Clients living with diabetes may need to have their blood glucose level (BGL) monitored and kept within a target range. Maintaining an appropriate BGL is critical in reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Monitoring requires a blood glucose meter, lancet device and checking strips.

Reproduced with permission from The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Reproduced with permission from The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. HbA1c has been the gold standard for monitoring long-term glycaemic management since 1976, and it is one method used to diagnose diabetes.

Glucose is a sugar that serves as the main source of energy for the body. The carbohydrates we eat are broken down into glucose (and a few other sugars), abs

As glucose circulates in your blood, some of it spontaneously binds to haemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen in your red blood cells). This combinatio

The fructosamine test is a measurement of glycated protein which is formed by a nonenzymatic reaction of serum proteins with glucose. However, glycated album

Very low or very high blood glucose levels are primary causes of diabetic coma occurring in people with diabetes. There are 3 types of diabetic coma: diabetic ketoacidosis coma; hyperosmolar coma and hypoglycaemic coma. Diabetic coma is regarded as a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

When you see a doctor and they order some blood tests, a specimen of your blood will be taken and the sample will go off to a laboratory to be analysed along

Reproduced with permission from The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

A brief overview of vital signs and is to be used in conjunction with your organisation's policies and procedures. This article does not encompass reasons why or when to conduct a vital sign assessment - rather, it serves to be used as a summary of each vital sign.