Tests to diagnose diabetes complications
The table below summarizes the tests that can be performed to identify complications from diabetes, including those done in a physical exam. These tests range from taking your blood pressure to drawing blood for cholesterol or kidney function testing.
Complications from diabetes and the tests used to detect them Organ or disease
Test
What it shows
Target level
LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglyceride tests (done after you have not eaten for 9 to 12 hours)
- Level of LDL ("bad") cholesterol in your blood
- Level of HDL ("good") cholesterol in your blood
- Level of triglycerides in your blood
- LDL less than 100 mg/dL (2.60 mmol/l)
- Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/l)
- HDL more than 40 mg/dL (1.02 mmol/l) in men and more than 50 mg/dL (1.28 mmol/l) in women
Blood pressure
Pressure of blood flow in your arteries
Less than 130 mm Hg systolic (top number) and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic (bottom number)
Kidneys
Macroalbuminuria (large amounts of protein in urine)
Microalbuminuria (small amounts of protein in urine)
Kidney disease present
Subclinical (developing) kidney disease
- Negative macroalbuminuria (less than 300 mg of protein in 24 hours)
- Negative microalbuminuria (less than 30 mg of protein)
Eyes
Retinal exam
Whether retinopathy (damage to back of the eye) has developed
No retinal damage
Feet
Foot exam
Whether foot ulcers have developed and whether the person has lost any sensation
No foot ulcers or loss of sensation
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: August 9, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
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