HbA1c cumulative glucose test
Shows: blood sugar level during the previous 3 months
Do it: If you feel thirsty, drink a lot of water, or urinate a lot
Diagnoses: diabetes
- Normal: less than 5.7
Pre-diabetes: 5.7 - 6.4
Diabetes: 6.5 and above
FBS fasting blood sugar test
Shows: the level of sugar in the blood at the moment the blood was drawn
Do it: If you feel thirsty, drink a lot of water, or urinate a lot
Diagnoses: diabetes after fasting 8 hours
- Normal: less than 5.6
Pre-diabetes: 5.6 - 6.9
Diabetes: 7 and above
Uric acid
Shows: the level of uric acid in the blood
Do it: If you have pain, swelling or redness in the joints, especially the big toe in the foot
Diagnoses: gout
- Normal: Male: 4.0-8.5 mg/dL or 0.24-0.51 mmol/L, Female: 2.7-7.3 mg/dL or 0.16-0.43 mmol/L
Vitamin D
Shows: Vitamin D level in the blood
Do it: If you feel bone pain, fractures or hair loss
Diagnoses: Vitamin D deficiency
- Normal: Above 30 ng/ml
Low: 20-30 ng/ml
Deficiency: less than 20 nanograms/ml
Vitamin B12
Shows: Vitamin B12 level in the blood
Do it: If you feel tingling and numbness in the limbs, pallor or ulcers in the mouth
Diagnoses: Vitamin B12 deficiency
Normal: between 200 pg/ml and 900 pg/ml
Complete blood count CBC
- Shows: the level of hemoglobin, red and white blood cells and platelets.
Do it: If you feel lethargic, headache, fever, weight loss or bleeding.
Diagnoses: anemia (due to iron deficiency, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia), clotting problems, leukemia, infection, allergy.
Kidney function test RFT
- Shows: the level of sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine and blood filtration rate.
Do it: If you feel lethargic or swollen feet or legs or under the eyes or dehydration as a result of vomiting or diarrhea or not drinking water
Diagnoses: Kidney failure, kidneys affected by some diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Liver function LFT
Shown: bilirubin (bile pigment), liver enzymes and protein.
Do it: If you have jaundice or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen.
Diagnoses: jaundic, hepatitis, inflammation and obstruction of the bile duct.
Lipids
Shows: total, good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Do it: If you have a family history of high fat or in the tests for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Diagnoses: high cholesterol and high triglycerides
Thyroid Function TFT
Shows: thyroxine secreted by the thyroid gland and thyroid-stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.
Do it: If you feel lethargic, gain or lose weight, have cold or heat, constipation, heart palpitations, hair loss
Diagnoses: hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
