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How Can I Check If I Have Diabetes

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Random Plasma Glucose Test

How do I know if I have diabetes?

A random blood sugar test looks at blood glucose levels regardless of when you’ve last eaten for a snapshot of your blood sugar status. This test is usually performed when healthcare professionals want to take a look at your blood sugar without having to wait for you to fast and so it can be performed at any time. While a diagnosis of diabetes can be made with the help of this test, it is not usually used to diagnose prediabetes.

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Diabetes

If your glucose is over 200 mg/dl, then a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is likely. Again, your healthcare provider will usually perform this test on two different occasions before a confirmed diagnosis is made.

How Do I Check My Blood Sugar

You use a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar. This device uses a small drop of blood from your finger to measure your blood sugar level. You can get the meter and supplies in a drug store or by mail.

Read the directions that come with your meter to learn how to check your blood sugar. Your health care team also can show you how to use your meter. Write the date, time, and result of the test in your blood sugar record. Take your blood sugar record and meter to each visit and talk about your results with your health care team.

Can Urine Tests Diagnose Diabetes

While urine tests can show signs that may signal diabetes, such as elevated sugar or ketones, the diagnosis of diabetes is made on the basis of blood tests. Urine tests may be done in some cases as back-up testing or for screening to see if blood tests should be done, but the diagnosis of diabetes is made after blood glucose testing.

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What Diabetes Can Do

High blood sugar can impact different parts of your body:

Eyes. Diabetes raises your odds of having vision problems, including blindness. It can cause:

  • Cataracts. The lens of your eye gets cloudy.
  • Glaucoma. This can damage the nerve that connects your eye to your brain and keep you from seeing well.
  • Retinopathy. This involves changes to the retina in the back of your eyes.

Heart. Years of high blood sugar may harm your bodyâs blood vessels and nerves that take care of your heart. That raises your chance of having heart disease. It can cause heart failure early on and heart attacks or strokes later. High blood pressure and high cholesterol make the problems even more likely.

Kidneys. Diabetes can affect blood vessels in your kidneys, too, so they may not work as well. After many years of trouble, they might stop working.

Feet. High blood sugar can harm blood flow and damage nerves, and that may cause cuts, scrapes, or sores to heal slowly. You may lose some feeling in your feet, which keeps you from noticing injuries that can get infected. If an infection gets serious, it might mean you need to have a foot removed.

Nerves. If high blood sugar damages your nerves, called diabetic neuropathy, you might feel pain, tingling, or numbness, especially in your feet.

Skin. Diabetes may make you more likely to have yeast infections, itching, or brown or scaly patches.

Can Diabetes Be Prevented

You Are More Likely To Get Type 2 Diabetes If It Runs In ...

Type 1 diabetes cant be prevented.

You may be able to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by managing your weight, staying active, and following a healthy diet. However, genetics and other risk factors may increase your risk despite your best efforts.

If you have any risk factors for diabetes, its important to get regular checkups with your doctor or healthcare professional. This will help prevent diabetes from progressing and causing other serious health complications.

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The Symptoms Of Diabetes In Children

As parents may not mention these symptoms a doctor must carefully draw out this information. Also, bedding wetting in a previously dry child can be one of the first symptoms in 89% of children over the age of 4 years. Recurrent infections can also be a presentation. Oral or genital thrush can be present.

If diabetic ketoacidosis has already occurred, the symptoms can include vomiting and abdominal pain deep sighing breathing called Kussmaul breathing and reduced levels of consciousness. All these symptoms can be misdiagnosed as acute asthma/pneumonia or possible gastroenteritis/appendicitis if the doctor is not aware of polyuria and polydipsia.

Might I Have Diabetes And Not Realise

With type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin, meaning the effect on the body is usually rapid and noticeable. However, type 2 diabetes develops slowly – the body still produces insulin, but it may be insufficient, or the body might not respond to it properly. This means that the development of symptoms is gradual. “Symptoms for type 1 diabetes often develop very fast,” explains Macciochi. “But with type 2 diabetes you may not even know you have it, as symptoms can be very subtle.”

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What Should I Do If I Think I Have Type 2 Diabetes

If you notice any of these symptoms on a regular basis, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. The more symptoms you have, the sooner you should be seen. The earlier you can catch diabetes, the less likely you are to experience future complications from it.

When you see your doctor, they will run a blood test to look at your blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C levels. You may also be asked to take an oral glucose tolerance test. This test requires you to drink a very sugary beverage and then have your blood sugar measured over a period of a few hours.

When you have diabetes, your body cant use sugar properly, which causes sugar to build up in your blood. This is what the blood glucose test measures. A certain amount of that sugar will stick to the outside of your red blood cells. This is what the A1C number measures. While your sugar levels can go up and down throughout the day, your A1C takes longer to change. It represents your average blood sugar levels over the last 2 to 3 months.

If your test results show you have diabetes, your doctor will most likely start you on a medication called to help manage your blood sugar levels. They might suggest changing your diet and starting an exercise routine, too. You may also need to meet with an endocrinologist, a doctor who will focus on treating your diabetes. Their knowledge about diabetes will help make sure you get the most personalized care and treatment.

How Often Do I Need To See My Primary Diabetes Healthcare Professional

Diabetes Tips : How to Tell If You Have Diabetes

In general, if you are being treated with insulin shots, you should see your doctor at least every three to four months. If you are treated with pills or are managing diabetes through diet, you should be seen at least every four to six months. More frequent visits may be needed if your blood sugar is not controlled or if complications of diabetes are worsening.

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Undergoing Diagnostic Tests For Diabetes

  • 1Get tested by a physician. Your primary care physician can perform 2 different tests to check your blood glucose levels. Normally, a fasting blood test is used to check for diabetes, but a urine test can also be performed.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source
  • Normal blood glucose levels are between 70 and 100.
  • If you’re borderline diabetic , your levels will be between 100 and 125.
  • If your levels are above 126, you’re considered diabetic. A non-fasting or random blood glucose level of 200 or above can also be a sign of diabetes.
  • 2Get your HbA1c levels measured. This is a newer test that is being used by some doctors for diabetes. It looks at the hemoglobin in your red blood cells and measures how much sugar is attached. The higher the value, the more sugar is attached, which directly correlates to your risk of having diabetes.
  • The normal correlation between HbA1c and average blood sugar levels is as follows. An HbA1c of 6 equates to a blood glucose level of 135. An HbA1c of 7 = 170, an HbA1c of 8 = 205, an HbA1c of 9 = 240, an HbA1c of 10 = 275, an HbA1c of 11 = 301, and an HbA1c of 12 = 345.
  • In most labs, the normal range for HbA1c is between 4.0-5.9%. In poorly controlled diabetes, it is 8.0% or above, and in well-controlled patients it is less than 7.0%.
  • Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, will always require insulin injections because it is an autoimmune disease where the body fails to produce insulin.
  • What Are The Warning Signs Of Diabetes

    Untreated diabetes tends to cause worsening symptoms over time as chronically high blood sugar levels cause more damage to your tissues and organs. You may not recognize these warning signs in the beginning if theyre mild.

    The symptoms of type 2 diabetes tend to come on more gradually than type 1 diabetes. In the early stages of diabetes, there may be no symptoms at all.

    Its important that you visit your doctor if you notice any potential warning signs of diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can severely damage the tissues and organs in your body.

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    What If I Have Trouble Getting To My Blood Sugar Goals

    There may be times when you have trouble reaching your blood sugar goals. This does not mean that you have failed. It means that you and your health care team should see if changes are needed. Call your health care team if your blood sugar is often too high or too low. Taking action will help you be healthy today and in the future.

    Diabetes Warning Signs: 10 Early Symptoms You Shouldn`t Ignore

    How do you get diagnosed with diabetes?

    Here are 10 early symptoms that can help you recognize the onset of diabetes and aid you in getting your blood sugar under control before its too late.

    1. You Pee a Lot

    When the glucose level in your blood is high, your body tries to compensate by having your kidneys filter the excess sugar from your blood. The kidneys then flush the glucose from your body through your urine, increasing the frequency with which you must pee. You may also have an increase in urinary tract infections and notice that you get up more frequently at night to urinate.

    2. Youre Always Thirsty

    Because your kidneys are causing more frequent urination, it makes sense that your body is low on fluids, causing you to become dehydrated. And because youre dehydrated, you can feel thirsty all the time. You may also experience an extremely dry mouth.

    3. Youre Hungry All the Time

    When you have diabetes, your body doesnt properly use the energy in the foods you eat. Although glucose is present in the blood, your cells cant absorb it and begin to starve for energy. As a response, the cells communicate with the pancreas, saying they need more energy. The pancreas then increases the amount of insulin in the body, which tells the brain that youre hungry.

    4. You Unexpectedly Lose Weight

    5. Your Skin Becomes Very Dry

    Another diabetes warning sign is dry, itchy skin. Caused by a combination of increased blood sugar levels and poor circulation, your skin may feel flaky and have an increased risk of infection.

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    What Are Target Blood Sugar Levels For People With Diabetes

    A target is something that you aim for or try to reach. Your health care team may also use the term goal. People with diabetes have blood sugar targets that they try to reach at different times of the day. These targets are:

    • Right before your meal: 80 to 130
    • Two hours after the start of the meal: Below 180

    Talk with your health care team about what blood sugar numbers are right for you.

    When To Seek Medical Care

  • 1Talk to your doctor if you think you might have diabetes. Try not to worry, but diabetes is a serious medical condition. Without treatment, it can cause complications that can harm your health. Fortunately, you can treat diabetes and possibly prevent further health issues. Visit your doctor to discuss your concerns and find out if you need treatment.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source
  • You should always discuss your diabetes concerns with your doctor, even if your home tests come back normal. Theyâll make sure nothing is wrong.
  • 2See a doctor if your blood sugar is consistently over 200 milligrams/deciliter. Whether you’ve eaten recently or not, a blood sugar level higher than 200 mg/dL may indicate you could have diabetes. However, it’s normal to occasionally have a high reading, especially after you’ve just eaten. Take several readings over the course of a week to determine if your blood sugar is consistently high. If your readings are high, your doctor can run further tests to figure out if you have diabetes.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source
  • Don’t assume that you have diabetes after 1 reading. Take several readings at different times of the day for at least a week. Record all of the readings so you can look for trends.
  • Certain foods, such as candy and alcohol, can cause higher blood sugar readings right after you’ve consumed them.
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    How Type 2 Diabetes Is Diagnosed

    Diagnosing type 2 diabetes requires a series of lab tests looking for markers of elevated glucose, or blood sugar. Such tests are necessary, as type 2 diabetes may or may not have noticeable symptoms, or symptoms may crossover with other conditions.

    The diagnosis often is made during an annual physical or checkup. Your healthcare provider may order a hemoglobin A1C test, a fasting blood sugar test, or an oral glucose tolerance test as part of regular screening to check blood sugar levels and to help determine if you have diabetes.

    Random Blood Sugar Test

    How to tell if you have Diabetes type II

    This measures your blood sugar at the time youre tested. You can take this test at any time and dont need to fast first. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.

    Random Blood Sugar Test

    140 mg/dL or below N/A

    *Results for gestational diabetes can differ. Ask your health care provider what your results mean if youre being tested for gestational diabetes.Source: American Diabetes Association

    If your doctor thinks you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may also tested for autoantibodies that are often present in type 1 diabetes but not in type 2 diabetes. You may have your urine tested for ketones , which also indicate type 1 diabetes instead of type 2 diabetes.

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    At Home Diabetic Test: Urine Test

    A less invasive method for testing blood sugar is through urine glucose test strips. These strips should only be used to determine if high blood sugar is present. The strips do not read a blood sugar lower than 180 mg/dl and they are very easy to misinterpret. If glucose shows up on the urine test strips, it is important to test your blood sugar level using a blood sugar meter for a more accurate reading.

    Discovering What Your Blood Is Saying

    Fasting Plasma Glucose Test: This test measures the blood glucose level at a single point in time.

    • A healthy normal blood sugar level is less than 100 mg/dL after not eating for 8 to 12 hours.

    A1C Test: The A1C test takes a broad look at blood glucose levels spanning the past 90-120 days.

    • A healthy A1C level registers below 5.7 percent. Between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, a person is considered prediabetic, and over 6.5 percent is diabetic.

    Random Plasma Glucose Test: This test does not require fasting, and can be taken at any time.

    • A test that yields a result of 200 mg/dL or higher shows that a person may be diabetic.
    • This test is not standard in our office, as it is subject to many variables that are difficult to account for, and can yield false positives/negatives too easily.

    It is important to note that for clinical purposes, we oftentimes tighten the ânormalâ window for these numbers to aid in preventative detection instead of waiting until full-blown disease status is on the radar.

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    At Home Diabetic Test: A1c Kits

    Another method to test for diabetes at home is the At Home A1C kit. These kits test the hemoglobin A1C and give a three-month average of your blood sugar. A normal A1C should be under 5.7%. When purchasing an at-home A1C kit, make sure that it offers results within five minutes. Some of the at-home kits require sending a blood sample to a lab and waiting for three to six weeks for the results.

    If any of the tests above show presence of glucose or a high sugar level that falls in the diabetic range, it is time to consult a doctor. But if your test results show you are negative for diabetes or if you have pre-diabetes, you can take steps to reduce your risk of the disease by:

    • Losing weight. Research shows that reducing your body weight by five to 10 percent 10 to 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half.
    • Eating right. Your diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein sources. Limit foods high in saturated and trans-fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
    • Exercising regularly. Work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Always check with your doctor before you increase your activity.

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