Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by a defect in the body's ability to make or utilize insulin, resulting in high blood glucose levels in the blood. In the United States, 23.6 million children and adults have diabetes and 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by low levels of insulin in your body as a result of the loss of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas through an immune-mediated attack. In Type 2 diabetes, tissues within your body are less responsive to the effects of insulin, leading to insulin resistance and eventually impaired insulin secretion. Several criteria are available to assist with the diagnosis of diabetes.
Glycated Hemoglobin (A1C) ≥ 6.5%
Glycated Hemoglobin or A1C is used to determine your average blood sugar level over several months by measuring the percentage of sugar attached to hemoglobin in your red blood cells. A hemoglobin A1C level greater than or equal to 6.5 percent indicates a positive diagnosis for diabetes.
Fasting Plasma Glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl
Fasting plasma glucose is another parameter that can be utilized for the diagnosis of diabetes. Usually performed in the morning, it is a blood test used to determine blood sugar levels when you have not eaten anything for 8 hours or more. When your body is in a fasting state, a hormone called glucagon is released to cause the liver to release glucose into the blood stream. In non-diabetic patients, the pancreas will secrete insulin in order to prevent hyperglycemia. This process is impeded in diabetes, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. A fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher on two separate occasions indicates the presence of diabetes.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test ≥ 200 mg/dl
An oral glucose tolerance test measures the body's ability to store and utilize glucose and can be used in the diagnosis of diabetes. Before performing the test, a fasting blood glucose sample will be taken. Then you are required to drink a sugary solution, containing 75 grams or anhydrous glucose dissolved in water, and your blood sugar will be measured again in two hours. In non-diabetic patients, blood sugar levels will spike initially, then begin to drop as the body processes the excess glucose, but blood sugar levels remain elevated in diabetic patients. A two hour plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dl or higher on two separate occasions indicates a positive diagnosis for diabetes.
Symptoms of Hyperglycemia
Lastly, symptoms of hyperglycemia with an elevated plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dl or greater is another way to diagnose diabetes. Common symptoms of hyperglycemia include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased hunger. More severe symptoms include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, slow-healing sores, vision changes, breath that smells like acetone, Kussmaul breathing characterized by rapid, deep breaths, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or altered consciousness.
