Diabetes test at home: How the self-test works
diabetes Mellitus is a serious blood sugar disease. Already the first sign for Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes should therefore be clarified. The best and safest Diagnosis Of course, a doctor. Before that, a self -test can provide a first hint. However, he cannot replace a medical diagnosis.
But how does a diabetes self-test work? What options are there, what value is measured and when is it questionable?
Diabetes test at home: What options are there?
For a very first risk assessment, German diabetes helps a help questionnaire available on the Internet, which based on body dimensions, hereditary preload and lifestyle habits Insulin resistance can give.
Another diabetes self-test can be carried out using a urine sample. This requires according to the Institute for quality and economy in healthcare (Iqwig) a corresponding urine test strip and collecting cup. The urine self-test measures a possible sugar value in the urine, which can be detected if the blood sugar level is greatly increased. However, the excess sugar in the blood can usually only be determined from about 10 mmol/l (180 mg/dl) in the urine, as the iqwig writes. In such a case, a doctor should be consulted for further clarification as soon as possible. The problem: on Early diabetesSo-called prediabetes, a urine test cannot indicate due to the usually only slightly increased blood sugar levels.
A blood sample therefore provides a more valid note for a diabetes disease that is inciting diabetes, namely the so-called HBA1C value in the capillary blood. This blood value shows the average degree of gauntness of the red blood cells of the past two to three months. He therefore does not run the risk of being falsified by daily fluctuations. But how exactly do you proceed with the blood measurement?
Diabetes self-test with blood sample: How does it work?
The measurement of the HBA1C blood sugar level for diabetes early detection can also be made by self-test from home. The blood sample is sent for the results after a laboratory. According to the instructions for use of various manufacturers, the HBA1C self-test gains a drop of blood from the fingertip and apply it to a test strip. Since the test is more complex than a urine sample, it is also more time -consuming and more expensive. If in doubt, it should be considered instead to go to the doctor right away. In addition to measuring the HBA1C blood sugar level, this has Further measurement methods to diagnose diabetes disease.
Diabetes self-test: Which values are questionable in the HBA1C value?
The HBA1C value is loud Pharmacies Umschau in healthy people around 30 mmol/mol (about five percent). In contrast, a serious reference to a manifest or ancillary diabetes disease is available for values from 48 mmol/mol (6.5 percent). In the case of test results above the limit, those affected are urgently advised to further clarify a doctor.
HBA1C self -test does not replace a diagnosis – but helps against « silent » diabetes
Due to « inconsistent results », there is no « unrounded » medical recommendation for an HBA1C self-test, like that German diabetes society (DDG) reports. Nevertheless, you could make a contribution to reducing the high proportion of « stummer » diabetes, Oliver Schnell from the Diabetes EV research group at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munich to the DDG. Experience reports of patients and doctors about the previous experience with HBA1C self-tests are generally positive. In particular, patient satisfaction increases if test results are quickly present and can be discussed directly with the doctor.
Anyone who has the assumption that they could be ill with diabetes should in any case observe their blood sugar levels. There are also clear guidelines on which you can see whether the value is still in the normal range.
