The structure of our weeks consists of Monday-Thursday shadowing dietitians, visiting townships, etc. and then spending two hours in a lecture or lab on Friday mornings. Yesterday our lecture/lab covered blood pressure, blood glucose testing, and urine analysis. Here are a few basics on each:
Blood Pressure:
Blood pressure is the pressure put on the walls of blood vessels by circulating blood and is a principle vital sign. Each time your heart beats, your blood pressure varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. A person's blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). According to mine and Kalie's measurements, my blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg. Here is a simplified chart of blood pressure ranges:
Blood Glucose Levels:
A blood glucose test measure the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in your blood. Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods and is the main source of energy used by the body. Normally your blood glucose levels increase slightly after you eat, but blood glucose levels that remain high over time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels.
There are several different types of blood glucose tests that are used, but for our purposes, we used a simple blood test. In order to do this, we each pricked out own fingers (yes...I gave myself a finger prick...with a needle...a big accomplishment for someone who not only fears needles, but also hates blood) and placed a drop of blood into a glucose meter. According to my little meter, my blood glucose level was about 5.4 mmol/L.
Blood glucose tests are done to check for diabetes, monitor treatment for diabetes, check for gestational diabetes, and determine if an abnormally low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) is present. Luckily, I am right where mine should be. Here is a chart of blood glucose levels:
Urine Analysis:
The last thing we did was a urine analysis. Typically, you would pee in a cup and then dip the testing strip in and compare it to the chart posted below. However, for the purposes of our lab, we simply used tea. A urine test strip can help to quantify parameters such as leukocytes, nitrites, proteins, blood, specific gravity, and pH levels. I wish that I had more to say about this test...but let's be honest, it was the least interesting.
I hoping that we will have Internet in our rooms soon, so hopefully I will be able to post pictures starting next week (although I will be in the Southern Free State, so it wouldn't be until at least next Thursday or Friday). Don't more than one or two posts from now until Thursday because I will be without an Internet connection. I'm excited to see what the Southern Free State has to offer and I can't wait to share all of my stories with you!
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