Medical technologists perform complex scientific tests on blood and body fluids to diagnose and monitor diseases. Some tests they conduct relate to carbohydrates, including blood glucose, lactose tolerance, and D-xylose absorption tests. The blood glucose test measures sugar in the blood, with levels indicating prediabetes, diabetes, and how well diabetes is controlled. The lactose tolerance test evaluates the breakdown of the sugar lactose from milk, with abnormal results suggesting intolerance. The D-xylose absorption test examines intestinal absorption of the sugar D-xylose, with lower than normal levels potentially indicating conditions like celiac disease.

1. CARBOHYDRATES
TO
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

2. What is Medical Technology ?
• Medical Technology, which is a proper subset of
health technology, encompasses a wide range
of healthcare products and is used to diagnose,
monitor or treat diseases or medical conditions
affecting humans.

3. What is Medical Technologists ?
• Medical Technologists, also known as
clinical laboratory technologists, perform
and analyze the results of complex
scientific tests on blood and body fluids.

4. What is carbohydrate used for in the
human body?
The body uses carbohydrates directly from the
monosaccharide glucose. Glucose is in the blood and
extracellular fluids (lymph) and can be made from glycogen.
Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles and in smaller
amounts in the other organs and tissues of the body.

5. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE TESTS
PERFORMED BY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
INVOLVING CARBOHYDRATES:
CARBOHYDRATES IN RELATION TO MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Blood Glucose (sugar ) Tests
Lactose Tolerance Tests
D-Xylose Absorption

6. Blood Glucose Test
Measures the amount of a type of sugar (glucose) in your blood.
Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods. It is the main source of
energy used by the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps your
body's cells use the glucose. Insulin is produced in
the pancreas and released into the blood when the amount of
glucose in the blood rises.
Normally, your blood glucose levels increase slightly after you eat.
This increase causes your pancreas to release insulin so that your
blood glucose levels do not get too high. Blood glucose levels that
remain high over time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and
blood vessels.

7. There are several different types of blood
glucose tests are performed by a Medical
Technologists.•Fasting blood sugar (FBS) measures blood glucose after you have not
eaten for at least 8 hours. It is often the first test done to check for pre
diabetes and diabetes.
•2-hour postprandial blood sugar measures blood glucose exactly 2 hours
after you start eating a meal. This is not a test used to diagnose diabetes.
This test is used to see if someone with diabetes is taking the right amount of
insulin with meals.
•Random blood sugar (RBS) measures blood glucose regardless of when
you last ate. Several random measurements may be taken throughout the
day. Random testing is useful because glucose levels in healthy people do
not vary widely throughout the day. Blood glucose levels that vary widely may
mean a problem. This test is also called a casual blood glucose test.

8. • Oral glucose tolerance test is used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. An
oral glucose tolerance test is a series of blood glucose measurements taken
after you drink a sweet liquid that contains glucose. This test is commonly used
to diagnose diabetes that occurs during pregnancy . Women who had high blood
sugar levels during pregnancy may have oral glucose tolerance tests after
pregnancy.
• Hemoglobin A1c, or glycohemoglobin, measures how much sugar (glucose) is
stuck to red blood cells. This test can be used to diagnose diabetes. It also
shows how well your diabetes has been controlled in the past 2 to 3 months and
whether your diabetes medicine needs to be changed. The result of your A1c
test can be used to estimate your average blood sugar level. This is called your
estimated average glucose, or eAG.

10. Lactose Tolerance Tests
Lactose tolerance tests measure the ability of your intestines to break down a type of
sugar found in milk and other dairy products called lactose. If your body cannot break
down this sugar you are said to have lactose intolerance.
How the Test is Performed
Two common methods include:
•Lactose tolerance blood test (conduct by MT)
•Hydrogen breath test
The lactose tolerance blood test looks for glucose in your blood. Your body creates glucose
when lactose breaks down.
For this test, several blood samples will be taken before and after you drink a liquid
containing lactose.
A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm (Venipuncture).

11. Normal Results
The blood test is considered normal if your glucose level rises more than 30 mg/dL
within 2 hours of drinking the lactose solution. A rise of 20 to 30 mg/dL is
inconclusive.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to
your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results may be a sign of lactose intolerance.
The blood test is considered abnormal if your glucose level rises less than 20 mg/dL
within 2 hours of drinking the lactose solution.
An abnormal test should be followed by a glucose tolerance test to rule out a
problem with the body's ability to absorb glucose.
Risks
There may be slight risks from having blood drawn.

12. D-xylose absorption
D-xylose absorption is a laboratory test to determine how well the intestines
absorb a simple sugar (D-xylose). The test helps determine if nutrients are being
properly absorbed.
How the Test is Performed
•Clean Catch Urine Specimen
•Venipuncture (Blood Drawn)
You will be asked to drink 8 ounces of water that contains 25 grams of a sugar
called d-xylose. The amount of d-xylose that comes out in your urine over the next
5 hours will be measured. You may have a blood sample collected at 1 and 3 hours
after drinking the liquid. The amount of urine you produce over a 5-hour period is
also determined. Your health care provider will tell you how to collect all of the
urine during a 5-hour period.

13. D-Xylose

14. Normal Results
A normal result depends on how much D-xylose is given. Usually the test results
are either positive or negative. A positive result means that D-xylose is found in the
blood or urine and is therefore being absorbed by the intestines.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use
different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the
meaning of your specific test results.

15. What Abnormal Results Mean
Lower than normal values may be seen in:
Celiac disease (sprue)
Crohn's disease
Giardia lamblia infestation
Hookworm infestation
Lymphatic obstruction
Radiation enteropathy
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Viral gastroenteritis
Whipple's disease

16. Risks
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of
the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more
difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling light-headed
Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

17. Prepared by:
Mercado, Princess Cate R.
Alejandrino, Ma. Lourdes F.
Aspillaga, Liezel