All Blood Tests

People who care about their health often overlook the importance of having regular blood tests.

The most comprehensive blood test is known as the CBC/Chemistry Profile. It’s inexpensive and measures 35 different blood parameters that can have a powerful impact on the state of your health.

For example, one of the many serious disorders that are detectable by the CBC/Chemistry Profile is calcium overload. Does the term “calcium overload” surprise you? After all, we hear so much about the importance of having enough calcium.

Calcium overload occurs when too much calcium is removed from bones and deposited into the vascular system. Unless detected by a blood test, you often don’t find out about calcium imbalance until after suffering a devastating bone fracture, a painful kidney stone or heart valve failure. These diseases begin years after the calcium imbalance starts, yet a simple CBC/Chemistry Profile enables early detection. The problem can be corrected with targeted nutrition. It’s vital to correct the calcium imbalance before it becomes a full blown disease condition.

As a pharmacist, one of my pet peeves is drug induced toxicity. It’s not a secret that FDA approved drugs have side effects and interactions that kill over 125,000 people each year. We shouldn’t be surprised – if you listen to the side effects quickly rattled off during TV commercials for “wonder drugs” it’s no wonder there are so many drug casualties.

But people continue to trust their physicians not to prescribe medications that may harm them. The reality is, that doctors usually only know what the drug manufacturers tell them. Doctors, no matter how much your love and respect what they know, do not know everything they should or could know. There aren’t enough hours in a day to know everything about every drug that’s on the market.

Doctors are supposed to monitor patients to prevent drug induced deaths, but many do not. Worse, HMO’s, eager to save money, are not recommending CBC/Chemistry Profiles, which would help detect drug induced liver and kidney damage.

It’s not just prescription drug damage that needs to be monitored. Other things like excessive alcohol consumption, OTC medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and too much niacin can make a person susceptible to liver or kidney damage. Some people are not as vulnerable as others are to these substances, but you won’t know if damage is occurring unless you have regular CBC/Chemistry Profiles.

If you have high cholesterol, the problem may be high homocysteine and or C-Reactive Protein, both of which are detected by a blood test and are correctable with folic acid, dietary measures or supplements. When there is high homosycteine or C Reactive Protein, blood vessel walls become inflamed and cholesterol sticks to the irritated walls, clogging the arteries. It is very disconcerting that doctors are so ready to prescribe damaging statin drugs for high cholesterol without first ordering tests for high homocysteine or C Reactive Protein.

One other thing that is disturbing is the way doctors still routinely prescribe “one size fits all” hormone replacement for menopausal women. This is a tragedy. Every woman’s chemistry is different. A CBC/Chemistry Profile can pinpoint specific needs, allowing a well-informed physician to prescribe proper hormone replacement (bioidentical, please!).

And speaking of hormone replacement, men need it too. If a man has regular blood tests for hormone levels beginning at least by his forties, he can be started on appropriate hormone replacement. His reward will by that when he reaches 60 and beyond, he will still be young and vital, mentally and physically.

If your doctor won’t order a CBC/Chemistry Profile, or tries to make you feel like a pest for asking for one, then ask another doctor or get it done on your own. It will cost you, but it will be money well spent.

Be your own best friend. Don’t depend on your physician or anyone else to look after your best interests. It’s your body, your health and your life. Take charge!

Barbara Morris is a pharmacist and author of Put Old on Hold. Subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.PutOldonHold.com and receive a free copy of “Twelve Diva Tested Tips for Fabulous Skin.”

A commonly prescribed medical test used these days to decipher if you are sick, experiencing trouble, healthy or to better pinpoint a current internal, medical issue, such as anemia, is a blood test known as a Complete Blood Count Test, or more commonly, CBC, the acronym.

Anemia strikes and affects more than three million men and women each and every year, among the American population. In fact, Anemia, of all blood conditions is the most common.

Humans could not carry on unless we had blood flowing from top to bottom within our bodies. Thus it makes perfect sense it is one of the first tests ordered by your doctor when determining diagnosis. CBC blood tests are often shouted by doctors in t.v. dramas these days, but in actuality, it is a vital step in being sure what is normal and what is abnormal with you, internally.

In the case of Anemia, your doctor may prescribe a complete blood count test to detect is lacking the vital, red blood cells that all humans need in order to get and maintain an optimal amount of oxygen in your blood. Oxygen fuels each of your organs so that they may perform best: ensuring a healthy heart, lungs, brain, every major organ and all the minor organs in between depend on oxygen.

If your blood has too few red blood cells, another factor comes into play: low counts of hemoglobin, ultimately resulting in too little iron in your blood. A major and most common reason why individuals fall short of energy, constantly feel tired and fatigued

A CBC blood test can be prescribed by a doctor simply when you’re are under the weather, chronically tired, or even if you simply have a common cold. You don’t have to be inches from your death bed, nor obviously ill to have CBC blood tests ordered.

Next time you have an appointment with your doctor, physician or alternative practitioner for your yearly check-up, if your doctor doesn’t order a CBC Blood Test, by all means, ask he or she does. It is the cheapest, most simple, maybe even life-saving thing you can do and should do at least once a year.

Your complete blood count test, or CBC represents your internal (which fuels your exterior) health and if there is something to worry about, odds are, warning signs will be found within your blood and its makeup. There are exceptions to the case, but be on the safe side, anyways. Many determining factors are researched with CBC Blood Tests: white blood cells and red blood cells or levels, the HCT (or Hematocrit, which basically is defined by the volume of space which your blood takes up), Hgb (or Hemoglobin which accounts for the oxygen inside your blood cells), and platelet counts which determines your blood’s ability to clot.

Too many or too few of another essential part of your blood, depending on what numbers reveal themselves could be a alert that tells your medical team what is really happening inside you. While the diagnosis variations can be numerous and cover a wide spectrum, having your CBC Blood Test at least once per year, after visiting your doctor can hand you answers to most questions about your internal and external health, that physical touch, listening to your heart, checking your lungs and using a tongue depressor just can’t do.

A CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test (or Tests) can provide you specific answers to why you’re fatigued, not feeling ‘normal’, showing bruising for ‘no reason’, having chest pains, have an infection, are showing allergic reactions, plus a truck load of other potential issues. But, perhaps even more vital, these blood tests allow you the potentially life-saving, life stretching benefit of catching early alerts and signs of maybe hazardous and life shortening trouble if allowed to grow. Write this down now for both yourself and your family to consistently (at least annually) take part in a CBC Blood Test or Complete Blood Count Tests. Sure, may save your life, but even if nothing is terribly out of order, it is a simple way to boost the quality of your life.

Finding no b.s. health content and good for you information about the healthy lifestyle you want to achieve, doesn’t require a Masters Degree in Physics. No matter your interest: from something as unusual and mainstream as having an Ultram allergy to how to really lose weight, you name it. Committing a healthy living is not sacrificial, or at all challenging if you don’t want it to be, nor must you have to give up all the tastes, joy and adventure you now appreciate as is often the misconception.

If you have had a doctor’s appointment recently for anything other than a cold, then you probably had a blood test done. This is a very common procedure and can yield some very important information for the doctor as to your health and wellbeing. There are a multitude of reasons for a blood sample to be taken and for the subsequent tests to be run, we will discuss a few of the more common reasons here.

1- Perhaps the most common reason what a blood test is performed is to validate, or not, the suspicion of a pregnancy. While there are over the counter early pregnancy tests that will give you a result, most doctors to not take this information at face value, preferring instead to get their result via blood. If in fact you are pregnant, this will be the first of many blood tests over the course of the next nine months or so.

2- A sample of blood can also prove or disprove the presence of many diseases, such as HIV, diabetes and prostate cancer to name a few. The early detection of these and other diseases is only possible through routine blood tests. The sooner they are detected, the sooner an effective treatment for them can be implemented.

3- Most states still require that at blood test be performed before a couple is allowed to be married. This type of blood test generally looks for certain vaccinations, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases that can be cured. In some cases, this information is helpful with future decisions that they couple may make.

4- A common blood issue is also detected via the use of a blood sample test; anemia is a condition that is caused by low iron in the blood. The symptoms are tiredness and pale skin. The blood test is utilized to track the iron levels to be sure they are appropriate for each individual patient.

5- As you can see, a blood test is a helpful tool that the doctor has as his or her disposal and often on that they use. So, instead of staying a way from the doctor like a baby, the next time you are in for a physical, suck it up, stick out your arm and give the doctor your blessing. Oh, it might help you to look away while the blood is being drawn, the doctor won’t call you a sissy for this, I promise.

Visit http://my-blood-test.info or http://ez-blood-test.net to learn more about blood glucose test and blood test.

Acetaminophen often refereed to as Tylenol, when taken at the highest recommended dose may trigger an abnormal result on an otherwise healthy blood test, according to new research.

The finding means, a perfectly healthy person may think they are sick when hearing the results of a common liver blood test.

In the study, 106 participants took four grams of Tylenol, equivalent to eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets, each day for two weeks. Some took Tylenol alone, and some took it with an opioid painkiller. Placebo pills were given to 39 others.

40 recent of the people taking acetaminophen had abnormal blood test results which could signal liver damage.

Dr. Paul Watkins of the University of North Carolina says, “This was a very surprising finding.”

When treating this type of liver problem, doctors are trained to examine what drugs the patient is taking and recommended stopping drugs that may effect the liver.

Ironically – acetaminophen is not on that list of suspect drugs – but a number of common prescription drugs are

Dr Watkins says the study calls attention to the possibility that some blood tests are ineffective.

Researchers recommend not to exceed four grams a day or the equivalent to eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets.

And heavy drinkers should take no more than two grams a day

The study appears in the current Journal of the American Medical Association

For an health and Fitness news, visit http://www.worldfitness.ca

Blood tests for colitis and Crohn’s disease are a relatively new and exciting development that have added significantly to the screening, diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Differentiating the two may allow better predictions regarding responses to medical treatments, decisions regarding surgery options and the risks of various complications. Antibodies to various proteins including Baker’s or Brewer’s yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) and bacteria like Escherichia. coli (E. coli) are present in the blood of many people with Crohn’s disease but rarely in normal people. Antibodies to a normal cell component, a nuclear protein, is present in most people with ulcerative colitis, a few people with Crohn’s whose colitis behaves more like ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s, and rarely in normal people.

Antibody tests or serologic markers are blood tests looking for markers of diseases. The serologic markers or antibody tests for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are pANCA and ASCA, OmpC, and CBir1 Flagelin respectively. The latter three blood tests for Crohn’s are only available through one laboratory, Prometheus Laboratories, Inc.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown cause that only involves the colon. It affects the superficial lining of the colon and rarely causes bowel obstruction (blockage) or perforation (rupture) but frequently causes severe bloody diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, as well as joint aches or arthritis, skin rashes, eye irritation and occasionally a severe liver disorder known as primary sclerosing cholangitis that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Ulcerative colitis can be cured by complete removal of the colon but not Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease can also cause colitis but usually also affects the very end of the small intestine called the ileum (ileitis or regional enteritis). When Crohn’s affects only the colon it may be difficult to distinguish it from ulcerative colitis though Crohn’s tends to affect the colon in a patchy manner whereas ulcerative colitis is continuous. Crohn’s can affect the gastrointestinal tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus and is not curable by removing the colon. It is also frequently associated with bowel strictures (constrictions) causing obstruction that may require surgery. It also may be associated with fistula that are abnormal connections of the intestine to other organs and the skin or it can result in abscesses or perforation requiring surgery It is important to distinguish Crohn’s disease from ulcerative colitis since medical treatments and surgical approaches may differ and the types of complications that can occur can be much different.

Traditionally, the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease is highly accurate by the appearance of the colon on colonoscopy or x-rays that confirm the presence or absence of involvement of other parts of the intestinal tract. Diagnosis is confirmed by a typical pattern of inflammation of the intestine lining as seen under the microscope on tissue obtained by biopsy during colonoscopy. However, before blood tests were available about 10% of people with IBD were diagnosed as having an indeterminate colitis because the biopsies could not distinguish between the ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

The blood tests currently available are pANCA, anti-ASCA, anti-OmpC, and anti-CBir1 flagelin antibodies. pANCA is the peripheral anti-nuclear antibody. It is an abnormal antibody to nuclear protein of cells and is highly sensitive and specific for ulcerative colitis. The pANCA anbibody has been further divided into subsets by Prometheus Laboratories Inc. Neutrophil-specific pANCA ELISA (NSNA) is positive in the majority of people with ulcerative colitis (UC) and a small subset of people with Crohn’s disease that have disease characteristics more like UC. Immunofluorescent cellular staining of neutrophils (NSNA IFA) and enzyme Dnase testing (NSNA DNase sensitivity) is also done as part of the Prometheus IBD Serology 7. The latter test when present in high levels is significantly associated with development of inflammation of the rectal pouch (pouchitis) created when someone has their entire colon removed for ulcerative colitis that does not respond to medical treatment.

ASCA is anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is Brewer’s or Baker’s yeast. Crohn’s patients have a high prevalence of abnormal antibodies to this yeast. Some have suggested that another yeast, Candida albicans, somehow plays a role in this abnormal response. A few people with celiac disease have this antibody present in their blood in the absence of signs of Crohn’s disease. OmpC is the abbreviation for an antibody that develops in many Crohn’s patients to the outer membrane porin protein of the bacteria E. coli though that bacteria is not thought to be the cause of Crohn’s disease. Just recently Prometheus Laboratories added antibody testing for a specific protein on bacteria that constitutes the flagelin or hair like structure on certain bacteria enabling movement and attachment of bacteria in the intestine called CBir1 flagelin.

Future blood tests may include antibodies against certain sugar (mannose) residues in the cell wall of the yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae. Anti-laminaribioside and anti-chitobioside antibodies were recently reported to be present in Crohn’s patients who were anti-ASCA negative possibly further strengthening the ability to distinguish them from people with ulcerative colitis. This is also interesting because of suspicions and the lay public interest in the role of sugars or glycans and yeast in IBD. In particular the reports in lay literature of success of carbohydrate specific diet in IBD.

If you have a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease these blood tests may be very helpful in your treatment. If you have unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea, or blood in your stools then these tests should be considered. If you have a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, these tests may exclude ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Since as many as 10% of people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease may also have celiac disease, celiac blood tests should also be considered. Lactose intolerance is also common in IBD, IBS and celiac disease.

Future helpful information on colitis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, food allergies, food intolerance, food sensitivity, eosinophilic esophagitis and irritable bowel syndrome will be available from Dr. Scot Lewey, the food allergy expert-the food doc at www.thefooddoc.com. Information on colitis and Crohn’s disease can also be obtained from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA, www.ccfa.org). Dr. Scot Lewey is a member of the medical advisory panel for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of CCFA. For more information about Prometheus Laboratories Inc. see www.prometheuslabs.com. A more detailed explanation of the blood tests can be found in a separate article by the food doc and references below.

Abreu MT et.al. Use of Serologic Tests in Crohn’s Disease. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Vol.4, No. 3. 2001

Dotan I et.al. Antibodies Against Laminaribioside and Chitiobioside Are Novel Serologic Markers in Crohn’s Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol.131, No. 2. 2006

Mei, L et.al. Familial Expression of Anti-Escherichia coli Outer Membrane Porin C in Relatives of Patients with Crohn’s Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol. 130, No. 4 2006

Stadaert-Vitse et.al. Candida albicans Is an Immunogen for Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae Antibody Markers of Crohn’s Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol 130, No. 6. 2006

Targan, SR et.al. Antibodies to Cbir1 Flagelin Define a Unique Response That Is Associated Independently Crohn’s Disease. Gastroenterology. Vol.128, No.7. 2005

Copyright The Food Doc, LLC, 2006. All Rights Reserved. www.thefooddoc.com

Dr. Scot Lewey, the food doc, is a practicing stomach and intestine specialist (gastroenterologist) who is an expert in colitis, Crohn’s disease, food allergy, food intolerance, gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome and eosinophilic esophagitis. He has a website http://www.thefooddoc.com under development to help people with these conditions get expert doctor information, free symptom assessment online and the use of an online food diet symptom diary.

Millions of people visit physicians and hospitals each year for wellness check-ups as well as for help with various health concerns. Most doctors will order blood work to help them determine any possible imbalances, or pertinent disease markers and risk analysis. The blood work-up fees are often extremely high due to the involvement of insurance companies and their rates. Sadly, physician office and hospital overhead plays a role in the cost of these laboratory tests. Doctors certainly have to pay their assistants and support staff, the rent, and utilities and huge malpractice insurance rates, to name a few operational costs. Because of these high overheads they most often pass along a margin of profit that includes all of their daily expenses by percentages. Some doctors charge more or less than the suggested retail cost of blood panel workups.

Due to rising insurance rates and co-pay programs, many patients are paying higher fees out of pocket. These higher fees often keep patients from visiting their doctor’s offices as often as they might like. Because of the fact that less people are regularly seeing their family doctors, more people inadvertently are developing conditions that go undiagnosed. Several very wise blood analysis laboratories have realized that too often blood tests are showing that if a person had come in months earlier a disease state may have been prevented. In order to respond to the needs of the patients directly, there are now some alternative ways for the average person with or without insurance to find out their personal level of health.

Direct Access Testing is now a real thing in America. Professional laboratories that work with the thousands of medical doctors and hospitals in the United States and Abroad are now offering direct blood tests to patients. It is all legal and a fabulous advancement in the ability of the patient to take control of their own wellness plan. If you do not know what your body is suffering, you will not know how to care for it.

Since finding this gem of information and wanting to share it with as many people as possible, I have become a health care provider that will help facilitate the process. If your doctor’s waiting room is overcrowded and you have to wait too long for a simple check-up, why not take some measures to help determine your level of health between office visits. I am not trying to stop your physician from making money, what I am attempting to do is to open your eyes about your rights and opportunities.

Working at the hospitals and clinics with dozens of Medical Doctors through the years, I have seen some doctors who make patients wait two hours for a ten minute visit, only to say, we will draw some blood and see what the lab has to say. This is really a sad thing, because most often the support staff will receive dozens of blood work-up assays daily or weekly and may not be able to properly respond in a timely fashion, or with enough information to help the patient understand the results.

Believe me, it is NOT because these medical professionals and care givers are trying to avoid you, or want you to be in the dark, they are just overcrowded and often very over worked. The laboratories who provide the blood analysis services have gotten wise due to the overabundance of phone calls relating to blood test results and interpretations. Doctors normally do not have the luxury of time to explain a simple blood analysis thoroughly, although patients will dearly cling to anything their physician may offer in the way of an explanation. Most often there is not enough time for the doctor to spend with each patient due to the number of cases they have to deal with each day.

Recently one of my friends who happens to be a Medical Doctor had to agree to see several hundred more patients because his partner died of a massive heart attack without warning. Many many doctors are suffering themselves and they do not have the luxury of time to spend on their own well-being. Hopefully, that will change, but in America we are a highly-stressed nation overall and we do not schedule relaxation into our daily lives frequently enough.

If you wish to have a common CBC panel, or some other type of tests to help determine if you are suffering from diabetes, anemia,allergies, a hormone imbalance, ulcers, infection, stress, prostate concerns, mononuclesis, cardiac panel, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disease, how your liver, gallbladder, digestion are, or if you are a candidate for cancer, HIV, Hepatitis, or other diseases, you can visit a convenient lab to schedule a simple blood draw. If you just want a fabulous Wellness Analysis you can have that too. Some tests are available as Home Tests and can be done in the comfort of your own home quickly and easily. You have the choice to involve your family medical doctor or to ask questions of the medical doctors who work at the laboratories. They will gladly explain the findings and encourage you to seek medical assistance if necessary.

Since this forum is not meant to be used to advertise any particular business, I cannot give you the names and phone numbers of the participating laboratories. However, if you wish further information you may contact my office directly, or write to me through the website below. 847/836-8345

Stay informed…stay well!

Janet Angel is a sought-after wellness expert with advanced degrees in nutritional biochemistry and psychology. She believes that everyone needs to educate themselves on the wellness opportunities available around the world. Dr. Angel has counseled many prominent citizens across the United States and has participated in several international research programs surrounding health. She has been a guest on many radio programs, is a public speaker, author and seminar leader. Dr. Angel believes that the body has the innate abillity to heal itself in most circumstances, given the right environment, the right elements and the opportunity. For further information on her drive to help others reach their fullest potential, please go to http://www.Totallywell.com

For financial wellness ideas go to http://www.LinkToCashNow.com

How the Drug Works

Specially treated test strips indicate the blood glucose concentration. Regular monitoring of glucose aids in the control of diabetes. It will help determine medication, dietary and exercise needs and help decrease the complications (eg, neuropathies, retinopathies) and problems during pregnancy. Uses

To monitor blood glucose levels In diabetics. To aid in control of the condition.

To aid in determining medication regimes, diet, and exercise programs for diabetics.

To help prevent development of complications during pregnancy.

Specimen Collection and Handling: All blood glucose test strips require a finger or earlobe stick. An automatic lancet device punctures the skin to obtain a single drop of blood. A manual lancet is more painful and laceration size and puncture depth cannot be predicted. These are important because they control the volume of the drop of blood. The size of the test pad varies among manufacturers. It must be completely covered with blood.

A single drop of blood is placed on the test strip. Begin timing when the test pad is covered completely. In some tests, the blood drop is wiped from the test strip at the end of the timed period. Timing is critical. The wiping or blotting technique and the recommended tissue paper or cotton for blotting may vary by manufacturer. The test strip is placed in the glucose meter. The results are read from the meter display. The visual test is read against the color key.

Storage and handling: A bottle of test strips can be used for 4 months after being opened. Always write the date the bottle is first opened on the bottle label. Never use the test strips past the expiration date indicated on the bottle label or foil packet. Use of strips beyond the expiration date may yield inaccurate results.

Keep unused test strips in the original bottle with cap tightly closed. Always replace the cap immediately and tightly. Never transfer test strips to another bottle. Leave the drying agent in the bottie. The drying agent absorbs moisture and keeps the strips dry. Never put cotton or other material in the bottle. Do not use discolored strips. Keep your fingers or other objects from touching the test pads before testing. Touching the pads could cause inaccurate test results.

Keep strip vial away from small children. A child could choke on the cap or drying agent, which could be harmful if swallowed. Store at room temperature (59° to 86°F). Do not store bottle in direct sunlight. Do not freeze. Do not store in cabinets with bleach or products containing bleach. Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or planning to take any overthe-counter or prescription medications or dietary supplements while testing for blood glucose. The following drugs and drug classes may interact with the test to cause questionable results:

Acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol)

Fluoride

Aspirin (large amounts)

Methyldopa (large amounts)

Dopamine (large amounts)

Vitamin C Guidelines for Use

Follow instructions on the label exactly.

Monitor blood for glucose as prescribed. Monitor urine ketones if your blood glucose level has been greater than 300 mg/dL for 2 consecutive blood glucose determinations.

Blood glucose monitoring is recommended to achieve normal blood sugar levels. Keep track of your blood glucose results so that adjustments in your treatment program can be made more easily.

Participate in a thorough diabetes education program so that you understand diabetes and all aspects of its treatment, including diet, exercise, personal hygiene and how to self-monitor blood glucose.

Apply the blood drop, time the reaction, blot the test pads and read the test results the same way each time you do the test.

Diabetics – Monitor glucose: When you have a cold, the flu or any other kind of illness. When you “feel” the signs of low or high blood sugar (greater than 240 mg/dL) or when your blood sugar is well over the range your doctor has set for you (if you do blood glucose monitoring). When you are under unusual physical or emotional stress. During pregnancy or after a testing pattern has been established with your doctor or educator.

Have all the materials you need before beginning the test: Test strips, timer (stop watch or watch with a second hand), sterile lancet, cotton or rayon balls, alcohol wipes, and glucose meter.

Color vision is needed to properly read visual, but not meter, test results. Have someone else confirm the visual test results if in doubt.

Quality control and sample tests may be required before testing.

If test results seem questionable, check expiration date on the label, repeat the test using a new test strip, run controls, check glucose meter and check procedure (timing).

If you are unable to identify the cause of a low or high test result, contact your doctor or diabetes educator. Know the symptoms of hypergly cemia (high blood sugar), which include thirst, hunger and frequent and excessive urination and those of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which include trembling, sweating, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, and tingling or numbness around mouth or fingertips.

If you experience stomach pain, vomiting or difficulty breathing, contact your doctor immediately.

Individuals with high uric acid, bilirubin cholesterol, triglyceride or hematocrit levels may have lowered glucose levels.

Diabetes education may be obtained through your local chapter of the American Diabetes Association.

Author has an experience of more than 4 years writing about benefits of drugs. He also holds experience writing about drugs treatment and drugs.