Too often we hear people say that they are probably diabetic because of something they feel. Maybe they didn’t eat for a few hours and feel a little dizzy, maybe they feel the need to go to the bathroom more often than normal. None of these things alone means that you are diabetic.
You should get a consultation from a Dr., the doctor will usually ask you questions about your family history of diabetes, the presence of other related medical conditions, risk factors for diabetes, and will also check for symptoms.
Fasting blood sugar (FBS) is the most widely used test. The subject is required to refrain from eating anything for at least 8 hours prior to the blood draw. Usually this is done early in the morning. A result greater than or equal to 126 mg / dL is usually indicative of diabetes. Usually a confirmatory test is done. Results ranging from 101 to 125 mg / dL are indicative of impaired fasting glucose (IFG). People with IFG are not yet diabetic, but they are at high risk of developing diabetes (prediabetic).
The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) involves drawing blood for FBS, having the subject drink 75 grams of sugar dissolved in a glass of water. Blood is drawn exactly two hours after drinking. A person is considered diabetic if the result is greater than 200 mg / dL. If the result is between 140 and 199, the patient has glucose intolerance (IGT). This is also a prediabetic condition. OGTT is the method of choice for confirming diabetes.
Glycated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1c measures the average blood sugar level over the past 120 days. It is more useful as a means of controlling blood sugar than as a confirmatory test. A random blood sugar test can also be performed on non-fasting subjects. This test assumes that the subject has eaten and therefore has higher baseline values than fasting blood sugar (FBS).
After reading this, I’m sure you will agree that trying to self-diagnose diabetes is not a great idea. If you are really worried you might have it, make an appointment with your doctor right away.
