If you suspect that you have diabetes, undergoing some diagnostic tests is necessary to find out if you really have the disease.
It is important for you to know the signs and symptoms of diabetes, as well as to understand how it is diagnosed, in order to be treated on time if you do have the condition.
Here is how to get diagnosed:
Get tested by a physician
Your primary care physician can perform 2 different tests to check your blood glucose levels. Normally, a fasting blood test is used to check for diabetes, but a urine test can also be performed.
Get your HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) levels measured
This test looks at the hemoglobin (a protein) in your red blood cells and measures how much sugar is attached. The higher the value, the more sugar is attached, which directly correlates to your risk of having diabetes.
Talk to your doctor about how to treat your diabetes
To treat diabetes, you may need to take insulin injections or pills daily, and you will be asked to watch your diet and to exercise.
Read also: How To Tell If You Have Diabetes: Recognizing The Signs And Symptoms
Seek follow-up tests as recommended by your doctor
It is important to get repeat blood tests every 3-6 months or so for people who fall into the “pre-diabetic” or “diabetic” range. The reason for this is to monitor either improvement of the condition (for those who make positive lifestyle changes), or worsening of the condition.
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