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This should be done at 30 years of age. If a history of heart attark, stroke or diabetes prevailsin the family, then a blood sugar test should be done along with lipid profile at 20 years of age to determine
the person's baseline level.The test can be repeated every 3 years if normal.If abnormal or borderline,
test should be repeated annually or as your doctor advises.
You may also be advised by your doctor to get a routine sample of urine tested for albumin, sugar
and microalbuminurea.
The finger is pricked with a needle. The blood samples is placed on a stripe. The stripe is then placed
in the slot of the glucometer machine, which assesses your blood sugar level. This method is to be
used only to monitor your blood sugar levels at home.It is not completely reliable, so a venous sample
should also be assessed in the laboratory as guided by your doctor.
Glycosylated Haemoglobin Test;
HbA1c is a measurement to assess the level of your blood sugar over the past 120 days.An HbA1c reading of over 6.1% is suggestive of diabetes.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test:
After fasting overnight, you are given water with 75 gm sugar ( in a water-sugar solution).Your blood glucose levels are tested over a 24-hour period.
In a diabetic person, blood glucose levels rise higher than normal and do not fall as
quickly.A normal blood glucose reading, two hours after drinking the solution, should be less than 130 mg/dl. All readings between zero to two hours should be less than
200 mh/dl.
In addition to these ,a random blood sugar reading can be taken any time.A reading
of above 140 mg/dl can be indicative of diabetes.
A few simple tests can help determine whether you have diabetes.
The Venous Sample Test
This is done in the laboratory.It can be of four types; fasting (F),postprandial (PP),
glycosylated haemoglobin and oral glucose tolerance test(GTT). Except for postprandial, all the other tests should be done 12 hours after an overnight fast, without
even a cup of tea.
Fasting;The normal fasting blood sugar level is less than 100mg/dl.If your reading is
higher than this,a diagnosis indicative of developing diabetes is made.
Postprandial;The postprandial is conducted 2 hours after a heavy meal or after taking
75gm of glucose. A reading of over 130 mg/dl along with other positive tests, is indicative of diabetes.
*
Skipping or delaying a meal.
*Taking too much of insulin or diabetic medications.
* Not taking enough carbohydrates in a meal.
* Sudden increase in exercise.
* Eating food containing simple sugars which are rapidly absorbed by the body, e.g: sweets,ice-creams,and pastries.
* Drinking sweetened beverages such as carbonated drinks & juices
* Sedentary lifestyle-not burning the consumed sugar,carbohydrates and other products.
* Not enough administration of insulin or other medication.
* Physical stress (e.g; infections, flu )
* Psychological stress.
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