A blood test is required to diagnose diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious medical condition that affects your ability to metabolize glucose correctly. If left untreated, it causes life-threatening medical problems. For this reason, early assessment and diagnosis are very important.
Types
There are three types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot properly use insulin, usually as a result of being overweight and sedentary. Gestational diabetes occurs in some women late in a pregnancy.
Assessment
An initial assessment of diabetes is based on symptoms. Common symptoms include feeling tired, increased hunger and thirst, weight loss and frequent urination. Vision problems, numbness in the hands and feet and sores that persist are also symptoms.
Diagnosis
To confirm that symptoms point to diabetes, a blood glucose test is necessary. There are two kinds of blood glucose tests: a fasting blood glucose test and an oral glucose tolerance test. For both tests, your blood is drawn after fasting and the amount of glucose in your blood is measured.
Significance
If the tests show an elevated level of glucose in your bloodstream, your doctor will make a diagnosis of diabetes. If you are diabetic, she will make important diet, meal schedule and exercise recommendations. You might also need to take insulin.
Famous Diabetics
Marlo Thomas and B.B. King are diabetics.
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