Medical testing Treatments

Diabetes is a serious disease that you cannot

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often appear
suddenly and are often the reason for checking
blood sugar levels.
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood
test indicates your average blood sugar level for
the past two to three months. It measures the
percentage of blood sugar attached to
hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red
blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels,
the more hemoglobin you'll have with sugar
attached. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher
on two separate tests indicates that you have
diabetes. An A1C between 5.7 and 6.4 percent
treat on your own. Your doctor will help you
make a diabetes treatment plan that is right for
you -- and that you can understand. You may
also need other health care professionals on
your diabetes treatment team, including a foot
doctor, nutritionist, eye doctor, and a diabetes
specialist (called an endocrinologist).
Treatment for diabetes requires keeping close
watch over your blood sugar levels (and
keeping them at a goal set by your doctor) with
a combination of medications, exercise, and
diet. By paying close attention to what and
when you eat, you can minimize or avoid the
"seesaw effect" of rapidly changing blood
sugar levels, which can require quick changes
in medication dosages, especially insulin.

DIABETES
indicates prediabetes. Below 5.7 is considered
normal.

Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will 1. A disease in which the body’s
be taken after an overnight fast. A fasting blood ability to produce or respond to the
sugar level less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is hormone insulin is impaired,
normal. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to resulting in abnormal metabolism
125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered of carbohydrates and elevated
prediabetes. If it's 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or levels of glucose in the blood and
higher on two separate tests, you have diabetes. urine.
2.
Oral glucose tolerance test. For this test, you
3.
fast overnight, and the fasting blood sugar level is
measured. Then you drink a sugary liquid, and
blood sugar levels are tested periodically for the By Wendy Orozco
next two hours. A blood sugar level less than 140
mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. A reading of more
Period 1
than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) after two hours
indicates diabetes. A reading between 140 and
199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L)
indicates prediabetes.
 Types of Diabetes Causes
Diabetes type 1 Diabetes type 1
Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes generally develops in Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune
childhood or adolescence, but can system mistakenly attacks and kills the
develop in adulthood.
beta cells of the pancreas. No, or very
Diabetes type 2  Urinating often little, insulin is released into the body. As
 Feeling very thirsty a result, sugar builds up in the blood
About 90 per cent of people with diabetes  Dry mouth instead of being used as energy. About
have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes  Feeling very hungry - even though you five to 10 per cent of people with diabetes
more often develops in adults, but are eating have type 1 diabetes
children can be affected.  Extreme fatigue
 Blurry vision Diabetes type 2
Gestational Diabetes  Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
 Weight loss - even though you are Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body
A third type of diabetes, gestational eating more (type 1)
diabetes, is a temporary condition that can’t properly use the insulin that is
 Skin infections released (called insulin insensitivity) or
occurs during pregnancy. It affects
 Patches of darker skin in areas of
approximately two to four percent of all does not make enough insulin. As a
the body that have creases
pregnancies (in the non-Aboriginal result, sugar builds up in the blood instead
population) and involves an increased  Irritability
 breath that has a sweet, fruity, or of being used as energy.
risk of developing diabetes for both
mother and child. acetone odor
 Tingling, pain, or numbness in the Gestational Diabetes
hands/feet (type 2)
Risk factors
 Women with gestational diabetes During pregnancy, the placenta makes
 Youare African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or often have no symptoms, which is hormones that can lead to a buildup of
Native American. why it's important for at-risk sugar in your blood. Usually,
women to be tested at the proper your pancreas can make enough insulin to
 Poor nutrition during pregnancy time during pregnancy. handle that. If not, your blood sugar
 It’s important to keep in mind that levels will rise and can cause gestational
 You’ve had gestational diabetes before. many people with type 2 diabetes diabetes.
have no noticeable symptoms.
 Family history of diabetes
Symptoms for women may include:
 Overweight  vaginal and oral yeast infections
and vaginal thrush
 Unhealthy diet  urinary infections
 female sexual dysfunction
 Physical inactivity

 Increasing age

 polycystic ovary syndrome