DIABETES
How do you know if you have diabetes?
Symptoms of Diabetes
You may be completely unaware because the symptoms when seen on their own
seem harmless.
Here is a list of the most common diabetes symptoms:
- · Frequent urination
- · Disproportionate thirst
- · Intense hunger
- · Weight gain
- · Unusual weight loss (usually seen with Type 1 Diabetes)
- · Increased fatigue
- · Irritability
- · Blurred vision
- · Cuts and bruises don't heal properly or quickly
- · More skin and/or yeast infections
- · Itchy skin
- · Gums are red and/or swollen - Gums pull away from teeth
- · Frequent gum disease/infection
- · Sexual dysfunction among men
- · Numbness or tingling, especially in your feet and hands
Blood and urine tests help
show if your diabetes treatment is working and can alert your doctor to early
signs of diabetes complications, such as kidney disease.
DIABETES LAB TEST PROFILE
CBC, Glucose Fasting & 2 hrs after a meal (PP), Cholesterol,
Triglycerides, Glycosylated Haemoglobin, Creatinine, Microalbumin, Urinalysis
GLUCOSE – FASTING
The fasting blood glucose (sugar) test is the preferred way to diagnose
diabetes.
After fasting overnight (8-10 hours), a single sample of blood is drawn
and analysed
Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 100 milligrams per
deciliter (mg/dl).
Fasting plasma glucose levels of more than 126 mg/dl on two or more
tests on different days indicate diabetes.
A random blood glucose test can also be used to diagnose diabetes. A
blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl or higher indicates diabetes.
When fasting blood glucose stays above 100mg/dl, but in the range of
100-126mg/dl, this is known as impaired fasting glucose (IFG). While patients
with IFG do not have the diagnosis of diabetes, it has the risk of developing
into diabetes.
GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN (HbA1c)
A glycosylated hemoglobin test or HbA1C test reflects your average
blood sugar level for the two- to three-month period before the test. Your
doctor uses it to determine how well you are managing your blood sugar.
It is recommended that your glycosylated hemoglobin level be 7 percent
or less.
If your blood sugar is consistently within your doctor's recommended
target range, it is recommended that you have this test twice a year. If you
start a new diabetes medication regimen or have trouble keeping your blood
sugar within target range, it is recommended that you have this test four times
each year.
SERUM CREATININE
This test measures the level of creatinine in your blood. Creatinine is
a chemical waste product that's produced when you use your muscles. If your
kidneys aren't functioning properly, they aren't able to remove as much
creatinine from your blood.
The normal ranges are:
Women: 0.7 to 1.2 mg/dL
Men: 0.9 to 1.4 mg/dL
People with diabetes typically have this lab test at least once a year.
URINE MICROALBUMIN
A urine microalbumin test assesses the health of your kidneys by
screening for protein leakage into your urine. If your kidneys become damaged,
waste products normally filtered out by your kidneys remain in your blood, and
protein (albumin) that should remain in your blood leaks into your urine.
Results of the urine microalbumin test are measured as milligrams (mg)
of protein leakage. Typically, here's what your results will mean:
Less than 30 mg is normal.
30 to 299 mg indicates early-stage kidney disease (microalbuminuria).
300 mg or more indicates advanced kidney disease (macroalbuminuria).
Without appropriate treatment, your kidneys are likely to fail within a
few years of developing macroalbuminuria.
The frequency of urine microalbumin testing depends on your individual
situation. In general, you have the test
yearly after your diagnosis, but you may need it more often if your levels
are high.
LIPID PROFILE
A lipid profile measures the level of fats (lipids) in your blood. A rising
level of certain blood fats can alert your doctor to an increased risk of blood
vessel damage. The test measures the level of two such substances, which
increase your heart disease risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the
"bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides. The test also determines your
level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol,
which protects against heart disease.
Optimal levels are:
LDL: Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
HDL: Greater than 40 mg/dL if you're a man or greater than 50 mg/dL if
you're a woman
Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL
It is recommended that you have this test at least once a year and more often if your levels aren't normal or
you're taking lipid-lowering medication.
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