Understanding diabetes dianosis tests

Understanding diabetes dianosis tests: One would think that the prevalence of diabetes today would make it easy to recognise those who suffer from it. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Diabetes as an ailment is defined only by testing blood. It is the level of glucose in a person’s blood that determines whether they suffer from diabetes or not.

All bodies contain sugar. This provides all the energy required by our organce and cells allowing us to live. The type of sugar found in our bodies is called glucose. To be correctly diagnosed with diabetes, you require at least two abnormal levels of glucose tested on two separate occassions. You should never accept a diagnosis based on just a single test.

The tests are as follows

- a casual blood glucose level of 200mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) or more at any time of the day. This is normally accompanied by symptoms such as frequently urinating, general tiredness, constant thirst and in women can also include vaginal itching. Sufferers also find that any skill wounds are slow to heal. Glucose levels in healthy persons should be between 70 and 139 mg/dl.

- fasting glucose level. This is measured after the individual has gone without food for at least eight hours. A blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or more is considered abnormal.

- the final test measures the blood glucose level in individuals 2 hours after they have consumed 75 grams of sugar. Here, a level of 200 mg/dl is considered abnormal.

The measuring of glucose level in the blood using milligrams per deciliter of blood is a US measure. In most parts of the world, the SI unit of concentration in a liquid is used. This measures millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Luckily the conversion is relatively easy. Just divide the mg/dl measurement by 18 to get the mmol/L. A level of 144 mg/dl would be 8 mmol/L for example.

Some people are diagnosed as having pre-diabetes. While not sufferers themeselves, the vast majority of people diagnosed with pre-diabetes go on to develop diabetes within the following 10 years. On the positive side, individuals with pre-diabetes, while more prone to strokes, heart attacks and large vessel disease than the general populatoin, usually do not develop other diabetese related comlications such as damaged nerves, partial blindness and kidnery failures.

Casual blood glucose levels of between 140 and 199 mg/dl, or fasting blood glucose levels of between 100 and 125 mg/dl are considered to be pre-diabetes. An estimated 41 million people in the US suffer from this condition.

There are three main types of diabetes.

Type 1 – Also known as insulin-dependent, or juvenile diabetes, this generally starts in young children, and is a consequence of self-destruction of the pancreas by the individual’s body. The pancreas is the organ in the body responsible for making insulin, a hormone required for glucose to enter cells, where it is an energy source. Since the body cannot survive without insulin, type-1 diabetes sufferers must take regular insulin shots.

Type 2 – Historically, this was also known as adult-onset diabetes, as it generally only afflicted people over 40. Today though, more and more children are being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. This is a result of children getting heavier as they exercise less and less. The difference between type-1 and type 2 diabetes is that sufferers of the latter do not lack insulin. Their bodies are just resistant to insulin, meaning that the glucose is still not absorbed by the body’s cells, remaining in the blood.

Gestational – The final type of diabetes is very similar to type-2 diabetes, but occurs only in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the hormonal and chemical changes in a woman’s body can oppose the action of insulin. Treating the mother to lower her blood glucose levels stops this glucose entering the baby’s bloodstream. Where this is allowed to happen, the baby can grow to an abnormal size, and be harder to deliver. The baby could also suffer from complications following the birth since their bodies are still generating lots of insulin, but have been cut off from the glucose supply. Older women are more likely to suffer form gestational diabetes than younger mothers.

Irrespective of the type of diabetes you might have been diagnosed with, you can still use your diet to control the disease, and improve your quality of life.

Interested in diabetes and other related diabetic health concerns. Here are some diabetes health and nutrition resources:
Diabetes hrealth foods and shop
Diabetic store sale
Diabetic Cooking and coping with Diabetes

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