Indications directory

Type 1:

Fasting glucose in the mornings, the level should lie below 126 mg/dl (ADA 1997) (in venous plasma), oral glucose tolerance test (see function tests), if necessary with insulin- and peptide-evaluations, HbA1c, urine status, albumin in the urine (spontaneous or 24-hour urine), if necessary further proteinuria-diagnostics.

Genetic markers: HLA-DR3 and -DR4

Autoantibodies (for risk estimation of post-partum type 1 diabetes):

1. Islet-cell antibodies (ICA)
2. Insulin autoantibodies (IAA)
3. Glutamat-decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD-antibodies)
4. IA2-autoantibodies

Indication of antibody-evaluation:

• Early diagnosis of diabetes, in case of unclear clinical diagnosis
• For early recognition in first-line relatives of type 1 diabetics
• Risk group for diabetes type 1: Women with gestational diabetes, children with Celiac disease and persons with other autoimmune disorders
• Suspicion of LADA-diabetes (late autoimmune diabetes in adults)

Type 2:

As per type 1 with additional: Cholestreol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, if necessary lipid electrophoresis, Lp(a), homocysteine, CRP-ultrasensitive

Checking of treatment:

According to recent recommendations the HbA1c-value should be below 6,5 %.

Etiological evaluation:

Please see sections “Cushing, haemochromatosis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism and others”

Exclusion of associated illnesses:

Serological screening for gluten-sensitive enteropathy (sprue) in insulin-dependent diabetes patients.

Molecular-genetic evaluation possible for:

Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)-type 1, 2 and 3 (type 2 diabetes at a young age)

Please also refer to section: “gestational diabetes”

Please also refer to the brochure “Current laboratory-medicinal aspects of type- and type 2-diabetes”.