What is the purpose of this test?
The Diabetes Comorbidity Assessment is a comprehensive panel designed to evaluate key health markers that are commonly affected by diabetes and its complications. This test provides valuable insights into kidney function, cholesterol levels, and cardiovascular health, helping you and your doctor better understand how diabetes may be impacting your overall well-being. Early detection of changes in these markers can help prevent or manage complications like kidney damage, cardiovascular disease, or poor lipid control.
By analyzing a combination of urine and blood tests, this panel measures creatinine, albumin, and their ratio to assess kidney health. It also evaluates cholesterol and lipid profiles, which are crucial for understanding cardiovascular risks. This information can guide adjustments to your diabetes management plan, improving your quality of life and reducing long-term health risks.
The Diabetes Comorbidity Assessment includes:
- Creatinine: Measures kidney function by assessing waste filtration efficiency.
- Creatinine, Urine: Evaluates kidney performance through urine waste concentration.
- Albumin, Urine: Detects protein leakage in urine, an early sign of kidney damage.
- Alb/Creat Ratio: Compares albumin to creatinine in urine, providing a sensitive indicator of kidney health.
- Cholesterol, Total: Indicates overall cholesterol levels, important for cardiovascular health.
- Triglycerides: Measures fat in the blood, often elevated in diabetes.
- HDL Cholesterol: "Good" cholesterol that helps protect against heart disease.
- VLDL Cholesterol (Calculated): Reflects very-low-density lipoprotein levels, associated with fat transport in the blood.
- LDL Cholesterol (Calculated): "Bad" cholesterol that increases the risk of artery blockage.
- Non-HDL Cholesterol: Combines all cholesterol types linked to cardiovascular risk.
- eGFR: Estimates kidney filtration rate to assess overall kidney health.
Who should get this test?
- People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who want to monitor their overall health.
- Individuals with a family history of diabetes or kidney disease.
- Those experiencing symptoms of kidney or cardiovascular complications, such as swelling, fatigue, or chest pain.
- Patients needing regular monitoring of their cholesterol and lipid levels as part of diabetes management.
- People looking for a comprehensive overview of potential diabetes-related health risks.
When should I order a Diabetes Comorbidity Assessment?
Individuals may consider ordering this test if they have diabetes or concerns about diabetes-related complications.
Symptoms to consider:
- Swelling in the hands, feet, or face, which may indicate kidney problems.
- Persistent fatigue, weakness, or unexplained weight changes.
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or signs of cardiovascular issues.
- Elevated blood sugar levels that are difficult to manage.
- Numbness or tingling in extremities, potentially linked to diabetes complications.
Specimen:
Serum and Random Urine
Preparation:
Patients should maintain a stable diet for 2–3 weeks before the test. Fasting is not required but is recommended (12–14 hours) if triglyceride results are needed for diagnosing conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia, early heart disease, pancreatitis, or hypertriglyceridemia.
Test Results:
1-2 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
