Diabetes Type 2 Blood Testing. How To Do It!

It is sad, there are til now people who do not yet even know they have Diabetes 2.  There are some easy steps that you can take in order to find out. This is extremely crucial for your health. So if you think you may have diabetes, it is vital to do the right tests. Having ‘annual check-ups' is a must, so speak with your doctor. Your doctor can easily order these tests for you. These tests will help determine the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood, so you can order an annual FBS (which stands for Fasting Blood Sugar), an OGTT (meaning Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) and a few other tests that will help you determine if you suffer (or about to suffer) from diabetes. Read on further and find out what these tests actually mean and what symptoms (of high blood sugar levels) a diabetes patient actually has.

The first test, the FBS or Fasting Blood Sugar test can examine, a its name suggests: the levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood. If you return a value in the rage 72 - 99 mg/dl (or 4 - 5.5 mmol/l), and this is the result expected in a healthy individual. These numbers are indicative of normal blood sugar values. However, you may get somewhat higher values between 100 -126 mg/dl (5.6 - 7 mmol/l). This means that you will have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. This now reflects you have elevated and abnormal blood sugar levels, and this can develop into full blown Diabetes 2. A value of greater than 126 mg/dl (7 mmol/l) is seen in some individuals. In these cases the person is almost surely likely to be suffering from Type 2 diabetes and seeking immediate medical help is advised. The standard medical practice to ensure a correct diagnosis is made of Type ii Diabetes, is to repeat the test, and the results of both tests on both occassions should reflect similar blood sugar numbers.

The second type of test we mentioned is the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test). It is basically an oral glucose test in which you will be given a small amount of sugar (glucose) for you to drink. Following 2 hrs, an analysis of the blood sugar level is made after a sample of blood is taken painlessly from the person having the test. Anything above 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/l) is not considered a normal value, meaning that you have an unhealthy glucose tolerance and this could be a clear sign of pre-diabetes. In some individuals, values are seen of greater than 200 mg/dl (11 mmol/l). In these cases the patient is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes 2 is something to take very serious note of, particularly if there are already existing or underlying illnesses which you may have. It can be very dangerous in many cases, so changes in diet, lifestyle, undertaking exercise, or taking the right medication is a must!


Control your Blood Sugar:
The Dr Michael Hutch PhD "Diabetes-Your-Blood-Sugar" sites provide useful information about Diabetes and Diabetes Diet.