Tag: Diabetes Tests

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Diabetes Care

How To Prepare For Your Diabetes Tests?

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. 

References Links: 

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Understanding Diabetes Tests – All You Need To Know

There are multiple tests to diagnose diabetes in an individual. These are generally simple blood glucose tests, but in certain cases, need specific tests. However, these tests can sometimes be confusing and puzzle the patients. Therefore, here we will decode everything you need to know about diabetes tests. 

Tests For Prediabetes, Type 1 Diabetes And Type 2 Diabetes

There are different types of diabetes tests for the diagnosis of diabetes. Your doctor will have you take one or several of the following blood tests.

A1C Test

This test provides a measurement of your average blood glucose level over the previous 3 months. This test is also known as haemoglobin A1C, HbA1C, glycosylated haemoglobin, or glycated haemoglobin test. You can eat and drink prior to this test.

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test

This provides a measurement of your blood glucose level post overnight fasting for at least 8 hours. It measures your blood sugar level at a single point in time. Fasting means going without eating or drinking anything, except intake of water.

Random Plasma Glucose (RPG) Test

At certain times, healthcare professionals use this test to accurately diagnose diabetes when there is a presence of diabetes symptoms, without the necessity to wait until you have fasted. For this test, you need not fast overnight, and the test can be carried out at any time.

Glucose Tolerance Test

This test accurately measures your blood glucose before and after you consume a liquid that has glucose as its main ingredient. You need to fast overnight before the test and have your blood drawn the next morning to measure your fasting blood glucose level. After this, you need to consume the liquid and have your blood glucose checked any time after 1-3 hours. 

Type 1 Diabetes

Autoantibodies Test

If your healthcare provider suspects that you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may be additionally tested for autoantibodies, which are substances that provide an indication that your body is attacking itself. These autoantibodies are predominantly present in those with type 1 diabetes and not in those with type 2 diabetes.

Urine Test

Again, if your doctor suspects that you have type 1 diabetes, you may be asked to send a urine sample for testing. The test is carried out to detect the presence of ketones, which are produced when the body burns fat (instead of blood glucose) for energy. If ketones are abnormally high in your urine sample, it indicates that your body is not producing sufficient insulin. 

Type 1 diabetes can also be diagnosed through the following tests:

  • Fasting Plasma Glucose
  • Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
  • A1C

If the results of these tests are inconclusive, your doctor may order additional tests, which are mentioned below:

  • C-peptide: The pancreas generates this protein besides insulin. Low levels of C-peptide in the blood indicate that the insulin levels are low.
  • Insulin Autoantibodies: This test primarily checks for the presence of specific proteins that target and eventually destroy insulin.
  • Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibodies: This test is used to check the presence of specific antibodies that destroy enzymes present in insulin-producing cells.
  • Insulinoma-associated 2 Autoantibodies: The presence of these antibodies indicates that the body is attacking cells that produce insulin.
  • Islet Cell Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation estimates that approximately 80% of individuals with type 1 diabetes possess this antibody.
  • Zinc Transport 8: This test detects antibodies that target and kill insulin-producing beta cells.

A doctor will be able to come to a conclusive diagnosis after checking the results of several of these tests.

Gestational Diabetes

To diagnose gestational diabetes, blood tests are useful. Probably, you will be tested between week 24 and week 28 of your pregnancy. If your chances of developing gestational diabetes is higher (because of additional risk factors), your doctor could test you earlier. If your blood sugar level is abnormally high during early pregnancy, it may indicate that you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and not gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed through the following 2 tests:

  • Glucose Screening Test
  • Glucose Tolerance Test

Home Testing

Blood sugar tests can be carried out by individuals themselves at their homes. Home testing kits can accurately measure blood sugar. Specific components in the kits can vary; however, most include:

  • Lancets to prick the finger
  • Test strips to collect blood
  • A machine known as a glucometer that carries out an evaluation of the sample and provides a reading

This is one of the many diabetes tests for diagnosis. Your doctor will inform you about the target blood glucose levels, and they will also offer an explanation as to which results need medical attention.

The Final Word

Diabetes tests and diagnosis have come a long way. If your test results indicate that you have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, talk to your doctor about coming up with a detailed treatment plan, including diabetes self-management education and other support services. In addition, you need to be aware of the steps that you can undertake to be fit and healthy.

Reference Links:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/getting-tested.html
  2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis
  3. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes-tests
  4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325729#type-1
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Diabetes Care

Who Should Be Tested For Diabetes, And How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Diabetes can be diagnosed through blood tests carried out in pathology labs and health clinics. The tests offer an accurate measurement of glucose levels in the blood, which are also known as blood sugar levels. A small percentage of individuals with diabetes are asymptomatic; hence, it is vital to get yourself tested if you have risk factors that are known to cause the disease.

Who Should Be Tested For Diabetes?

According to the recommendations by the American Diabetes Association, blood tests for diabetes must be carried out in any individual displaying symptoms that are mentioned below:

  • Excessive thirst
  • A sense of tiredness all the time
  • Hunger, even after consuming food
  • Blurry vision
  • Urinating more often
  • Having sores or cuts that heal with difficulty

When it comes to asymptomatic individuals, testing must begin at the age of 45 and, subsequently, after every three years. 

Diagnostic tests should be conducted earlier in adult individuals who are obese or overweight and those who exhibit any of the following risk factors:

  • A sibling or parent with diabetes
  • Physical inactivity
  • Women having gestational diabetes or those who have given birth to a child weighing in excess of 9 pounds
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol) level that is ≤35 mg/dL
  • Triglyceride level that is ≥250 mg/dL
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
  • Impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance (which are signs of pre-diabetes) in previous blood-glucose tests
  • History of cardiovascular disease

Children And Adolescents 

When it comes to children and adolescents, tests for type 2 diabetes must be considered for those exhibiting symptoms or those who are overweight and have at least two of the below-mentioned risk factors:

  • Type 2 diabetes occurring in a first- or second-degree relative of the family
  • Symptoms of pre-diabetes, such as skin pigmentation (acanthosis nigricans), high blood pressure, elevated levels of triglycerides and/or cholesterol (dyslipidemia), or PCOS
  • Mother with a known history of gestational diabetes or diabetes

Testing in children must begin at the age of 10 or when the child has entered puberty. This testing must be repeated every three years.

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Mentioned below are the types of blood tests that are used to diagnose diabetes. Generally, diabetes is diagnosed when the test results are positive on two distinct and separate days. 

Tests Used To Diagnose Diabetes 

Glycated Haemoglobin (A1C) Test: This blood test does not require fasting and indicates your average blood glucose levels for the past 2-3 months. It effectively measures the percentage of blood glucose attached to haemoglobin. An A1C level exceeding 6.5% on two distinct, separate tests is a good indicator for diabetes. An A1C between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates that you have prediabetes. 

Random Blood Sugar Test: In this test, a blood sample will be collected at a random time. Regardless of when you ate your last meal, a blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates that you have diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Before this test, you need to fast overnight. The fasting blood glucose level is measured in this test. After blood is drawn, you need to consume a sugary liquid, following which blood glucose levels are tested at regular intervals for the next couple of hours. Blood sugar levels less than 140 mg/dL are normal. A value of more than 200 mg/dL after 2 hours is an indicator of diabetes. A reading that falls between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL is an indicator of prediabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes

To diagnose type 1 diabetes, your urine sample will be tested to check for the presence of a byproduct that is produced when muscles and fats are used for the production of energy because the body does not have sufficient insulin to utilise the available glucose. Your doctor may also ask you to undergo a test to detect destructive immune system cells (autoantibodies).

To diagnose gestational diabetes, two screening tests are used: (1) Initial glucose challenge test and (2) Follow-up glucose tolerance testing.

This concludes the writeup on who should be tested for diabetes and how is diabetes diagnosed.

Reference Links:

  1. https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/diabetes/who-should-be-tested-diabetes-how-diabetes-diagnosed
  2. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes-tests#testing
  3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371451