Dear Colleague,

November is American Diabetes Month®.  As with other health or disease recognition months, it's a good time to brush up on your knowledge and skills. Most of us, if not all, come in contact with diabetic patients no matter what our practice setting or nursing role may be. For this issue of NursingCenter eNews, I'd like to review some of the laboratory values associated with diabetes. Remember that values may vary depending on your laboratory.

• For diagnosis of diabetes
• Random glucose level greater than 200 mg/dL in patient with classic hyperglycemia symptoms or crisis
• Fasting glucose level (after 8 hours of fasting) greater than 126 mg/dL indicates diabetes; prediabetes is present if fasting blood glucose level is between 100 and 125 mg/dL.
• HbA1C value of greater than 6.5% (American Diabetes Association)
• Glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
  
  
• Other associated values
• triglyceride levels greater than 250 mg/dL  (goal is less than 150 mg/dL).
• HDL levels below 35 mg/dL (target levels for men should be greater than 45 mg/dL and for women, greater than 55 mg/dL); the target level for LDL cholesterol is less than 70 mg/dL.
• High urine albumin (greater than 20 mcg/minute) can be a marker of early renal disease.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Evidence-Based Update Dietary Supplements and Probiotics for Diabetes Universal Principles for Culturally Sensitive Diabetic Education Type 2 Diabetes: Stopping The Epidemic One Hospital's War On Diabetes: Online Exclusive The Fundamentals of Diabetes Management

Sincerely,

Lisa Bonsall, MSN, RN, CRNP
Clinical Editor

References:
Herman, A. (2012). Type 2 Diabetes: Stopping the Epidemic. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 10(1).
American Diabetes Association. (2012). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2012. Diabetes Care, 35(Supplement).

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