency of blood sugar tests.

2. Urine ketone tests: If the ketone in urine shows + or ++++, it means there is 5～160mg/dl ketone in urine.

3. C-peptide test. The insulin is split by enzyme into proinsulin and C-peptide. C-peptide doesn't have the function of insulin, however, the insulin and C-peptide secreted by B cells are of the same amount. Therefore, by testing the amount of C-peptide in blood, we can assess the islet function.

4. HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin): It can reflect the sugar level of 8~12 weeks before drawing blood. We suggest patients test HbA1c every 2~3 months.

5. Lipids profile (including Total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein etc.). Patients with Diabetes often have lipid disorders which is easy to cause atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

6. Liver and kidney function test. Diabetic Nephropathy is one of the common complications of Diabetes. Micro albumin in urine and kidney function test are helpful for discovering Diabetic Nephropathy in early stage. Many patients with Type 2 Diabetes are accompanied with obesity, blood lipid disorder, fatty liver and dysfunction of liver, so liver function test is also necessary.

7. Urinalysis. Observing whether there is protein and casts in urine can help judge the affection on the kidneys. Increase of white blood cells in urine suggests urinary tract infection. Red blood cells in urine may be caused by glomerular sclerosis, renal arteriole sclerosis and pyelonephritis.

Other special tests:

1. Heart and blood vessels tests of lower limbs: For patients with Diabetes, it doesn't mean there is no heart problem, even though they don't have heart disease. Doing ECG and ultrasound examination of heart if very necessary. Ordinary ECG can discover various arrhythmia and observe myocardial blood supply. Besides, ultrasound of vessels of lower limbs can discover whether there is arteriosclerosis or stenosis so as to detect Diabetic Foot in time.

2. Blood pressure. The incidence of hypertension is 2~6 times higher than normal people. The ideal blood pressure for Diabetics is 120/80mmHg.

3. Eye examination. Diabetes can cause retinopathy and even loss of sight in serious cases. Patients with Diabetes should test fundus examination regularly.
4. X-ray chest radiograph. The incidence of phthisis for Diabetics is 3~4 times higher than normal people. X-ray chest radiograph can show whether patients have phthisis or pulmonary infection.

5. Abdominal B ultrasound: It can help check whether there is cholecystitis, gall-stone, kidney damage or calcification of pancreas.

6. Bone mineral density test. It can help discover Osteoporosis.

7. Neurologist check. It can help discover Diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the early stage.

8. CT. Once the patients have changes of mental status and cough, brain CT is necessary to rule out cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction.


We suggest patients with Diabetes complete the above tests and discover the complications early so as to well control the disease condition and prolong life. Any help, please email to kidney-treatment@hotmail.com .