Diabetes is a chronic disease in which blood sugar levels are too high. In some people, its symptoms are visible only when it is in advanced stage. That’s why it is important to have regular medical checkups.
When treatment is not started on time, it can cause serious health effects. The World Health Organization says, “Diabetes is an important cause of blindness, kidney failure, myocardial infarction, stroke and lower limb amputation.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain that there are various blood tests that allow a doctor to make a professional diagnosis of whether or not you have diabetes. these:
A1C
In this test, the average level of sugar in the blood over 2 or 3 months before its completion is measured. It is normal when the result is less than 5.7%. When they are between 5.7 and 6.4%, you have prediabetes and when they are higher than 6.5%, it indicates that you have diabetes.
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fasting blood sugar levels
As its name indicates, this test measures the level of sugar in the blood after fasting, i.e. not eating for an entire night. When the result is 99 mg/dl or less, it means that the glucose level is normal. When it shows 100 to 125 mg/dl it means you have prediabetes. And when the test indicates a value of 126 mg/dl or more, it indicates that you have diabetes.
glucose tolerance test
This test measures the level of sugar in the bloodstream before and after consuming liquids with glucose. For this test, the person must fast the night before and a health professional will take blood to check the levels. The person should then drink the liquid and their levels will be tested 1 hour, 2 hours and in some cases 3 hours after drinking the product.
The results show the following:
- Normal: 140 mg/dl or less in 2 hours
- Prediabetes: 140 to 199 mg/dl
- Diabetes: 200 mg/dl or more
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unscheduled blood sugar test
This test can be done at any time. Fasting is not mandatory. When the value is 200 mg/dl or more, it means you have diabetes.
types of diabetes
Experts point out that daily sugar intake should be reduced, as it can increase blood sugar levels and lead to the development of diabetes. Ana Patricia Heredia, Deputy Director of Nutritional Health, Food and Beverages of the Ministry of Health, states that refined sugars should not exceed 10% of the intake.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which the transport of glucose in the blood is affected. For this process, insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is responsible for mobilizing sugar in the bloodstream. Several things can happen in diabetics: low production of insulin, insulin resistance, or both.explains the Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization dedicated to clinical practice, education and research.
There are different types of diabetes:
