|
.
By David Pichkadze, MD
Added 04/30/2010
Overview
Diabetes is a chronic(lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.
Symptoms
High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including:
- Blurry vision
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Hunger
- Weight loss
However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all.
Test & diagnosis
A urine analysis may be used to look for glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat, However, a
urine test alone does not diagnose diabetes.
The following blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes:
- Fasting blood glucose level-diabetes is diagnosed if higher than 126 mg/dL on two occasions.
Levels between 100 and 126 mg/dL are referred to as impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes.
These levels are considered to be risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its complications.
- Oral glucose tolerance test-diabetes is diagnosed if glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL
after 2 hours. (This test is used more for type 2 diabetes.)
Self-Testing
If you have diabetes, your doctor may tell you to regularly check your blood sugar levels at home.
There are a number of devices available, and they use only a drop of blood. Self-monitoring tells you
how well diet, medication, and exercise are working together to control your diabetes. It can help your
doctor prevent complications.
The American Diabetes Association recommends keeping blood sugar levels in the range of:
- 80-120 mg/dL before meals
- 100-140 mg/dL at bedtime
Your doctor may adjust this depending on your circumstances.
Prognosis
With good blood glucose and blood pressure control, many of the complications of diabetes can be
prevented.
Studies have shown that strict control of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels in persons
with diabetes helps reduce the risk of kidney disease, eye disease, nervous system disease,
heart attack, and stroke.
Back to the Educational Resources
|
