Why is this test needed?
Approximately 50% of people with
diabetes don’t know they have it. Unhealthy diets, obesity and lack
of exercise are the main causes of diabetes. If you have diabetes
and are diagnosed early, you can be treated before illness develops.
Diabetes is a major cause of heart
disease and stroke and the main cause of kidney failure, limb amputations and blindness
in adults. Most cases of diabetes can be treated with just dietary
measures and oral medication. Early diagnosis is critical.
For
more information on diabetes click here
| Visual Diabetes Home
screening tests |
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What does the test involve?
This test is suitable for you
to do at home and contains 2 test strips. If you obtain an abnormal result
with the first strip, repeat the test using the second strip This
test is simple to use and takes only 60 seconds.
For more information about this test click here |
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| Code: DBTS |
Price: UK£ 6.49 |
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| Cholesterol & Diabetes Combination Tests |
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What does the test involve?
These tests are suitable for you
to do at home and contains 2 test strips. If you obtain an abnormal result
with the first strip, repeat the test using the second strip This
test is simple to use and takes only 60 seconds.
For more information about the Diabetes test click here.
For more information about the Cholesterol test click here. |
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Introduction
This diabetes test detects the presence of glucose (sugar) in your blood. This test contains 2 test strips. If you obtain an abnormal result with the first strip, repeat the test using the second strip.
Pack contents
- Plastic Vial containing 2 test strips.
- 2 x Lancets
- Comparison Chart
- Instructions
Why do I need this test?
This test can help identify diabetes at an early stage, before the illness causes any symptoms. It is important to detect diabetes early on so that you can begin to have treatment and reduce the risk of complications.
Precautions
- If you are colour blind do not attempt to read the colour comparison chart.
- Do not use this test beyond the expiry date on the plastic vial.
- Ensure hands are thoroughly washed before carrying out test. Hands or fingers which have traces of sugar from foods or drinks could cause a false elevated result.
- Do not carry out this test if you have been suffering with diarrhoea or vomiting. Dehydration and excessive water loss may cause an inaccurate low reading.
Before you begin
- Read the entire instructions carefully.
- Ensure you have a clock or watch ready.
Test Procedure
- When ready to perform the test open the plastic vial and remove one of the test strips. Close the container back up when the strip has been removed. Make sure that the protective cap has not been removed from the lancet.
- Wash hands with hot water and soap and dry them well. Using gentle pressure, massage the finger from which the sample is to be taken (the middle or ring finger is the best) by gently working the thumb of your free hand up to the tip of the finger.
- Carefully twist off the protective cap from the lancet as shown in the first picture and then remove.
 
- Press the lancet very firmly against the soft pad of your finger tip and press the blue button on the side of the lancet - this releases a very short needle, enough only to prick the skin. It is important to press the finger pricker firmly against the fingertip otherwise the skin will not be punctured.
- Using a dry tissue, wipe away the first sign of blood.
- Holding the punctured site downwards, with palm of hand facing upwards, continue to gently massage the finger until a large drop of blood appears.
- Drop the blood on the white reactive square area marked by 2 blue lines (the side which shows the blood drop) without actually touching the reactive square with the finger.
- Be sure that blood drop completely covers the reactive area of the strip.
- Wait about 50 seconds to allow the chemical reaction to occur.
- Turn the strip over and within the next 25 seconds compare the developed colour in the circular area of the strip with each coloured area of the comparative card by positioning the strip behind the holes in the card.
- Find the closest matching colour and read the results below.
Since the test result is a semi-quantitative judgement based on colour, shade and intensity, it is useful to get the opinion of a second person on the final result. It is important to make the colour comparison within 25 seconds, otherwise the colour will continue to darken and the evaluated concentration will be more than the real one.
Each colour block corresponds to a glucose concentration, the lightest colour is a glucose reading of 25mg/dl and the darkest colour is a reading of 500 mg/dl. A reactive test strip which shows a colour lighter than 25 mg/dl has to be considered a glucose level of less than 25 mg/dl. A reactive test strip with a colour darker than 500 mg/dl has to be considered a glucose level higher than 500mg/dl.
Normal Glucose Values
After fasting normal blood glucose values in a person without diabetes are 70-110 mg/dl (3,9 -6,1 mmol/l). Consult your doctor if a reading of less than 50mg/dl or higher than 250 mg/dl is obtained.
What do I do with the result now?
A high result means that the test has found excess glucose in your blood. This does not always mean you are diabetic. However, it is very important that you visit your doctor to discuss your test result.
If the result was low this means at this time no excess glucose was found in your blood. If the result is low and you do not have any symptoms, you do not need to do anything else. However, you should visit your doctor if the result was low but you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- More thirsty than normal
- Passing urine frequently
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
Storage
This test should be stored inside the protective vial at room temperature. Do not expose to direct sunlight.
Total Only Cholesterol Test
How does the Total Only Cholesterol Home Test work?
Using the Visual Cholesterol test it is possible to check
quickly the cholesterol level in blood. If the level is high then you
should contact your doctor and in this way you could significantly reduce
heart disease risk. Cholesterol level in blood is affected by diet and
also by: drugs, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy and serious diseases. You should perform this test after fasting for at
least 6-9 hours.
Make sure you have a watch or clock ready. Read instructions
fully before carrying out the test.
- When
ready to perform the test open the plastic container and remove one
of the test strips. Close the container back up when the strip has been removed. Make sure
that the protective cap has not been removed from the lancet.
- Wash hands with hot water and
soap and dry them well. Using gentle pressure, massage the finger from
which the sample is to be taken (the middle or ring finger is the best)
by gently working the thumb of your free hand up to the tip of the finger.
- Carefully twist off the protective cap from the
lancet as shown in the first picture below and then remove.
Press the lancet very firmly
against the soft pad of your finger tip and press the blue button on
the side of the lancet until you hear a click- this releases a very
short needle, enough only to prick the skin. It is important to press
the finger pricker firmly against the fingertip otherwise the skin will
not be punctured.
 
- Holding the punctured site downwards,
with palm of hand facing upwards, continue to gently massage the finger
until a large drop of blood appears.
- Add a drop of blood to the white reactive pad, the square
area marked by 2 green lines (the side which shows the blood drop).
Ensure your finger does not touch the reactive area.
- Wait about 35-40 seconds to allow the chemical reaction
to occur.
- Turn the strip over and within the next 25 seconds compare
the developed colour in the circular area of the strip with each coloured
area of the comparative card by positioning the strip behind the
holes in the card.
- Find the closest matching colour and read the
results below.
Since the test result is semi-quantitative evaluation involving
colour, shade and intensity, it is useful the opinion of a second person
on the final result. It is important to perform the colour comparison
within next 25 seconds, otherwise the colour could lighten and the evaluated
concentration will be lower than the real one.
Results
Each colour area corresponds to a cholesterol value. The
lightest colour is a cholesterol reading of 130 mg/dl and the highest
is a cholesterol reading of 350 mg/dl. If the colour is lighter than 130
mg/dl then a cholesterol reading of less than 130 mg/dl must be considered.
If the reactive strip is darker than 350 mg/dl then a cholesterol level
of higher than 350 mg/dl must be considered.
Normal and Abnormal Values (According to the latest criteria)
Less than 200 mg/dl = Desirable Blood Cholesterol
200-239 mg/dl = Borderline High Blood Cholesterol
Higher than 240 mg/dl = High Blood Cholesterol
What should I do with my results?
If your cholesterol is high you should see your doctor for
advice, your doctor may give you dietary advice and exercise guidelines.
If after following the guidelines carefully your cholesterol level has
not reached the desired goal, your doctor may prescribe medication.
For more detailed information on cholesterol and diet click
here.
One determination of the cholesterol level can not be interpreted
as a final reading. Cholesterol levels may vary from day to day. In addition,
cholesterol levels may also vary as a result of weight loss, stress, illness
and pregnancy. This cholesterol test is very suitable to make an risk
assessment for coronary heart disease. However, in addition to cholesterol
levels there are a number of factors that influence your risk for coronary
heart disease, such as:
- Age, older people are generally at more risk for
coronary heart disease.
- Myocardial infarction (usually known as a heart
attack), in many cases the causes of a heart attack are still
present, even after the heart attack. These people have a greater risk
for re-occurrence.
- Diabetes,
diabetes causes an elevated level of total cholesterol.
- High
blood pressure, a high blood pressure deteriorates the condition
of the blood vessels.
- Family, if there is a history of family member
with high cholesterol and/or coronary heart disease.
- Stress, it seems that people who are sensitive
to stress have a greater risk for coronary disease, however, this has
not been scientifically proven.
- Menopause,
because of the loss of the protecting oestrogen, cholesterol levels
rise.
- Unhealthy lifestyle, for example smoking, not enough
physical exercise, eating to much fat, obesity.
Limitations of the test
This test is not diagnostic and cannot accurately be used to predict the onset of coronary heart disease.
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