Make Sure To Get these Tests Done If You Have Type 2 Diabetes

by Ankita Sehgal Freelance Blogger, Lives in New Delhi

Type 2 Diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is one of the most common types of diabetes. Characterized by insulin resistance, it’s a chronic condition which disturbs the way sugar is metabolized in your body. If you have developed type-2 diabetes, the effects produced by insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, face resistance. The production of insulin may also get affected, in case one is suffering from type-2 diabetes. There is no permanent cure of this ailment but it can be managed well if one focuses on his or her diet and maintains a good fitness regime.

Diagnosis of Type-2 Diabetes

There are a number of tests done in order to properly diagnose and further type-2 diabetes treatment. Below-mentioned is the list of these diagnostic tests. Have a look:

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test: Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test reveals the average blood sugar level in your body. It gives the data for the past 2-3 months. If your blood sugar level comes out to be lower than 5.7 percent, you are clearly not diabetic. If it ranges somewhere between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, you are considered prediabetic. Blood sugar levels 6.5 percent or higher indicates that you have diabetes. In case, you have conditions like hemoglobin variant that may get in the way of your A1C test, you must go for the following tests:
Random blood sugar test: If you have symptoms of diabetes, you must go for a random blood sugar test. It indicates your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar level is 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or more, you are highly likely to have diabetes.
Fasting blood sugar test: In a fasting blood sugar test, your blood sample is taken after an overnight fast. If the blood sugar level reading is less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), you are considered normal. If it’s between 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L), you are considered prediabetic. You are only considered diabetic if your fasting blood sugar level is 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or more.
Oral glucose tolerance test: Majorly used during pregnancy, this test is not common for the diagnosis of type-2 diabetes. For this test to yield precise results, you will have to fast overnight. Post that your doctor will ask you to drink a sugary liquid followed by testing the blood sugar levels for two hours, periodically. If your blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L), you are out of danger. Prediabetic patients have blood sugar level ranging between 140 and 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) You are only considered diabetic if your reading comes out to be 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or more.