As an added service to customers who have been diagnosed with diabetes, or who have symptoms of diabetes but have not yet had their blood sugar levels tested, the pharmacists at Steven’s are able to provide on-site tests designed to monitor glucose levels, which indicates average blood sugar level over the previous 3-4 months (the average life span of a red blood cell). These tests include a glucoprotein test which indicates blood sugar levels for the previous two to three weeks, and the HbA1c, or glycosylated hemaglobin test which indicates the blood sugar range over the previous three-month period. In addition, Steven’s offers Lipid Panels, a test which indicates cholesterol levels for HDL, often referred to as “good cholesterol”, LDL, often referred to as “bad cholesterol”, triglycerides and total cholesterol.
Monitoring of blood sugar levels and cholesterol is essential for diabetes patients, as is nutrition education to assist diabetes patients in controlling the progression of their disease. It is estimated that diabetes occurs in approximately 4.5% of the population in the United States. Monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels is critical to the prevention of complications such as eye disease, hardening of the arteries, kidney disease, nerve damage and foot ulcers. This is true for all diabetics, including Type II diabetics who are not insulin-dependent. In fact, Medicare expanded its coverage (in 1998) for Type II diabetes so that strips and lancets they use with their monitoring glucometers will now be reimbursable.
