Diabetes Test

Diabetes, medically known as diabetes mellitus is a disorder where the blood sugar levels are high. It is a metabolic disease, meaning that there is an abnormal chemical reaction that is hindering the normal process of breakdown of food to form sugar and energy. In diabetes, the hormone insulin which moves sugar from the blood to cells is either not produced by the body or isn\'t used effectively. Getting a Diabetes Test done is the best way to assess if you have diabetes, in case you suspect it. A Diabetes Test can help in diagnosing this serious illness and help you in getting the necessary treatment so that you can have a relatively healthy life and be able to do all the things you enjoy. A Blood Sugar Test is generally a blood test that can help in diagnosing how serious your condition is and what the treatment plan should be. The phlebotomist will take a small sample of blood from a vein and the sample will then be sent to the lab for the Blood Glucose Test you have chosen.

There are four different types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes - An autoimmune condition where the immune system destroys cells in the pancreas where insulin is produced.
• Type 2 Diabetes - The body is not able to use the insulin produced and this causes sugar to build up in the body.
• Pre-diabetes - A condition where blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
• Gestational Diabetes - When blood sugar rises because of Insulin-blocking hormones the placenta produces during pregnancy.

Some symptoms that people who suffer from diabetes might experience: Feeling Thirsty Increased Hunger Frequent Urination Sores that don’t heal quickly Weight loss Extreme fatigue

Why Diabetes Testing is important?

Insulin occurs naturally, the pancreas produces and releases it whenever you eat something. Insulin's job is to transport the glucose in the blood to cells where they can be converted into energy to be used by the body. In the case of Type II diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin and can't use it effectively which leads to pancreas working harder and producing more insulin. Over a period of time, this can damage pancreatic cells and also lead to high sugar levels in the body. An HbA1c Test can check for the presence of high sugar levels in the bloodstream and thus help in diagnosing the condition.

There are different types of Diabetes Tests available that can help in diagnosing pre-diabetes or diabetes. A Random Blood Sugar Test is another type of Diabetes Checkup that an individual can get done. A Random Blood Sugar Test in is a quick test to check for diabetes. It basically checks for blood glucose levels at a random time of the day. Since this test doesn't require any fasting it is a quick test, however, a doctor might ask for further testing to confirm the diagnosis.

An HbA1c Test is an effective test for diagnosing diabetes. It is advisable to get an HbA1c Test done to get a definitive diagnosis because unlike other tests the HbA1c Test looks for sugar over a period of time, thus is more reliable and clear.

How Diabetes Blood Test is performed?

While each specific Diabetes Checkup uses a different approach or method of testing, all of them test for the same thing, that is, the level of blood sugar. If you experience any of the symptoms given above then it is advisable to get a Sugar Checkup At Home done immediately and get a proper diagnosis.