Understanding Diabetes: Management, Monitoring, and Care

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. This occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or when the body's cells don't react to insulin properly.

There are two main types:

  • Type 1 Diabetes: The body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.

  • Type 2 Diabetes: The body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to it. This is the most common type.

For a comprehensive medical overview of the condition, you can visit the NHS Diabetes Hub.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Early diagnosis is vital to preventing complications. The NHS recommends looking out for the "4 Ts":

  1. Toilet: Going to the toilet a lot, especially at night.

  2. Thirsty: Being really thirsty.

  3. Tired: Feeling more tired than usual.

  4. Thinner: Losing weight without trying to.

If you experience these symptoms, please see your GP. You can read more about the warning signs on the NHS Symptoms Page.

Understanding Your Numbers: Blood Sugar and HbA1c

Managing diabetes relies heavily on data. Understanding the difference between your daily checks and your long-term checks is important.

Blood Glucose Testing

For many people, especially those using insulin, checking blood sugar levels at home is a daily routine. This is usually done with a finger-prick test or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). These tests give you a "snapshot" of your levels at that exact moment, helping you decide how much insulin to take or what to eat.

HbA1c

Your HbA1c is different from a regular blood sugar test. It is a blood test usually done by your healthcare team every 3 to 6 months.

Think of HbA1c as the "big picture." It measures your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. It is the best way to see how well your diabetes is being managed over time. Keeping your HbA1c within the target range set by your doctor reduces the risk of long-term complications.

Our HbA1c test can help you manage your condition by testing regularly. 

You can read more about the standards of care you should expect regarding testing in the NICE Guidelines for the Public.

A Holistic Approach to Care

Good diabetes management isn't just about the numbers; it’s about looking after your whole body.

Diet and Nutrition

Eating well is essential. There is no special "diabetic diet," but you should aim for a balanced diet that is low in sugar, salt, and saturated fats. We discuss healthy eating strategies and meal planning ideas regularly in our blog to help you make tasty, nutritious choices.

Skin and Foot Care

High blood glucose levels can cause poor circulation and nerve damage (neuropathy), particularly in the feet. This can also lead to very dry skin which, if left untreated, can crack and lead to infection.

It is vital to check your feet every day for changes and keep your skin moisturized. Using high-quality skincare products formulated to hydrate and protect the skin barrier can be an effective part of your daily routine. We have a range of products designed to support your skin health which you can view in our shop.

Moving Forward

Diabetes can be challenging, but with the right medical support, lifestyle adjustments, and self-care routine, you can live a full and healthy life. We are here to support you with resources, articles, and products designed to make that journey a little easier. Living with diabetes is a journey that involves understanding your body, monitoring your numbers, and establishing a routine that works for you. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been managing the condition for years, having the right information is the key to staying healthy and active.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is the test performed? 

You will receive a complete blood collection kit by post. The kit contains all you need to collect blood from your finger. The components of the kit are: 

1. Instruction Sheet: Provides detailed steps on how to collect the blood sample correctly. 

2. Box: Contains all the components and is used to hold the tube while collecting blood. 

3. Lab Request Form: Needs to be filled out and included with the sample. 

4. Labels: For labeling the sample tube. 

5. Tube Pouch: A protective pouch for the sample tube. 

6. UN3733 Prepaid Mailing Bag: For sending the sample back to the lab. 

7. Lancets: Used to prick your finger for blood collection. 

8. Wipes: For cleaning your finger before and after collection. 

9. Plasters: To cover your finger after blood collection. 

10. Blood Collection Tube: for collecting the blood sample. 

These components are essential to ensure that the blood sample is collected, stored and sent correctly for accurate testing. 

Do I need to set up an account?

No, you don’t need to set up an account, but you do need to activate the sample ID before sending your blood sample to the lab.

Should I fast before collecting my blood sample? 

Please check individual test pages for details.

I couldn’t collect enough blood, what should I do? 

If you read the instruction sheet carefully and follow the steps as directed, then you should not have a problem in collecting the right amount of blood. However, if you followed all the steps and couldn’t get enough blood, i.e., to the upper line, please contact us and we will arrange to send you a fresh tube and 4 lancets (for an extra fee) and not for free). Please make sure you keep any unused elements (instruction sheet, box, lab request form, labels, tube pouch, and UN3733 prepaid mailing bag) from the kit as you will need them when you receive the new tube and lancets.

I sent my sample, and the blood wasn’t enough, and I didn’t contact London Health Company. What’s going to happen now? 

Don’t send any sample if the blood isn’t enough unless you contactedus and we told you to do so. If you sent the sample and the blood wasn’t enough, the lab will reject your sample and it won’t be processed.

After I closed the yellow tube cap, and inverted it 5-10 times gently, I noticed the waxy substance in the tube didn’t dissolve or move, is this OK? 

Yes, this is fine. When inverting the tube, the blood will mix with the waxy substance, but you won’t be able to see any difference. The waxy substance will not move or dissolve.

The yellow-top tube has waxy substance, but the purple top tube looks empty. Is it a faulty tube? 

The purple top tube is perfectly fine and should look empty.

Where do I find my sample ID?

Your sample ID is unique and should be on the small lab request slip and is highlighted. Your sample ID should always start with three letters and has no spaces.

What happens if I forgot to activate my sample ID before sending the sample to the lab? 

This will cause significant delays in reporting the sample if it arrives at the lab and is not yet activated.

What if I forgot to include the lab request slip/form with my sample? 

That shouldn’t be a big problem. You can still receive your report on time, but you need to make sure that the sample ID is activated before the sample arrives at the lab. If the lab request slip/form isn’t included and the sample ID isn’t activated, the lab will discard the sample and no refund will be issued.

I bought my test kit online, does that mean that you have my details, and I don’t need to activate my sample ID? 

You still need to activate your sample ID. By activating your sample ID, your blood sample is linked to you. Without activating your sample ID, your blood sample won’t be traced back to you.

Do I need to drop off my blood sample at the post office? 

Yes, please do so. Make sure that it’s dropped off before the last collection time; otherwise, it will stay in the post office overnight and the lab won’t get it the next day.

Why do I need to avoid posting my blood sample on Friday and weekends? 

We aim to receive your blood sample within 24 hours of blood collection. If the sample is posted on a Friday, it means that it will stay in the post for 3 days.

How long does it take for the lab to receive my sample?

Generally, samples arrive within 24 hours of posting to the lab. We use Royal Mail Tracked 24 service, but sometimes, there might be a slight delay in delivery. If the sample’s integrity was compromised by delays, we send a free replacement kit if you have the tracking number to prove the time of posting. This is if sent on Mon, Tue or Wed.

How will I know if my sample was received by the lab? 

You will receive an email notification confirming that your sample was checked into the lab.

How will I receive my results? 

Once your report is checked and ready, it will be sent to your registered email.

Why have I not received all my results? 

This is usually due to one of two reasons: 

1. Late or non-activation of the sample ID. 

2. Entering the wrong sample ID. 

Why does my report say that my sample was rejected by the lab? 

Sample rejection mainly occurs due to haemolysis, which is when the red blood cells in the blood collection tube start to break down. This impacts the lab ability to generate results for some tests. 

 

Haemolysis can happen at any stage of the process but most commonly occurs during blood collection. It often results from squeezing your finger instead of massaging the side of your hand. This only happens in a small number of cases, and we will provide a second kit free of charge. 

 

Another reason for sample rejection is when a person has been unable to collect the necessary amount of blood required to perform the testing and sends it to the lab without contacting us beforehand. 

Can I return my item for a refund?

We do offer refunds, and you do not need to send the kit back to us.

As this product is a medical device, we cannot accept returned kits. Any returned items would need to be discarded and cannot be reused or resold to other customers.

However, if you no longer need your kit or have changed your mind, we can offer a partial refund under the following conditions:

  • Please open the box and provide us with the Sample ID.
  • Once we receive the Sample ID, we will void the kit.
  • You will then receive a refund minus the kit cost of £5.

This allows us to process your refund without the need for the kit to be returned.

How do I request a return?

If you no longer need the kit, please contact our support team directly. You will need to open the box and provide the Sample ID so we can void the kit and process your refund. Please do not request a return through the website, as there is no need to send the kit back to us. Once we have the Sample ID and the kit has been voided, we can proceed with your refund.

How long does a refund take?

Refunds are processed within 10 working days.

This timeframe is required so we can locate and void any associated Sample IDs before issuing the refund.

Once this process is complete, your refund will be issued to your original payment method.

Can I change my address after I checked out?

Please note that we cannot change your address if it was entered incorrectly, as orders are dispatched automatically. Once labels are printed, it is difficult for our staff to locate and retract them.

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