How to Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Since it usually presents itself in adulthood, type 2 diabetes is also known as adult-onset diabetes. Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetics may produce sufficient insulin, but for some reason the body either ignores it or cannot utilize it efficiently. Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes is on the rise, particularly among Americans, so it's important to know how to diagnose diabetes for early detection and treatment.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Detailed list of symptoms
• Blood test

Learn How to Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes

1. Recognize the symptoms. Type 2 Diabetes is not as easy to diagnose as type 1, even though both share several common symptoms. Report any of the following to your doctor: fatigue, unusual thirst, frequent urination (day and night) and slow healing of wounds or bruises.

2. Anticipate that your doctor will conduct a simple urine test during the office visit. However, he may also order a laboratory urinalysis as well.

3. Prepare to have a finger stick blood test to measure your blood glucose (sugar) levels.

4. Expect a C-peptide test to measure the amount of this insulin by-product in the body.

5. Know that your cholesterol may also be checked. People with type 2 diabetes tend to have very low levels of HDL cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides.

6. Follow through with dietary and lifestyle recommendations made by your doctor to manage your diabetes and avoid serious complications.

Tips & Warnings

• Include exercise as part of your diabetes management program. Aside from helping you lose weight, regular exercise can improve circulation and reduce the risk of damage from neuropathy associated with diabetes.
• About 80 percent of people who receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes are also overweight. While most patients are over 50, a recent increase in childhood obesity makes children susceptible to this disease as well.
• Diabetes occurs equally in both men and women. However, those who have family members with type 2 diabetes or are of Native American, African American or Hispanic descent are at greater risk of developing the disease. In addition, women who have given birth to babies over 9 pounds are at increased risk.
• Serious complications are associated with diabetes, even non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes. Complications include nerve damage to extremities (neuropathy), eyes and kidneys.

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