About Diabetes Risk Tests
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Diabetic risk test
What is diabetes?
This is a condition that develops when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high. This may be because the body cannot use it properly. This is because the pancreas either does not produce any insulin or produces it in inadequate amounts to enable the glucose to enter the cells of the body.
Types of diabetes
- Type 1: The body does not produce any insulin. It is also referred to as early-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.
- Type 2: The body produces inadequate insulin, or the insulin is there but does not work properly. Some people are able to control the symptoms by making lifestyle changes. However, this is a progressive disease and usually requires insulin medication.
- Gestational diabetes: The body does produce enough insulin during pregnancy. It results when the woman has very high glucose levels in their blood and the body is unable to produce enough insulin to transport the glucose into their cells.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?- Feeling very thirsty
- Frequent urination
- Male sexual dysfunction
- Feeling very hungry
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Bruises and cuts that heal slowly
- Weight loss
- Weight gain
- Pain, tingling or numbness in the feet and hands
Risk factors- Low testosterone levels
- Obesity
- Age
- Pregnancy
- A family history of diabetes
- Eating unhealthy foods
- Being physically inactive
What is a diabetes risk test?This is a test that assesses your risk to diabetes. Diabetes can develop without someone realizing it. This is because in the early stages diabetes is asymptomatic. Taking the risk test is important for early diagnosis which can prevent complications from arising.
Risk tests include:
- The A1C test: This is a blood test that measures the average blood glucose levels. It is also known as HbA1c, hemoglobin A1C, or glycohemoglobin test. The A1C test shows the average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months.
- Fasting Plasma Glucose Test: This test is easy to do. Before the test, you should not eat anything for at least 8 hours. It involves drawing blood and sending it to the laboratory for analysis.
- Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). : A blood sample is taken before the test. You are then asked to drink a liquid with some amount of glucose. Your blood is then taken every 30-60 minutes after drinking the liquid. The test may take up to 3 hours.
Complications linked to diabetes include:
- Eye complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
- Foot complications such as ulcers, neuropathy and sometimes gangrene that require foot amputation
- Skin complications such as skin infections and disorders
Heart problems such as ischemic heart disease
- Hypertension
- Gum disease
- Gastroparesis where the stomach muscles do not work properly
- Ketoacidosis which is accumulation of acidity in the blood and ketone bodies
- Mental health deterioration due to depression and anxiety
- Hearing loss
- Neuropathy
- Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)
- Nephropathy
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
- Stroke
- Male impotence
- Slow healing of wounds
Treatment- Special diet can help people with type 2 diabetes control the condition.
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Regular insulin injections
- Insulin tablets
- Exercise
Learn more about Diabetes Risk Tests