Our Diabetes Screening Package Explained
What are the tests in the Diabetes Screening Package?
These tests are crucial to take control of your health and screening for diabetes. Please note that our packages are just a guide, you can pick any of these tests, add extra tests or take out any test. Choose what suits your needs!
Full package: R72
A fasting blood sugar test is used to measure sugar in your blood. This test is a simple, safe and common way to diagnose prediabetes, diabetes or gestational diabetes. Our nurse will need to prick your finger or use a needle to draw blood from a vein in your arm. To prepare for this test, don’t eat; only drink water until 8 to 12 hours before the test.
Additional Tests On Request
This blood test to check sugar levels. This test is done by pricking the finger to draw a small drop of blood. The blood is then wiped onto a test strip that will give a glucose (sugar) reading. Random glucose testing is a powerful tool, as it can help assess how diabetes is being managed.
This test gives you your average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months with just one test. It is recommended for patients with and without diagnosed diabetes. Those who have diabetes need this test regularly to see if their levels are staying within range. It can tell if you need to adjust your diabetes medicines. But this test is also used to diagnose diabetes.
This test measures the amount of insulin in your blood. An insulin in blood test is sometimes used along with other tests to help diagnose and monitor type 1 diabetes. To prepare for this test, don’t eat and only drink water for 8 to 12 hours before the test.
This test measures the insulin levels in your blood after at least 8 hours of fasting. Our nurse will collect a blood sample from your vein and send it to a lab for analysis. The fasting insulin test is an important but often overlooked test that can help identify insulin resistance.
This test measures the level of lactic acid, in your blood. Lactic acid is made by muscle tissue and by red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to other parts of your body. Normally, the level of lactic acid in the blood is low.
Why is this test recommended in our diabetes package?
Certain medicines cause the body to make too much lactic acid. If you are taking any of these medicines, you may be at a higher risk for lactic acidosis.
Albumin is a protein your body uses for tissue growth and repair. A microalbumin urine test checks for small (or “micro”) amounts of albumin in your urine — at levels so small a regular urine test might not find them. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, one of the things to look out for is kidney disease. A microalbumin urine test helps because it can find kidney problems before they get too far.
Book with Epicentre
For 20 years Epicentre has been studying wellness in South Africa. We are a company founded on a vision, ending disease in South Africa! So we believe in making an IMPACT.
We are an independent organization that is committed to creating a positive impact on health & wellness for all in South Africa. We want to close the gap between unscreened, undiagnosed, and uncontrolled HIV & COVID-19 infections as well as other chronic diseases for all South Africans.
By booking your tests with Epicentre, you are supporting a real local company that has worked for 20 years in all 9 provinces, from Pollsmoor prison to Constantia; & you’re getting a gold standard service that experts trust!
