Diabetes Test
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How is Diabetes mellitus diagnosed
Diabetes can be diagnosed by performing a fasting plasma glucose test. The test is as follows: After the person has fasted overnight (at least 8 hours), a sample of blood is drawn and sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). Fasting plasma glucose levels of more than 126 mg/dl on two or more tests on different days indicate diabetes.
Diabetes and Pregnancy
Women who have diabetes can become pregnant. However, the woman will have special health concerns, such as keeping blood glucose (sugar) levels in good control, managing diabetes medications, adjusting meal plans, and exercising regularly.
How does Exercise help Control Diabetes?
Exercise is very important to maintaining a healthy life and managing diabetes. Combining diet, exercise, and medicine (when prescribed by your doctor) will help control your weight and blood sugar level. Exercise is good for you because:
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It lowers blood sugar by speeding the transport of glucose in the cells. (Known as invisible insulin.)
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It helps promote weight loss and maintenance of ideal body weight.
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It decreases cardiovascular risk by making heart pump more efficiently.
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It improves circulation.
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It reduces demands on the pancreas.
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It improves our muscular tone.
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It reduces stress.
Controlling diabetes is very important and should be supervised by a medical doctor. When diabetes is controlled, it will help prevent serious complications such as: infections, kidney damage, eye damage, nerve damage to feet and heart disease.
Diabetes test tips and tricks
By taking the blood glucose diabetes test, you can make smart choices
about managing your diabetes. For example, you can decide when and how
much medicine to take, when to exercise and when to eat meals or snacks.
And you’ll ensure good results when you follow these tips:
Strip tips
1) Always use a fresh test strip. Diabetes test strips are only good for three months after opening the vial.
2) Code your meter. When opening a new container of diabetes test strips, be sure to code your meter using control solution and a new strip.
Sample tips
1) Wash and dry your hands.
Before performing your diabetes test, use an alcohol
pad to clean the area that you're going to prick.
(Washing your hands in hot water gets the blood flowing).
2) Use a fresh lancet.
Prick yourself with a fresh, sterile lancet to get a drop of blood.
Reusing lancets can lead to calluses, infections and increased pain.
3) Try the side. It may be
easier and less painful to prick your fingertip on one side, not
on the pad — especially if you perform this diabetes test several times
a day.
4) Dangle and squeeze. If you have trouble getting a sample, try dangling your hand below your heart for a minute then slowly squeeze from the base to the tip.
Bad results?
1) If the entire color spot area of the diabetes test strip does not show full color development (not enough blood) or appears “wet” (too much blood), discard the strip and repeat the diabetes test with a new test strip.
2) If your diabetes test results in an abnormally high or low test reading (a number you feel does not match your symptoms), use control solution to check that your meter is coded properly. Then, retest.
