You have two kidneys on either side of your spine that are each approximately the size of a human fist. They’re located posterior to your abdomen and below your rib cage.
Your kidneys play several vital roles in maintaining your health. One of their most important jobs is to filter waste materials from the blood and expel them from the body as urine. The kidneys also help control the levels of water and various essential minerals in the body.
To evaluate for a possible liver disease or bile duct disease or to differentiate between liver and bone disease as a cause of elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP); sometimes to screen for or monitor alcohol abuse.
When you have symptoms of a liver or bile duct disorder or as follow up when you have an increased ALP level.
Liver function tests, also known as liver chemistries, help determine the health of your liver by measuring the levels of proteins, liver enzymes, and bilirubin in your blood.
A liver function test is often recommended in the following situations:
A lipid profile is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and fats called triglycerides in the blood. These measurements give the doctor a quick snapshot of what's going on in your blood. Cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood can clog arteries, making you more likely to develop heart disease. Thus, these tests can help predict your risk of heart disease and allow you to make early lifestyle changes that lower cholesterol and triglycerides.
Diabetes is a disease characterised by high blood glucose levels. The food that we eat is transformed into glucose or sugar to provide our body with the energy. Insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas, is responsible for absorption of glucose into the cells of our body. In diabetes, the body is unable to make enough insulin or can't use it well, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is of three types - Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy, which affects both the pregnancy and the baby's health and could lead to Type 2 diabetes later).