Diabetes diagnosis is made by a doctor or medical professional. There are two main diabetes tests: 2 hour glucose and fasting glucose. The terms may be somewhat misleading, though, as in both cases fasting (with only water allowed) is required, generally for 8 to 12 hours prior to the test. Below is some information on both diagnostic methods:
Fasting glucose
After the patient has fasted for the proper amount of time, then a blood sample will be taken. This method is usually preferred in diabetes screening, as it takes less time than the alternative, and is no worse of an indicator for this particular disease.
2 hour glucose
This is also called a glucose tolerance test. In this test, an initial blood sample is taken as in the fasting glucose method. The patient is then given what is usually an oral dose of glucose. For adults, the maximum dose is 75 grams, and the actual amount administered is 1.75 grams per kilogram of the individual's body weight. The glucose is to be drunk during a five minute period.
After two hours have passed, another sample of blood is drawn. Others may be taken at different intervals during the two hour period, but for diabetes testing, only the pre-glucose and two hour samples are necessary.
Test results
For the fasting test, the normal level for people is less than 110 mg/dl. A level of 126 mg/dl or above can be interpreted as a case of diabetes, although usually a second test at a later time would be administered. In the last sample taken in the 2 hour form, the normal amount is less than 140 mg/dl, and a level of 200 mg/dl or higher can mean diabetes.
Continue reading about diabetes:
More topics about diabetes:
Browse other topics:
No medical advice is offered on this site. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2010-2024 www.esymptoms.com