Port Moresby Medical Laboratories (POMMEDLAB)

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According to western data, 50% of diabetes remains undiagnosed. That means one may not know that he or she has diabetes until blood tested or worse complications such as kidney disease, stroke or heart attack occurs.

 

Hence you should have your blood tested for diabetes even if you do not have any symptoms. However, following are definite indications for diabetic screen.

Family history of diabetes

Increased thirst and urge to urinate  >5-6x /day

Weight loss

Over-weight

Infertility

Menstrual disorders

Pregnancy

Recurrent boil /abscess or skin infection

Recurrent candida/grille infection

Tingling/numbness/abnormal sensation of feet

Heart Pain

Visual disturbance (blurring)

High blood Pressure

Kidney disease

Diabetes Screen

Diabetes is high glucose disease. High glucose in blood is unhealthy as it causes water and electrolyte loss in  kidneys and in the long term damages many organs systems such as kidneys, heart, brain  and nerves resulting end organ failures such as kidney failure, heart attack or stroke.

Diabetes is a Western disease and increasingly seen in Towns and city dwellers of PNG that depend on processed foods combined with lack of physical activity and certain food habits as alcohol and smoking. 

The major cause of diabetes is lack of or inadequate insulin required for glucose metabolism. Insulin is a hormone produced by pancreas responsible for enhancing glucose uptake and metabolism by tissues. Only a small percent of diabetes is due to causes other than insulin deficiency such as Cushing's syndrome (high cortisol) and hyperthyroid (high thyroid hormones).

Traditionally diabetes is classed as type I (early onset) or type II (late onset). Type one diabetics occurs early in life and they lack enough insulin whereas type II is due to increased tissue resistance to insulin so that more insulin is required to perform the same activity that  would otherwise be done in normal person.

Fortunately early detection and diagnosis of diabetes and treatment is available and effective in preventing these long term complications.

 

Question 1. What is Diabetes?

Question 2. When should I suspect if I have Diabetes?

Question 4. How is the test performed?

Question 6. How long before the results available?

A small blood sample of about 5-10mls is taken for glucose measurement. It is important to fast 9-12hours before blood sample is taken. This is enough to test for other basic chemistry tests including kidney, liver, pancreas, gout, calcium , cholesterol and cancer blood tests-if required.

Finger prick glucose measurement are inadequate and any elevated levels should always be confirmed with laboratory based measurements as does in POMMEDLAB. 

The test are very simple and takes only few minutes. It can take 1-2hours depending on laboratory workload. You may return to our Result Review Center or see your doctor on the next appointment day for discussion of results. Patient or doctor will be contacted for urgent results. All reports are kept confidential and only accessed by patient or his/her doctor.  

Question 7. What does the test report mean?

 

Your results will be reported as normal, possible diabetes or consistent with diabetes. Those with results suggestive but not diagnostic of diabetes will undergo further test called full oral glucose tolerance test or FOGTT (see details elsewhere on our website). 

Question 8. What is the Treatment?

Treatment of diabetes is involves oral tablets or injection of insulin. There are various regimens available and you should discuss these options with your doctor.   Off-course weight control and diet control also helps prevent complications and helps control blood glucose.

Question 5. Is there any pitfall to the tests?

Common problem with glucose measurement include falsely high and false low glucose. Inadequate fasting is the commonest cause of high glucose. Diabetes can be missed if blood is not collected in appropriate tube with preservatives and  delay in transport and separation of blood cells. These  may also result from use of wrong reference levels. As diabetic diagnosis criteria changes frequently as more research data becomes available you should ensure that your doctor’s laboratory is up-to-date on diabetes diagnosis. 

Question 3. How is Diabetes diagnosed?

 

POMMEDLAB provides 2 commonly used tests for diabetes screen called fasting glucose and glucose challenge test. Fasting glucose is easier and simpler to perform than glucose challenge. It requires a sample of blood after 9-12hours of fasting. For glucose challenge there is no preparation although it is advisable you avoid eating or smoking at least 2 hours prior to testing. This test involves drinking a solution of glucose 1 hour prior to checking glucose level. Written instruction will be given at the time of booking.  Discuss with your doctor for more details. We also provide pregnancy screen for diabetes (see elsewhere for procedure).

Question 9. How do I monitor effectiveness of treatment?

Studies have shown that good control of diabetes not only improves immediate well-being but more importantly prolongs onset of complications of diabetes as kidney disease, stroke, heart attack, neuropathy and blindness.

A protein called HbA1c measurement is used to monitor effectiveness of diabetes treatment. POMMEDLAB will in future provide testing for HbA1c. Meanwhile a good record of glucose and regular follow-up and liaison with your doctor is the key to ensuring good control of diabetes.

We also provide test for urinary protein to detect early kidney disease in diabetics.