Even though most diabetics, physician offices, clinics, nursing homes, and nursing units use glucose meters for monitoring glucose levels, the laboratory's role in diagnosis is vital. The function of the laboratory is crucial in diagnosis, monitoring, and management of diabetes.
Diabetic patients can go into severe metabolic imbalances that are life threatening. These metabolic conditions include: diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar nonketotic coma, and hypoglycemia. Laboratory testing is essential in diagnosing and monitoring these conditions.
Laboratory blood glucose and HbA1C levels are used to demonstrate the level of hyperglycemia required for diagnosis. If an OGTT is needed for classification or characterization of hyperglycemia, a patient is sent to a hospital or clinical laboratory for the test. Detection of elevated microalbumin levels that can signal early stages of renal impairment is accomplished through laboratory testing.
There are many other disease states and complications associated with diabetes. Clinical laboratories detect these diseases and monitor the complications that result. Important among these assays are urea, creatinine, and serum lipids. If a diabetic does have a pancreatic transplant, serum C-peptide and insulins levels monitor transplant success and viability of transplanted organ.