According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 7% of the US population or almost 21 million men, women, and children have diabetes. Diabetes is diagnosed when the body has an inability to utilize insulin or make insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that works with the pancreas to allow the cells in the body to receive glucose controlling sugar levels in the body.
Fasting Glucose tests, Random Glucose Tests, and Oral Glucose Tolerance tests are used to diagnose diabetes. Diabetes is present if a fasting test (no food for 8 hours) reveals a level of 126mg/dl or higher or if a blood test taken 2-hours after a meal is 200 mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter). There are 4 types of diabetes including:
Pre-Diabetes is a condition occurring before the onset of glucose levels adequate for diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 Diabetes.
Type I Diabetes occurs when the body has an inability to produce insulin and is most commonly diagnosed in childhood.
Type II Diabetes occurs when the body produces insulin but is unable to utilize it or produce it in adequate amounts. This is the most common form in adults.
Gestational Diabetes occurs in women who are pregnant. According to the American Diabetes Association approximately 4% of women are diagnosed during pregnancy.
Diabetes has both a genetic factor and an environmental factor. Genetic predisposition (heredity) is obvious and diet and exercise also play key roles. Many people who are diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes can avoid diabetes by adjusting their diet and exercise. Type II Diabetes has a greater heritability factor than Type I.
The cells of your body need sugar for energy. Think of glucose as your bodies batteries for your body. The hormone insulin is necessary for the cells to absorb and utilize this energy. The insulin is necessary for the absorption of glucose.
If you suspect that you may have diabetes, seek help from your health care provider. There are also many awareness events and health events that offer screenings. Typically, a health provider will use a glycosylated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1c test that will evaluate an average reading for the last 4 months. This is usually the most reliable of all tests and is commonly used for diagnosis.
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