1. Recognize the Symptoms of Diabetes
Few of the symptoms of diabetes, when observed separately, should be a cause for concern. In combination, however, it is important to speak to your doctor about your symptoms and determine if you should be tested. The classic symptoms of diabetes include increased hunger and thirst (even after eating), itchiness (especially around the genitals), frequent urination, tingling in the extremities (particularly the feet), nausea and vomiting (before or after eating), "Cotton" mouth (dry mouth even after drinking water), unexplainable weight loss or gain, drowsiness and fatigue, blurry vision, increased vaginal infections, yeast infections in both men and women and wounds and/or bruises that take a long time to heal. In addition to knowing the actual signs of diabetes, it's important to consider your family history as well. Current evidence suggests that diabetes, particularly Type 2 Diabetes, may be hereditary. If either of your parents or any of your other family members have diabetes, then it would be safe to assume you are also at risk. Other risk factors include your age and weight as well as high blood-pressure and your cholesterol level.
2. Receive a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
The primary method used to detect and diagnose signs of diabetes is the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test. You will be required to fast for eight hours or more prior to testing. Specialists will then take blood samples to test your glucose levels. Normal blood glucose levels are 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter, while patients with diabetes typically have blood glucose levels above 126. The test is typically repeated to corroborate results and verify findings.
3. Diagnose Diabetes with the Casual Plasma Glucose Test
It is possible for some people with diabetes to display normal or only slightly abnormal plasma glucose levels with the FPG test. Those with risk factors for diabetes who do not show a high glucose level can also detect and diagnose the disease using the casual plasma glucose test (CPG), which is the same as the FPG test but doesn't require fasting. Here, a result of 200 mg/dL is indicative of diabetes. As with the FPG test, the CPG test is commonly repeated in order to ensure a consistent and accurate result.
