The Importance Of Diabetes Screening In Routine Health Checks
August 9, 2021
Why A Delayed Diabetes Diagnosis Can Prove Costly
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Diabetes is a chronic disease that needs to be effectively managed. Diabetes tests are the key to diagnose diabetes as well as monitor the progression of the disease. There are many tests used to diagnose diabetes. Some of the most frequently used tests are A1C, fasting blood glucose test, glucose tolerance test and random blood sugar tests. All these tests require different preparations at the patient’s end. Therefore, it is very important that you are aware of all these prerequisites and prepare yourself well for these tests as it will help to determine accurate results of your blood sugar levels.
Preparation For Different Diabetes Blood Tests
A1C Test
This test will determine your average blood sugar levels for the past 2-3 months. You can eat and drink before this test if you want. The main factors that the doctor will consider for A1C are your age and the problems related to your blood. For example, if you have anaemia, the A1C test might not give accurate information. Therefore, you must inform your doctor of your blood-related problems before this test.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test
This test measures your blood sugar levels after a long fast. You can’t eat or drink anything for eight hours before this test. You can only take sips of water. Therefore, it is recommended to schedule your fasting blood sugar test first thing in the morning. This is a more widely used test for diabetes as it provides more accurate results.
Glucose Tolerance Test
This test measures your blood sugar level before and after you take glucose. It is usually used to detect gestational diabetes in pregnant women. For this test, you need to fast overnight for about 8 hours. You cannot drink or eat anything during this time, except water. The doctor will check your blood sugar levels in the morning and then ask you to drink a liquid containing glucose. Your blood sugar levels will be checked again after 1, 2 or 3 hours of consuming that drink.
Random Blood Sugar Test
This blood sugar test can be performed anytime. You do not need to fast or take any extra precautions for this test. It is usually done when doctors want to diagnose diabetes while symptoms are present.
Other Important Tips
There are many other factors that can also affect your blood glucose levels and impact your diabetes test. In order to get accurate results, it is essential to follow these tips.
- Before getting tested, you must inform your doctor about all the medications that you are taking. You should not only inform him of your prescriptions but also over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies. Many medications such as diuretics, blood control pills and even aspirin can affect the blood glucose level of your body and influence your test results. Your doctor may ask you to stop these medications before the test or change their dosage to get accurate results.
- Stress and anxiety can also temporarily elevate your blood glucose levels and impact your diabetes tests. If you have dealt with any stress-inducing event recently such as surgery, trauma, heart attack, or anything that causes you stress, you must inform your doctor without fail.
Takeaway:
The preparation for diabetes tests is extremely crucial to ensure accurate results. Diet and medications can severely affect blood sugar levels and influence your tests. Therefore, you must follow the guidelines for each test and prepare accordingly.
