How To Go About Diagnosing Diabetes

Diagnosing diabetes at its earliest stage is critical to its prevention from developing into full blown case of Type 2 diabetes. There are many tests that can diagnose diabetes, but they don’t apply to every case and to every patient. What is diabetes? Diabetes is the impairment of the insulin producing system of the body. This could also be acquired when the insulin is no longer effective in their function, which is to absorb food nutrients for the body to be able to use it up as energy. Diabetes is a serious disease that has consistently been ranking among the ten top killers in first world countries. The patients’ way of living accounts for most of the causes of diabetes. Indulging in foods high in cholesterol content and a lethargic lifestyle often lead to obesity. The people most likely to develop diabetes are: 1. Obese people are the highest risk in acquiring the disease. Fat lipids clogging the arteries and the bloodstreams diminish the affectivity of the insulin doing their job. 2. Have a history of heart ailments, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. 3. Have close family members that are also diabetics. 4. Sedentary lifestyle. People whose jobs require long hours spent behind the desk and restrict body movements are most prone. 5. High levels of the bad cholesterol, triglycerides and LDLs. Diagnosing diabetes should start from the first manifestation of the symptoms. Catching the disease at its earliest stage will give the patient enough of a chance to reverse the symptoms. Obese people who periodically experience shortness of breath should be tested. Below are some tests used in diagnosing diabetes: 1. OGTT – This is the test to determine the efficacy of the insulin in the body. The oral glucose tolerance test is conducted by medical practitioners who will administer a certain amount of glucose for the patient to be taken orally. With the OGTT, patients are required to undergo fasting prior to the test. 2. FPG – This is another way to measure the level of glucose in the blood. Fasting is also required prior to testing but no glucose dose is given. This is less expensive way in diagnosing diabetes, however, results are inconclusive. 3. Random plasma glucose tests – These are tests that are conducted based on the manifested symptoms. Tests could include minute observation to the patient’s fatigue threshold, aprtial blindness, hard-to-heal cuts and sores, increased thirst, weight gain and increased and frequent urination. Diabetes is incurable and could lead to several life-threatening complications like blindness, limb amputation and diabetic amyotrophy. People with high risk lifestyles and job orientation must take extra caution with their overall health. Consistent adherence to exercise and eating cholesterol lowering foods like those in the Type 2 diabetes diet could help a lot in lowering the risks. Again, diabetes is something that we can control. A commitment to good and healthy life is a sure way to avoid it. And diagnosing diabetes in its first symptoms is just an added security.