It is relatively easy to for those diagnosing diabetes mellitus to establish the condition. Diagnosing diabetes became much easier when the American Diabetes Association established the criteria for diagnosing diabetes in 1997. The ADA followed up with additional guidelines for diagnosing diabetes in 2003 and again in 2010. But if your doctor is diagnosing diabetes mellitus for you, what will a positive diagnosis mean? The term diabetes mellitus refers to several diseases of abnormal carbohydrate metabolism that are all characterized by hyperglycemia. Diabetes diagnosing is confirming that there is impairment in insulin secretion, along with an accompanying resistance of different degrees to the action of insulin.
Diagnosing diabetes mellitus is based on one of these four abnormalities – hemoglobin A1C (A1C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), random elevated glucose with symptoms, or abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are referred to as having increased risk for diabetes.
The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is established when a patient presents with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia (thirst, polyuria, weight loss, blurry vision) and has a random blood glucose value of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher, and this needs to be confirmed on at least one other occasion.
Diagnosing Diabetes in Children
The criteria for diagnosing diabetes mellitus in children are similar to diagnosing diabetes mellitus in adults. But children usually show more severe symptoms and the diagnosis should be based on a single raised blood glucose result. After this initial diagnosis, referral to a Pediatric Diabetes Physician should be made without delay. It should be noted that diagnosing diabetes mellitus in children should never be made with just a stick reading of blood from a finger prick. These should be used as a screening tool only. Diagnosing childhood diabetes as early as possible is crucial to beginning treatment sooner. The sooner the condition is managed, the less long-term damage will be done. Sometimes a diabetes diagnosis for your child will provide the opportunity to get a head start on managing the condition. This can at least postpone organ damage that living with diabetes long-term causes. Some children eventually grow out of the diabetes.
Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is found the first time in a woman during pregnancy. It is found in about three to eight percent of pregnant women. It means that the blood sugar or blood glucose levels are too high. When a woman becomes pregnant, hormone changes and weight gain makes it hard for the body to keep up with its need for insulin. If this happens, the body (and by default the baby) doesn’t get the energy it needs from the food consumed.
One or all of the following tests will be conducted in diagnosing gestational diabetes:
- A fasting blood glucose or random blood glucose test is usually the first test done to determine if further testing is needed.
- Screening glucose challenge test – drinking a sugary beverage and checking the sugar levels an hour later
- Oral glucose tolerance test – this is a longer test, and is considered more accurate
Diagnosing Pre-diabetes
Diagnosing pre diabetes is as important as diagnosing diabetes mellitus, as it will give you even a better chance at preventing full-blown diabetes. Your treatment options become greater, as does your chance of decreasing or preventing any long-term damage that diabetes can cause. It is just as painless and as easy as diagnosing diabetes mellitus, and probably more important in the long term. If you even suspect you may have diabetes – go get the tests. It may be the most important decision you make in your lifetime.
