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Health
Screening
INFORMATION BOOKLET
Blood Glucose
TESTING IN THE PHARMACY
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a common disease in which the body doesn't produce or use
insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas used to
allow the carbohydrates we eat to turn into energy. As a result, there are
high levels of sugar in the blood, which can lead to possibly severe
complications.
Diabetes can be classed into 2 groups, type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
TYPE 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces little or no insulin, and
therefore these patients require daily injections of insulin to survive. Type 1
generally starts in younger people, and is less common than type 2.
TYPE 2 diabetes tends to affect middle aged adults, and is both a genetic
and lifestyle disease. Type 2 occurs when there is excess sugar in the blood
due to insulin resistance, and eventually this can lead to insufficient insulin
production. Type 2 diabetes is a slowly progressive disease with few
symptoms, however proper management during early stages can help to
prevent severe complications later on.
Who is at risk?
Cholesterol, triglyceride
and blood glucose testing
is now available in store at
Quality Pharmacy...
The screening test involves a private consultation with
the pharmacist and a simple finger prick test. Results
are available within 5 minutes. This fast and accurate
health screen is recommended for anyone with a
history or family history of heart disease/diabetes, is
overweight, is a smoker, or those who simply want to
learn more about their health. Come in to your
nearest Quality Pharmacy and speak to our friendly
staff about your Health Screen today!
The following groups are at risk of developing diabetes. These people are
good candidates for glucose testing:
• People aged 55 and over
• Family history of diabetes
• People with high blood pressure and high cholesterol
• People who are overweight or obese
• Inactive people and those with unhealthy eating habits
• Women with history of high blood sugar levels during pregnancy
(gestational diabetes)
• Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
What are the signs and symptoms?
Diabetes is a slowly progressing disease, and there may be no symptoms
even though sugar levels are high. Possible signs and symptoms include:
• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Frequent infections and slow healing wounds
• Increased hunger
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
Complications of diabetes
• Heart and blood vessel disease - diabetes increases the risk of
angina, heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure etc.
• Neuropathy - nerve damage which can cause tingling, numbness,
burning sensation and pain
• Nephropathy - kidney damage which can lead to kidney failure
• Diabetic retinopathy - eye damage which can eventually lead to
blindness
• Foot damage- this occurs as a result of poor circulation to the feet,
& may result in damage & infection which is often difficult to manage
Glucose testing is available at Quality Pharmacy
It involves a simple finger prick test, whereby a drop of blood is sampled on
the Optium Xceed glucometer. The results are available immediately, and
will indicate the level of glucose in your blood at that point in time. The
pharmacist will help you to interpret these results, and advise you of your next
step. This test is accurate and can be used to test for undiagnosed diabetes,
however, confirmation of diagnosis and further tests will need to be
performed by your doctor.
Cholesterol & Triglycerides
TESTING IN THE PHARMACY
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat found in all cells. It has an essential role in our
body, including hormone production, cell membrane structure and
metabolism. There are 2 sources of cholesterol, the liver and the foods we
eat. The liver produces sufficient cholesterol for our everyday needs, while
excess cholesterol from our diet can lead to health problems.
Cholesterol is carried around in the bloodstream by carriers called
lipoproteins. There are 2 types of cholesterol carriers in the bloodstream.
LDL (Low density lipoprotein) cholesterol
This carries cholesterol to our cells. At high levels in the bloodstream, it can
cause blockage of arteries. This is known as “Bad” cholesterol.
HDL (High density lipoprotein) cholesterol
How high is high?
Diabetes is more likely if blood glucose levels are above a certain amount:
• Fasting plasma glucose > 7mmol/L
• Random (non fasting) blood glucose > 11mmol/L
These results, along with symptoms of diabetes are an indication that you
may have diabetes.
'Experience the Difference'
This carries excess cholesterol out of cells and arteries and back to the liver to
be processed. This is known as “Good” cholesterol.
Our bodies convert fats in food, especially saturated and trans fats, to
cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol in the diet is mainly derived from
eggs, dairy, meat, and foods processed with high amounts of saturated or
trans fat such as chips, pastries, take away foods etc. Fruits and vegetables
do not contain cholesterol.
What can happen if I have high cholesterol?
High levels of cholesterol in the blood is generally a result of too much fat
in the diet, not enough exercise, genetic predisposition, or a combination
of these problems. If cholesterol levels are high, excess cholesterol is
deposited in artery walls, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This leads
to narrowing of the blood vessels and consequently high blood pressure,
stroke, angina, heart attack and kidney failure may occur
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the blood, it is a major source
of energy and when in excess it builds up in body tissue as fat. Triglycerides
are derived from fats eaten in foods, or made in the body from other
energy sources like carbohydrates. In fact, triglycerides account for about
95% of all dietary fats. High levels of triglycerides is associated with a
group of disorders called “metabolic syndrome”, which puts people at risk
of diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
What are the risk factors?
The following groups are at risk of high cholesterol and triglycerides.
These people are good candidates for cholesterol and triglyceride testing.
• Have a family history of heart disease(heart attack, stroke,
angina), diabetes or high cholesterol
• Have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes
• Smoke
• Overweight
• Regularly eat high fat foods
How high is high?
The target for cholesterol levels in the general population is:
• Total cholesterol less than 5.5mmol/L
• Triglycerides less than 2mmol/L
• LDL less than 4mmol/L
• HDL more than 1mmol/L
For people with other health conditions such as diabetes and heart
disease, these targets are even tighter.
Cholesterol & Triglyceride
testing is available at Quality Pharmacy
This test is a screening tool to indicate if your cholesterol levels are normal
or high. It involves a simple finger prick test, whereby a drop of blood from
the finger is taken and sampled on the Accutrend Plus meter. Total
cholesterol testing can be done any time of the day, and you do not need
to fast. For triglyceride testing, you need to fast for approximately 10
hours, preferably overnight. The process takes around 5 minutes and the
results are available straight away. The pharmacist will provide you with
information and advice, and a referral form for your doctor if appropriate.
www.qualitypharmacy.com.au
STORE LOCATIONS
Call for your health screening appointment today!
QUALITY PHARMACY GROUP Enquiries: 9370-8922