How to Tell if You Have Diabetes or Prediabetes - American Diabetes Association

This is a topic close to my heart because I have lost family to this disease and have family living with it now. I will post a series of articles about Diabetes to raise awareness. Many people have the symptoms of Diabetes, but are unaware that they have it. This blog contains exercise, nutrition and awareness articles in hopes to help others by information sharing. Become fit and informed for a healthier, wiser YOU!

-FC

______________________________________________________

How to Tell if You Have Diabetes or Prediabetes

While diabetes and prediabetes occur in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing the disease than others. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. This means they are also at increased risk for developing prediabetes.

There are three different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have prediabetes:

• The A1C test
• The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG)
• or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism, or whether you have prediabetes or diabetes.

If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG); if your blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGTT, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Both are also known as prediabetes.




The American Diabetes Association Risk Test for Diabetes can help you determine if you are at increased risk for diabetes or prediabetes. A high score may indicate that you have prediabetes or at risk for prediabetes. Take the test and find out for sure.


http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/pre-diabetes/diagnosis.html