Diabetes Screening and Why it is Important!

Diabetes Screening

It’s quite common for someone with diabetes to not even have symptoms! It’s estimated that over 33% of people with diabetes, are not even aware of their condition. That means over 33% of people with diabetes are not currently seeking treatment, and could suffer from the severe complications that come with diabetes. Generally, diabetes screening focuses more on type 2 diabetes. This is because symptoms of type 1 diabetes are much more detectable and the patient gets diagnosed soon after symptoms begin. However, you can have type 2 diabetes for years without it being detected. This is why an early on screening is so important! There are three tests used for the diagnosis of diabetes: A fasting plasma glucose test, an oral glucose tolerance test, and a random plasma glucose test.

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

This test is typically done in the morning, or when the body is in a fasted state. If your fasting glucose level is 100 to 125 mg/dL, this means you are prediabetic. The test then has to be done on another day. Once the test is done again, and your glucose level is 126 mg/dL or above, you are diagnosed with diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

The oral glucose tolerance test is done after you have been fasting for at least 8 hours. Your plasma glucose is measured immediately before and two hours after you drink a solution that is made up of 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. If your blood sugar level is between 140 and 199 mg/dL 2 hours after drinking the solution, you are prediabetic. When the test is repeated on another day and your blood glucose is at a level of 200 mg/dL or above, you have diabetes.

Random Plasma Glucose Test

A random plasma glucose test is done regardless of when you last ate. If your blood glucose measures at 200 mg/dL or more and you are also experiencing frequent urination, constant thirst, and unexplained weight loss, you are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.

It’s very important to detect diabetes early on. Screening for diabetes is a fairly simple process, and could save you from complications that occur when diabetes is left untreated. Talk with your doctor to figure out what type of screening would be best for you!

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