How do you know if you have diabetes?
diabetes and prediabetes occur in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing the disease than others. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. This means they are also at increased risk for developing prediabetes.
There are three different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have prediabetes:
- The A1C test
- The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG)
- or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism, or whether you have prediabetes or diabetes.
If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG); if your blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGTT, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Both are also known as prediabetes.
Although there are many syptoms of diabetes, the warning signs are very generic and can be caused by other conditions. Some of the most common symptons include but are not limited increased thirst, hunger and urination, weight loss, blurred vision, numbness of the extemeties and poor wound healing. The only way to diagnose diabetes is through a blood test. A fasting blood sugar over 110 mg/dl indicates poor glucose tolerance and a fasting blood sugar over 140 mg/dl indicates diabetes. Another test is a 3 hour glucose tolrance test which measures the bodies ability to handle glucose over a 3 hour duration. Other important parameters include a hemoglobin A1C. This indicates long term blood glucose control over a two to four month period. A hemoglobin A1C over 6% is not a definitive for diabetes, but requires further testing
