Testing blood sugar levels

This field trip marks the first time the JES researchers are testing blood sugar levels in the Jirel population. To do so we are measuring levels of glycated hemoglobin, specifically, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Chronic high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) is the defining characteristic of diabetes mellitus, a debilitating disease that is becoming more prevalent in the global population and impacts several physiological processes, vision being one of them. People living with diabetes may be at high risk of developing diabetic eye disease which includes diabetic retinopathy (includes diabetic macular edema), glaucoma, and cataract.

Samples ready to be processed.

Loading blood sample onto glass slide.

Loading blood sample into sample dilution kit.

Loading sample test cartridge into test monitor.

Running the HbA1c test.