All the Information You Need to Know About Diabetes Testing

Diabetes is a long-term illness that impairs the body’s capacity to either make or utilize insulin. One hormone that controls blood sugar, or glucose, is insulin. Our body cannot correctly store sugar or use it as fuel without insulin.

Diabetes that is left untreated causes high blood sugar, or blood glucose, which over time can harm nerves and blood vessels. Numerous symptoms and major health issues may result from this, such as:

trouble seeing

numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

elevated chance of having a stroke or heart attack

Timely diagnosis and treatment of diabetes can alleviate uncomfortable symptoms, avert long-term health complications, and enable you to resume your daily activities.

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Who needs to have a diabetes test?

Diabetes is a prevalent long-term medical problem. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report estimating that 10.5% of Americans suffered from diabetes, with type 2 accounting for the bulk of cases.

The early stages of diabetes can be difficult to diagnose since symptoms can be mild or develop gradually.

If you are exhibiting any of the following indications or symptoms of diabetes, you should get tested for the disease:

intense thirst

experiencing constant fatigue

craving food despite having eaten

hazy vision

a lot of urinating

wounds or sores that refuse to go away

Even in the absence of symptoms, people with specific risk factors for diabetes should think about getting tested.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) advises getting tested for diabetes if you fit into any of the following categories and are overweight (body mass index greater than 25):

If your body mass index is higher than 25, you are overweight.
you belong to a high-risk racial or ethnic group, such as:
- Black (African American)
- Latino
- Native American
- Pacific Islander
- Asian American

You suffer from heart disease, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high blood pressure.

You have a history of diabetes in your family.

You have a personal history of high blood sugar or insulin resistance symptoms.

You don’t exercise on a regular basis.

You are a female who has experienced gestational diabetes or PCOS in the past. You should get checked if you are a different gender and have a history of certain health issues. You might also be at risk.

If you are over 45, the American Diabetes Association also advises getting your blood sugar checked first. This aids in establishing a blood sugar baseline.

Testing might assist you in determining your likelihood of acquiring diabetes, as the disease is more common in older adults.

Ethnicity and race as “risk factors”

Over 99 percent of the DNA in humans is shared by members of the same race, Homo sapiens! The climatic variations of our ancestors are the source of perceived racial variances in our skin tones or facial features, which are a component of humanity’s natural variation. However, being a constructed social classification system, race has a very significant impact on our lives.

Often, when we talk about “risk factors” for various racial and ethnic groups, we’re not talking about true biological distinctions. Instead, the disparities result from a multitude of variables that can predispose certain people to particular health disorders over others, including dietary choices and limited access to treatment.

Diabetes blood tests

When assessing you for diabetes, a doctor can measure your blood sugar levels with blood testing. Different types of blood tests are available for diabetes.

A1c test

A physician can ascertain the body’s blood sugar levels by blood testing. The A1C test is one of the most popular since it doesn’t require you to fast before the test and its results estimate blood sugar levels over time.

Another name for the A1C test is the glycated hemoglobin test. It calculates the amount of glucose that has bound to the protein called hemaglobin on your red blood cells.

Since red blood cells only live for three months, the A1C test calculates your average blood sugar over that time. Just a small amount of blood must be drawn for the test. You can give yourself a finger stick poke or have your arm drawn to extract the blood.

The A1C readings are expressed as a percentage:

Test result	Indicated condition
5.6% or lower	Normal
5.7% to 6.4%	Prediabetes
6.5% or greater	Diabetes

The National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) standardizes laboratory assays. This implies that the procedures for testing the blood are the same regardless of the lab that does the test.

Only tests that have been given the go-ahead by the NGSP are deemed conclusive enough to diagnose diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

The A1C test may yield different findings for some individuals. This covers those with hemoglobin variations and kidney illness. In some cases, your doctor might recommend different diabetes testing.

Diabetes management also makes use of A1C testing. For someone on diabetes treatment, the target is typically 7% or fewer. Your health state will determine the specific A1C goal for you.

Random test for blood sugar

Blood must be drawn for a random blood sugar test at any time, regardless of when you last had food.

Diabetes is indicated by test results that are equal to or higher than 200 mg/dL.

Blood sugar test conducted after fasting

Blood is collected for fasting blood sugar tests following an overnight fast, which typically entails missing eight to twelve hours of food.

The blood sugar results for fasting are broken down as follows:

Test result	Indicated condition
99 mg/dL or lower	Normal
100 to 125 mg/dL	Prediabetes
126 mg/dL or greater	Diabetes

Test for oral glucose tolerance

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) lasts for two hours.

You are tested for blood sugar first. You then receive a sugar-filled beverage. Your blood sugar is checked once more after two hours.

Test result	Indicated condition
139 mg/dL or lower	Normal
140 to 199 mg/dL	Prediabetes
200 mg/dL or greater	Diabetes

Diabetic urine tests

Diabetes cannot always be diagnosed with urine testing. However, if a doctor suspects you might have type 1 diabetes, they frequently utilize them.

When the body uses adipose tissue as fuel rather than glucose, it creates substances known as ketones. Labs are able to detect these ketone molecules in urine.

If your urine contains moderate to high levels of ketones, this may be a sign that your body is not producing enough insulin to break down glucose for energy.

Tests for gestational diabetes

Pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes, which typically disappears after giving delivery. According to the CDC, having a large baby that requires a C-section birth or a newborn who subsequently develops type 2 diabetes are two risks that are increased by gestational diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association advises testing expectant mothers who have any diabetes risk factors during their initial prenatal appointment. The second and third trimesters are when gestational diabetes occurs.

There are two types of glucose tests that doctors can use to identify gestational diabetes. These tests assess your body’s sugar-processing abilities.

First glucose challenge examination

This is how the first glucose challenge screening exam is set up:

Your doctor gives you a glucose syrup solution to consume.

An hour later, a blood sample is taken to determine your blood sugar level.

A reading of less than 140 mg/dL is regarded as typical. Additional testing is required if the reading is higher than usual.

The actions that come after a glucose tolerance test are as follows:

You have to fast for the entire night.

Your blood sugar is measured at baseline.

You sip from a cup of sugar-filled liquid.

Then, for three hours, your blood sugar is monitored every hour.

If the findings show two or more higher-than-usual levels, gestational diabetes is suspected.

Two-hour test to determine glucose tolerance

The protocol for this test is the same as that of the preceding one. The glucose solution is consumed, and two hours later, your blood sugar is checked. Gestational diabetes is indicated by a single out-of-range measurement.

Future Perspective

Although diabetes is a chronic illness, it is highly manageable. Diabetes can be controlled, and you can lead a long, healthy life. Diabetes can become life-threatening if left untreated and have major long-term health implications.

It’s critical to get checked for diabetes as soon as possible. You want to get tested if there is a family history of the illness or if you are exhibiting symptoms, such as increased urination and thirst. To avoid gestational diabetes, expectant patients with any risk factors should be evaluated during their initial prenatal appointment.

Numerous blood and urine tests are used to assess diabetes. Your age, your health in general, and your symptoms will determine which test is best for you.