How Do They Test for Diabetes?
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Diabetes affects more than 21 million Americans. Although there are symptoms that signal onset of diabetes, many people are unaware that they have the disease. However, when someone begins experiencing these symptoms, which can include an increase in thirst, urination and hunger, they should speak to their physician about being tested for diabetes.
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Diabetes testing can take several forms. The most common type of testing for diabetes is a fasting glucose test. This diabetes test is used most often by physician as a starting point for diagnosing diabetes because it is noninvasive and less expensive than other testing options. To prepare for this test, the patient is required to fast (refrain from eating) for at least eight hours before the test is performed. After the fast, the patient will have blood drawn, which will be analyzed to determine whether the blood glucose level is above 126 mg/dL. This is considered the threshold for diabetes.
It is possible to have normal blood glucose levels while still experiencing diabetic symptoms. If this is the case, a physician may perform a glucose tolerance test to determine whether the patient is glucose intolerant. Glucose intolerance results when a person's blood glucose level rises quickly after eating. A diabetes diagnosis may be made if the levels rise to a high degree.
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Another type of diabetes test is casual plasma glucose testing. This test differs from the fasting glucose test in that the patient is not required to fast before taking the test. Blood is drawn from the patient and analyzed for blood sugar levels. If the level of glucose in the blood is higher than 200 mg/dL, it may indicate that the patient is diabetic. This test may be performed several times over numerous days to confirm that elevated blood glucose levels are consistently in the diabetic range.
A third diabetes testing option is the oral glucose tolerance test. This test is most commonly performed on women who are pregnant and are at risk for developing gestational diabetes. In some instances it may be performed on patients who have normal levels during their fasting glucose test but still display diabetic symptoms.
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