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Diabetes Test

One of the first symptoms of possible diabetes is a marked increase of thirst. The need to constantly be drinking liquid and not having the thirst quenched is usually accompanied by a decrease in weight at a fast rate and frequent urination. If a person exhibits any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

The doctor will usually ask the participant to be tested at a fasting blood level. No food can be ingested other than water for twelve hours prior to the test. A health assistant will draw blood into a tube that contains an anticoagulant which stops the blood from clotting.

The blood is taken to a lab where it is place in a machine called a centrifuge. This spins the blood so that the cells sink to the bottom while the liquid remains at the top. The yellowish colored liquid at the top is called plasma. A test is then made to determine how long it takes for the glucose in the plasma to react to the enzymes in the testing material. This timing will be measured and a number given to that timing. This number will determine the amount of glucose in the blood and give the doctor some indication as to whether diabetes may be the cause.

This will give a true blood sugar level count. Normal blood sugar levels should range between 70 and 100 mg/dL. The doctor will ask the participant to do this test twice; especially if the numbers register in the normal range, but the participant has risk symptoms. If the participant has normal fasting numbers but they rise dramatically after eating they may have intolerance to glucose. The tests are usually performed on two different days to determine if there is a pattern. If the numbers are high in the two tests, a diagnosis of diabetes may be determined. This will result in further tests and lengthy questionnaire about family health history. If a participant knows that there is a risk of diabetes in the family, they may wish to be tested often and control their diet to maintain a moderate blood sugar level.

Testing done with the doctor will be sent to a lab for evaluation. Labs measure the blood with a plasma based meter, while most home testing methods use a whole blood method. There are some plasma based meters on the market and these must be coordinated with the doctor to ensure the numbers correspond. There is also a urine test to see if glucose has been passed out of the body.

Most pregnant women have a blood sugar test at 24-26 weeks, especially if they are over 25 years old and are not their normal body weight.. These factors can increase the chance of gestational diabetes. Testing blood sugar level are mandatory for the safety of both mother and child. They also must keep their numbers within a safety range.

A doctor may order a controlled diet test. The blood sugar level is taken before the meal of an exact count of carbohydrates, and then is monitored again two hours after the meal is consumed. This is rarely done as it is time consuming for the participant. It may be done if the participant is hospitalized.

If a person is considered healthy and is over the age of 45, yearly physical exams and blood work will usually include a test for diabetes. Because persons in the United States have been exposed to large amounts of carbohydrates and sugars, the onset of diabetes has had a marked increase over the last years. If the yearly diabetes test indicates an inflation of the glucose in the blood, a second test may be administered and proper diet may be encouraged to counter the sugar level in the test. Most people who are tested often for diabetes can actively control their numbers with a decrease in carbohydrates and an increase in activity. Testing relatively easy and is encouraged to prevent the wide spread epidemic of diabetes in the United States.

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