Magazine Today
Diabetes can be a life-threatening condition, and many people aren’t even aware that they have it. So if you think you might be on the cusp of type 2 diabetes or have a greater risk of developing it, you should see your doctor. But you might also want to monitor your blood glucose to keep tabs on your blood sugar levels. With the right equipment, you can modify your diet and exercise routines to avoid developing type 2 diabetes or keep blood sugar levels in check if you’ve found out that you have the condition.
Test Results Always Come from Your Doctor
Whether you’re fit and active or have a few pounds to lose, you could find out that you have diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune condition that makes it impossible for the person’s body to make insulin. While it usually presents symptoms first during childhood or teenage years, some people might not experience symptoms until as late as their early 20s.
Type 1 diabetes can even affect people who are otherwise fit and eat healthfully. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes tends to affect people who are overweight or consume lots of sugar, which causes people to develop insulin resistance. So whether you find out that you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you need to see your doctor to get a formal diagnosis.
What Tests Are Used to Determine Diabetes and Prediabetes?
Several tests can measure blood sugar levels to determine if someone has diabetes or prediabetes, and there are tests to determine whether the diabetes is type 1 or type 2. The primary way to determine whether a person has diabetes or prediabetes is to get a glycated hemoglobin test, which will measure the amount of blood sugar concerning hemoglobin.
When you have higher blood sugar levels, you’ll also have more hemoglobin with sugar cells attached to them. For example, if your glycated hemoglobin level is higher than 6.5%, you have diabetes. You have prediabetes if you’re within the range of 5.7% to 6.4%. People who are below 5.7% are considered within the normal range.
Several reasons why the results from a regular glycated test would be invalid exist, so there are a few other ways to check if someone is within diabetes ranges. For instance, your doctor might ask for a random blood sugar test, a fasting blood sugar test, or an oral glucose tolerance test.
Blood Glucose Meter
You can also use a blood glucose meter that Tandem Diabetes offers to monitor your blood sugar levels. While one of these meters can’t diagnose diabetes, they can alert you if your blood sugar levels are rising or might be in the range of prediabetes, which can tell you that it’s time to visit your doctor. But, according to Tandem Diabetes, you should also “discuss with your healthcare provider how you should use data” to prevent misunderstanding the readings.
If you have diabetes, think you might have it, or are at a higher risk of developing it, you should talk to your doctor and use a combination of devices to ensure that your blood sugar levels remain within a safe range.
