Testing

Who is likely to suffer from Diabetes?

If you are reading this website you have probably already been diagnosed with diabetes. However if you have any doubt that somebody next to you may suffer from it here you find some practical information.

An easy way to understand if somebody is at risk of type 2 diabetes is to respond to a standard questionnaire. They are available online and in many languages (i.e. The Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Form). This kind of questionnaire aims at providing a result on the probability of developing type 2 diabetes in the next ten years. Some of them also give information on how to reduce this risk. In case of an high level of risk however it is important to have the opinion of an expert.

Beyond taking the various tests you should be aware of the symptoms. If you suspect diabetes you should contact a doctor. It is possible to live with diabetes and to conduct a normal life. However the sooner one get the diagnosis the better the treatments work.

How to Diagnose Diabetes

There are several ways to diagnose diabetes. Each way usually needs to be repeated on a second day to diagnose diabetes. Testing should be carried out in a health care setting (such as your doctor’s office or a lab). If your doctor determines that your blood glucose level is very high, or if you have classic symptoms of high blood glucose in addition to one positive test, your doctor may not require a second test to diagnose diabetes.

A1C. The A1C test measures your average blood glucose for the past 2 to 3 months. The advantages of being diagnosed this way are that you don’t have to fast or drink anything.

•Diabetes is diagnosed at an A1C of greather than or equal to 6.5%

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG). This test checks your fasting blood glucose levels. Fasting means after not having anything to eat or drink (except water) for at least 8 hours before the test. This test is usually done first thing in the morning, before breakfast.

•Diabetes is diagnosed at fasting blood glucose of greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (also called the OGTT). The OGTT is a two-hour test that checks your blood glucose levels before and 2 hours after you drink a special sweet drink. It tells the doctor how your body processes glucose.

•Diabetes is diagnosed at 2 hour blood glucose of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl

Random (also called Casual) Plasma Glucose Test. This test is a blood check at any time of the day when you have severe diabetes symptoms.

•Diabetes is diagnosed at blood glucose of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl