What Tests Are Done To Detect If Someone Has Diabetes Before That Person Starts Showing Symptoms Of It?
Posted in Definition on 27. Feb, 2010
What tests are done to detect if someone has diabetes before that person starts showing symptoms of it?
6 Responses to “What Tests Are Done To Detect If Someone Has Diabetes Before That Person Starts Showing Symptoms Of It?”
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The WHO standard for diagnosing diabetes is via a glucose tolerance test. This involves a fasting sugar sample and a 2 hour sugar sample after drinking 75g worth of glucose, typically a bottle of Lucozade. A fasting sample of 7mmol/L or more, or a 2 hour sugar of greater than 11mmol/L is the benchmark for making the diagnosis. However, the glucose tolerance test is by no means 100% sensitive, so in those at great risk, it is sometimes worth repeating.
Everyone is different in how they present with their symptoms, some more severe than others. Thus knowing your symptoms and risk factors of Diabetes Mellitus should increase your level of suspicion (family history, weight, smoking, etc.) If you feel you have been feeling tired, thirsty, and increase in urination (pee) frequency. I would suggest checking your fasting blood glucose (sugar). Fasting blood glucose over 126 is diagnostic. Urine test is also a good way to measure if you are spilling sugar and protein in your urine.
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Only blood tests detect diabetes. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes HbA1c testing. This is the percentage of glucose molecules clinging to red blood cells floating around in the blood circulating system. Any number 5.5% or less is Normal. From 5.5% to 7% is so called prediabetes, over 7% you are in trouble.
Doctors are now routinely checking pregnant ladies for Fasting Glucose Tolerance (FGTT) which is they get blood draw, drink a known percentage of glucose, and get more blood draws every half hour to see where their tolerance level is. The blood draws will have a percentage number attached to each.
simple glucose count…
WHO have lowered the threshold for diagnosing impaired glucose tolerance.
in diabetes, blood sugar is higher than a certain level. but between completely normal level and diabetic level, exists a phase where although not clearly abnormal, the blood level still shows an impairment or difficulty in utilising sugar by the body. I wont give the exact reading as in some parts of the world it is measured in mgs/100mls, and in others it is in mmols/litre
Blood glucose done after an overnight fast is the most reliable method of screening for diabetes even before all the symptoms become obvious. the rest of the tests are relevant after the initial diagnosis.
Hemoglobin A1C (blood test), urine check (I believe you can buy dip strips in drugstore w/o a prescription), fasting blood glucose (blood test). There is another where you drink a cup of glucose water and blood and urine are checked for 4 hours (on the half hour first and hourly) post to determine how your body handles it.