Diabetes Management

Sodium

Sodium is an essential mineral and electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contraction in the body.

Why test this: If you have dehydration, confusion, high blood pressure, or are on diuretics — sodium balance affects nerves and fluid.

Potassium

Potassium is a mineral that your body needs to work properly. It’s a type of electrolyte, which means it carries an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids like blood. Potassium helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals.

Why test this: Critical if you have heart rhythm issues, kidney disease, take diuretics, or have muscle weakness — potassium affects the heart.

Chloride

Chloride is an ion formed from the element chlorine. It is commonly found in the body as part of salt (sodium chloride) and plays a crucial role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and pH balance.

Why test this: Part of electrolyte and acid-base check when dehydrated or in metabolic disorders.

Urea Nitrogen

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Urea nitrogen is a normal waste product in your blood that comes from the breakdown of protein from the foods you eat and from your body's metabolism. It is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows down, the BUN level rises. BUN can also rise if you eat more protein, and it can fall if you eat less protein. Urine Protein: When your kidneys are damaged, protein leaks into your urine. A simple test can be done to detect protein in your urine. Persistent protein in the urine is an early sign of chronic kidney disease.

Why test this: If you have kidney concerns, high protein diet effects, or GI bleeding suspicion — urea rises when kidneys slow or protein load is high.

Creatinine

Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles from the breakdown of a compound called creatine phosphate. It is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in urine. Creatinine levels in the blood can indicate how well the kidneys are functioning.

Why test this: If you are over 40, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or family kidney disease — main marker of how well kidneys filter waste.

Glucose

Fasting blood glucose is the level of glucose in the blood measured after a period of fasting, usually 8-12 hours without eating or drinking anything except water.

Why test this: If you are over 35–45, overweight, have family diabetes, thirst, frequent urination, or fatigue — checks current blood sugar.

Cholesterol, Total

Total cholesterol refers to the overall amount of cholesterol present in the blood. It includes both high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (often referred to as “good” cholesterol) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol).

Why test this: If you are 40+, have family heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or smoke — total cholesterol is a basic heart risk marker.

Triglyceride

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They are the main form of fat stored in the body and are derived from the food we eat. Elevated levels of triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems.

Why test this: High triglycerides often linked to sugar, alcohol, and metabolic syndrome — relevant if you have diabetes risk or fatty liver.

Cholesterol, HDL

HDL (high-density lipoproteins), or “good” cholesterol, may protect the body against narrowing blood vessels.

Why test this: The 'good' cholesterol — low HDL raises heart risk; useful in full lipid assessment from age 40 or earlier with risks.

Cholesterol, LDL

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly referred to as 'bad' cholesterol. Elevated LDL levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Lipoproteins, which are combinations of fats (lipids) and proteins, are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood.

Why test this: The 'bad' cholesterol strongly linked to heart attack and stroke risk — key from age 40 or with diabetes/family history.

Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

The Cholesterol/HDL ratio is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol level by your HDL cholesterol level. It is used as a marker of cardiovascular risk, with lower ratios indicating lower risk.

Why test this: Ratio used with other lipids to refine heart risk assessment.

Glycated Haemoglobin (HBA1C)

The term HbA1c refers to glycated haemoglobin. It develops when haemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, joins with glucose in the blood, becoming ‘glycated’. By measuring glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), clinicians are able to get an overall picture of what our average blood sugar levels have been over a period of weeks/months. For people with diabetes this is important as the higher the HbA1c, the greater the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. HbA1c is also referred to as haemoglobin A1c or simply A1c.

Why test this: If you are 35–45+, overweight, have family history of diabetes, PCOS, hypertension, or symptoms (thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision) — shows average sugar over 2–3 months. Also for monitoring known diabetes.

Urine Microalbumin

A urine microalbumin test is a test to detect very small levels of a blood protein (albumin) in your urine. A microalbumin test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage in people who are at risk of developing kidney disease. Healthy kidneys filter waste from your blood and hang on to the healthy components, including proteins such as albumin. Kidney damage can cause proteins to leak through your kidneys and exit your body in your urine. Albumin (al-BYOO-min) is one of the first proteins to leak when kidneys become damaged.

Why test this: If you have fatigue, abdominal discomfort, fatty liver risk, regular alcohol use, or abnormal screening — checks liver health.