Comprehensive Diabetes Blood Panel

This comprehensive diabetes blood panel includes 5 blood tests that help diagnose diabetes and other health conditions related to blood glucose levels in the body.  The test may be used to identify the cause of hypoglycemia, and help diagnose insulin resistance in individuals.  Some aspects of kidney function may also be evaluated through comprehensive diabetes blood testing.

The Comprehensive Diabetes Blood Panel includes:

• Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1c)
• Microalbumin: Creatinine Ratio
• Glucose
• Insulin
• C-Peptide

Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1c)—This blood test evaluates glucose levels in the blood over a 2-3 month period of time. This is often used as a way to diagnose diabetes or to monitor the progression of the disease in individuals previously diagnosed with the condition.

Microalbumin: Creatinine Ratio—This test is used to analyze and compare the amount of albumin (a protein created in the liver) in the blood to the level of creatinine (a waste product) produced and eventually dumped into urine.  This ratio helps evaluate kidney function.

Glucose—This test measures the amount of glucose found in the blood.  It is generally used as a preliminary tool to screen for diabetes and hypoglycemia. 

Insulin—Insulin is created by the pancreas to control the level of glucose in the blood.  This test measures insulin levels in the body.

C-Peptide—The C-Peptide test measures the amount of the amino acid, C-Peptide, which is found in the blood and produced as a by-product of insulin.  C-Peptide testing may be used to evaluate insulin production, or to differentiate the amount of naturally produced insulin in the blood from artificial insulin given to diabetic patients.