Skip to main content

Diagnosis of Diabetes

Diagnosis of Diabetes:




A condition is known as prediabetes that often leads to type 2 diabetes also produces no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes and its symptoms develop slowly.

Type 1 diabetes can go unnoticed but is less likely to do so. Some of its symptoms listed below can come on abruptly and be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.2-4

It is important to see a doctor if there is any suspicion of diabetes or if any of the below signs and symptoms are present - prompt diagnosis and management lowers the likelihood of serious complications.5

The most common symptoms are related to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), especially the classic symptoms of diabetes: frequent urination and thirst. Fatigue related to dehydration and eating problems can also be related to high blood sugars.5,6

The International Diabetes Foundation highlight four symptoms that should prompt someone to get checked for diabetes as soon as possible

Accurate tests are available to doctors to definitively confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.

Before tests are conducted, a diagnosis may be suspected when patients report certain symptoms. Doctors will evaluate these symptoms by asking questions about the patient's medical history.1

Doctors may also carry out a physical examination, including checks for complications that could have already developed - examining the feet for changes in sensation, for example, .2
Testing can be part of routine screening for people at risk of the disease, who may show up as having prediabetes. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends diabetes testing for anyone overweight at the age of 45 years and over, alongside anyone under the age of 45 with one or more of the following risk factors:2,3

Hypertension (high blood pressure):

High cholesterol
History of diabetes in the family
African-American, Asian-American, Latino/Hispanic-American, Native American or Pacific Islander background
History of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or delivering a baby over 9 lbs.
Blood tests for diabetes diagnosisFinger pick fo a blood test.
Diagnoses of diabetes are confirmed through 1 of 3 types of a blood test.
One of three blood tests can be used to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes:2-5


Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels - a blood test after 8 hours of no eating

Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) - to measure a marker of the average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months
Oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) - a test used less frequently that measures levels before and 2 hours after consuming a sweet drink (concentrated glucose solution).
Glycosylated haemoglobin is often abbreviated to A1C, and this blood test is also used in the monitoring of diabetes management.2,5

To make an initial diagnosis, an HbA1c reading must be 6.5% or higher. An A1C result between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes and a risk of type 2 diabetes.2,5,6

The HbA1c is the preferred blood test for diagnosis because - while it is more expensive than the FPG test - it has advantages, including 5

Urine tests for diabetes diagnosis:

Urine tests are no longer used to make a diagnosis of diabetes, although they were once common. Blood tests are used instead because urine tests are not sensitive or specific enough and offer only a crude indication of high blood sugar levels.2,8

A urine sample may be used, however, to test for ketones, particularly in people with type 1 diabetes who exhibit certain symptoms. Here, the test can pick up ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes








Comments

Popular posts from this blog

7 Reasons Why Physical Exercise Is Important

1. Helps Control Your Weight: Who doesn’t want to lose weight or to maintain an ideal body weight for an entire lifespan? We all know that the right diet and physical exercise regime can help you with both. Exercise can help you burn off extra calories. These calories are the ones that are responsible for you piling on the extra kilos, one pizza a time. So what do you do to maintain your weight? You can start by walking as it is the safest physical activity. Walking does not harm your body in any way. It is healthy for your joints, heart and muscles. You can make walking more intensive by increasing the pace and duration of your walk. Aerobic exercises and playing games can be the next on your list. This can help you by keeping your weight constant. We suggest that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day to stay healthy and to maintain your weight. And you can accomplish this by simply being more active at home. If you can’t join yoga classes or gym every day, ...

8 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Naturally

Easy Ways to Lose Weight Naturally: There is a lot of bad weight loss information on the internet.Much of what is recommended is questionable at best, and not based on any actual science.However, there are several natural methods that have actually been proven to work.Here are 8 easy ways to lose weight naturally.  Add Protein to Your Diet: When it comes to weight loss, protein is the king of nutrients. Your body burns calories when digesting and metabolising the protein you eat, so a high-protein diet can boost metabolism by up to 80-100 calories per day. A high-protein diet can also make you feel more full and reduce your appetite. In fact, some studies show that people eat over 400 fewer calories per day on a high-protein diet. Even something as simple as eating a high-protein breakfast (like eggs) can have a powerful effect.  Eat Whole, Single-Ingredient Foods: One of the best things you can do to become healthier is to base your diet on ...

Lose Weight Fast: How to Do It Safely

Lose Weight Fast: How to Do It Safely: Working on weight loss? Then you probably want results -- fast. Let me save you some time: skip the fad diets. Their results don't last. And you have healthier options you can start on -- today! fruit and vegetables on sale. You can safely lose 3 or more pounds a week at home with a healthy diet and lots of exercises, says weight loss counsellor Katherine Tallmadge, RD. How to Lose Weight Fast: If you burn 500 more calories than you eat every day for a week, you should lose about 1-2 pounds. If you want to lose weight faster, you'll need to eat less and exercise more. For instance, if you take in 1,050 to 1,200 calories a day, and exercise for one hour per day, you could lose 3-5 pounds in the first week, or more if you weigh more than 250 pounds. It's very important not to cut calories any further -- that's dangerous. Limiting salt and starches may also mean losing more weight at first -- but that's m...