Private diabetes blood test, near Cardiff
Four markers that show your blood sugar and how hard your body is working to control it. HbA1c, glucose, insulin and C-peptide together, so you see not just whether your sugar is high but why. Self-refer at our Penarth or Cowbridge clinics near Cardiff.
Sugar, insulin and the full picture.
What is included for £105
- ✓Blood draw at Penarth or Cowbridge, near Cardiff
- ✓HbA1c, your average blood sugar over recent months
- ✓Glucose, insulin and C-peptide for the insulin picture
- ✓Plain-English report with your results and reference ranges
- ✓Anything outside the normal range flagged clearly
- ✓Report emailed to you, easy to share with a clinician
More than just a sugar reading
Plenty of diabetes checks measure HbA1c alone. That tells you where your blood sugar has been, but not what your body is doing to keep it there. Adding insulin and C-peptide shows whether your pancreas is having to work overtime, which is often the earliest sign that something is changing.
Catches change early
Insulin can rise for years before blood sugar does. Measuring both gives you a chance to act while the picture is still easy to influence.
Answers by the next day
Results are usually back the next working day, with each marker set against its reference range and anything unusual flagged.
A doctor if you want one
Numbers on a page are not a plan. Book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will go through what they mean for you.
Worth checking if you recognise these
Early type 2 diabetes often causes nothing noticeable at all, so risk factors matter as much as symptoms.
Type 1 diabetes can come on quickly. If you have rapid weight loss, vomiting, drowsiness, breathlessness or a sweet smell on your breath, please seek urgent medical help rather than booking a routine test.
Four markers, one clear picture
HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Glucose shows it right now. Insulin and C-peptide show how much your pancreas is producing to keep it there. Tap the group to see the detail.
Diabetes health 4
Your report lists every marker measured with its reference range.
Difficult veins? We find them with ultrasound
If you have fragile or hard-to-find veins and have had failed attempts before, our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound. It is the only such service in South Wales, and patients travel to us from across Wales and the West for it.
Nobody had managed to take my blood in years without several attempts. Here it was done first time with the ultrasound. Such a relief.
Verified Google reviewFrom booking to answers, step by step
Book
Self-refer online or by phone. No GP letter needed. A morning slot suits this test best, since fasting is easier overnight.
Your appointment
The draw takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Tell us if you have difficult veins and we will use ultrasound.
Your report
A plain-English report with reference ranges, emailed to you, with anything out of range flagged. Usually the next working day.
Talk it through
Optional: book a private GP appointment to go through your results and plan any next steps.
Diabetes Status blood test
All inclusive. Blood sugar and insulin, measured together.
- ✓Blood draw at Penarth or Cowbridge
- ✓HbA1c, glucose, insulin and C-peptide
- ✓Plain-English report with reference ranges, emailed to you
- ✓Ultrasound-guided draw available for difficult veins
A £50 booking deposit secures your slot and comes off the total.
Common questions about the diabetes blood test
How much is the Diabetes Status blood test?
£105 all inclusive. That covers the blood draw, all four markers, and a plain-English report emailed to you. A £50 deposit secures your appointment and comes off the total.
What do the four markers actually tell me?
HbA1c is your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, so a single bad day will not skew it. Glucose is your sugar level at the moment of the test. Insulin and C-peptide show how much your pancreas is producing, which is what tells you whether high sugar is down to insulin resistance or to falling insulin production.
Do I need to fast before the test?
Yes. For the glucose, insulin and C-peptide results to be meaningful we ask you to fast for 8 to 12 hours beforehand, with plain water only. A morning appointment makes this easiest. Important: if you take insulin or diabetes medication such as gliclazide, do not fast without speaking to us or your own doctor first, as fasting can cause your blood sugar to drop too low.
How quickly will I get my results?
Usually the next working day. Your report lists every marker with its reference range and flags anything out of range. We will confirm timing when you book.
Can this test diagnose diabetes?
It gives the numbers a diagnosis is based on, and will show clearly whether your results sit in the normal, prediabetic or diabetic range. A formal diagnosis needs a doctor to interpret those numbers alongside your symptoms and history, and usually a repeat test to confirm. Book a private GP appointment and we can take that next step with you.
Why is C-peptide included?
C-peptide is released alongside insulin, so it measures your own insulin production even if you take insulin as medication. It helps separate insulin resistance, where the body makes plenty but responds poorly, from reduced production by the pancreas.
I already have diabetes. Is this test useful?
It can be, as a check on how things are tracking between your routine reviews. It does not replace the care you get from your diabetes team, and any change to your medication should always go through the clinician who prescribes it.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. This is a self-refer test. Book online or call 029 2199 9300.
Where is the blood taken?
At our Penarth clinic (13 Washington Buildings, CF64 2AD) or our Cowbridge clinic (10 High Street, CF71 7AG). Both are a short drive from Cardiff with easy parking.
I have difficult veins. Can you still take blood?
Yes. Our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound, the only such service in South Wales. Mention it when you book so we can allow time.
Want a doctor to explain the results?
Blood sugar results are far more useful with someone to put them in context. Book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will talk you through what your numbers mean and what to do about them.
Book a GP appointmentTwo clinics, close to Cardiff
Penarth Clinic
13 Washington Buildings
Stanwell Road, Penarth
CF64 2AD
Mon to Thu 9:00 to 18:00
Fri 9:00 to 17:00
Sat 9:00 to 15:00
Cowbridge Clinic
Beauty Within
10 High Street, Cowbridge
CF71 7AG
By appointment. Please call for availability.
Get directionsPatients travel to us from Cardiff, Penarth, Cowbridge, Barry, Newport, Bridgend and across the Vale of Glamorgan.
Important: This test measures the markers listed and does not by itself diagnose diabetes, which needs a doctor to interpret your results alongside your symptoms and history. If you already take insulin or diabetes medication, do not change your dose or your eating on the basis of these results without speaking to the clinician who prescribes it. We recommend discussing your results with your own GP, or booking a private GP appointment with us, before acting on any finding. Lab values alone do not constitute medical advice.
Find out where your blood sugar really sits.
Self-refer for the Diabetes Status blood test: HbA1c, glucose, insulin and C-peptide checked in one appointment. £105 all inclusive at Penarth or Cowbridge, near Cardiff.