Proper and early identification IS A MUST. What you don’t know can indeed hurt you. Early detection allows people to take action before there are serious consequences . About 6 million have had diabetes for several years and don’t know it and tens of million may be pre-diabetic and don’t know it either. By the time most diabetics get diagnosed they have diabetes for several years and already had some damage to their arteries and nervous system. Don’t be like those other people get identified NOW. Early detection and i mmediate weight reduction, even as little as 5 to 7 pounds, can help you regain sugar control, reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol and may even reverse the entire situation. You can lose these 5 to 7 pounds by making favorable food and activity choices, as recommended in my Learning to Make Favorable Lifestyle Choices section (Action Step 4). These wise choices can bring the situation under control.
People who have any combination of the following criteria should test for blood sugar at least once a year during a yearly doctor check up:
Table 1
• People who are overweight or obese
• People who are couch potatoes
• Smokers
• People with a family history of diabetes
• Women with a history of gestational diabetes or who have given birth to babies over 9 pounds
• People belonging to the following ethnic groups: African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian- Americans, Pacific Islanders
• People with high blood pressure
• People with high cholesterol
• People with heart disease
• People who have symptoms of continuous thirst, and who experience frequent urination, fatigue, sudden vision problems, or numbness and/or tingling in the hands and feet.
If your blood fasting sugar is below 100 mg/dl then you are not diabetic. If your fasting blood sugar level is between 100 and 125 mg/dl, then you are considered glucose intolerant and/or are suffering from a condition called pre-diabetes . This means that you are about to have full-blown diabetes unless you start making favorable lifestyle choices as recommended in Action Steps 4 and 5. If your fasting blood sugar, however, is 126 mg/dl and over on 2 separate readings then this is a diagnosis for diabetes.
I’d like to share a story. Ever since I started pharmacy practice in 1987, I tried, whenever possible, to become more involved with my patients. I didn’t want to just be a dispensing pharmacist. Through my constant communications with my patients, I realized that only a small minority were informed and took appropriate action to bring their condition under control. They lived happily since their decision to take that control. Unfortunately, the vast majority had the “I don’t care,” or the “it is not going to happen to me” and “my health is someone else’s or the doctor’s responsibility” type of attitude. Those latter people paid the ultimate price.
Diabetics who espoused the latter approach had the worst outcomes and eventually developed most of the diabetes complications previously listed. I was very impressed by the actions of some patients who I would counsel; some over 80 years old, had diabetes but were persistent in their action to keep their condition under control from the moment of their initial diagnosis. They looked and felt good and they enjoyed the ultimate quality of life. It can be done. You can live a long and healthy life despite being a diabetic , IF you keep its complications in check by becoming more informed and by being proactive and employing the information you receive from this guide. That’s really all it takes.
Through my work, I have also encountered young people with diabetes in their 20′s, 30′s, and 40′s who either have been misinformed, are in denial, have given up or do not want to take their condition seriously. They are overweight, smoke, and are inactive. These people act the way they do because they do not want to “feel” different than others and because they think that they have to be deprived of some foods and sweets for the rest of their lives and that no matter what they do they will ultimately be affected with diabetes complications. That’s old thinking; it is not the case! They are misinformed, and the good news is they can enjoy eating from all the food groups in a balanced fashion as will be discussed in “Action Step 4”: Learning to Make Favorable Lifestyle Choices. Any diabetic can lead a very normal and very active life, just like non-diabetics and without being deprived from any food . This guide will provide you with the necessary tools to achieve that.
Now that you understand a little better your Type of diabetes and realize that you can make a major difference to the better in your quality of life, a call to action was upon you yesterday. If you want to have the blessing of a normal and a natural lifespan, then adopt and start implementing, NOW, the 5 Action Steps in LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER FOR DIABETICS AND PRE-DIABETICS
For more detailed information on any of these topics log on to: www.LifestyleMakeoverEbook.com and check out these information packed lifesaving book and e-book volumes: LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER FOR DIABETICS AND PRE-DIABETICS and 4 other e-books: Lifestyle Makeover: Sex, Stress, and Alcohol , Lifestyle Makeover for All Couch Potatoes , Lifestyle Makeover: Defeat High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure , and Lifestyle Makeover for all Tobacco Users . The author of this article is also the author of these volumes
Test your knowledge on these various issues and take a simple True and False quiz by logging on to: www.LifestyleMakeoverEbook.com
Copyright © 2008 by George Tohme All rights reserved.
George Tohme
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/who-should-test-their-blood-sugar-and-why-is-so-important-to-find-out-if-you-are-diabetic-679772.html
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
What are non-diabetic reasons for high blood sugar?
I’ve recently been experiencing a loss of appetite and irregular sleeping patterns. I went to the clinic yesterday to get checked out, and they ran some blood tests. Today they called me back and said that my blood sugar is elevated. I was told that my blood sugar was 168, and then referred to a primary caregiver. I’ve made an appointment, but I have no idea what any of this means.
I’m really confused, and I didn’t get any other information from the clinic besides a phone number for the doctor I made an appointment with. Every search I do on high blood sugar comes up with information pertaining to diabetes. Am I diabetic now, or is there some other explanation for this?
I’m not sure if this is important, but I hadn’t eaten anything before the blood samples were taken.
ur diet n how u digest food. if u can get to know ur blood/body type u will know what foods work for u. some people need more proteins others have too much-each person can be diff. the shape of ur body can tell u where ur food nutrients go. bottom heavy people need more fiber/proteins n top heavy needs more good carbs n vitB. my sister has blood type a+ n needs more vitB /C n proteins or she gets high blood sugar n looks bloated. everyones diff. the g.i. track has alot to do with blood sugars.
good luck-find the right doc-some blow crap out their a$$!
References :
You are on your way to become a diabetic if you don’t take control NOW. You could also be insulin resistance. If members of your family are or where diabetics, then you are higher risk to get it. To turn it all around, it means changing your diet, exercise, & pretending it won’t happen to me. I did what I wanted & now I’m on my way to going blind & in the next couple years I will lose my leg.
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That’s pretty high for a non-diabetic. Did you eat a large meal before the blood test? Go to your doctor and he/she will run a hemoglobin A1C test on you to determine whether or not you do have diabetes.
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There are very few reasons that your blood sugar would be elevated other than diabetes. Sometimes a serious illness or infection can cause moderately elevated levels (which I would say 168 is moderate).
However, your doctor should perform an HbA1c test. This test will show what your average blood sugar has been over 2 to 3 months. That will be the best indication of whether your elevated level is some temporary thing or if you do have diabetes.
Here are some of the other symptoms you would likely have if you are truly diabetic:
-Extreme thirst
-Frequent urination
-Blurry vision
-Headaches
References :
http://www.DiabeticConnect.com
One reading of high blood sugar especially if it is after a meal is not diagnostic for Diabetes Mellitis. It just shows that there is a chance that you may be diabetic. One reading of high blood sugar after a meal can be due to high calorie food immediately before the test.
The symptoms of Diabetes are increased thirst, increased passing of urine, more appetite, loss of weight etc. Have you got any of these?
Is anybody in your immediate family diabetic? Then there is more chance that you may be diabetic.
Anyway don’t worry unnecessarily. Have your check up with the doctor.
He will do a fasting and after food blood sugar check up. Otherwise he will do a test called Glucose tolerance test which is taking blood sugar in the fasting state and then for two hours after giving you a glucose drink. This will tell you definitely whether you are a diabetic or not.
But as you have seen a high blood sugar once please do follow up with your doctor. It is better to know early and start diet or treatment if you are diabetic as early as possible to avoid complications later.
References :
I am a doctor
if the test was done properly and the meter was working correctly then you should not have a fasting blood sugar that high, no matter the circumstances, if you are not diabetic your pancreas will compensate for what you do or dont eat with the proper insulin, your sugars should not be that high. obviously one test is never a tell all but being sick or anything should not effect your sugars if you do not have diabetes plain and simple. you may be pre diabetic at this point, im not sure of your health and weight but if they are not in check then you could very well have type 2 diabetes or be well on your way.
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A severe infection would have your glucose up that high especially fasting glucose. But since they didn’t put you on antibiotics for severe infection the only thing left is DIABETES.
Quit being confused and get on the same page with the rest of us here in the 21st century. We no longer have to have a glucose of over 300 to be diagnosed as maybe you are pre diabetic or some other idiotic term.
There is some really good info on these sites that will help you to get unconfused:
http://www.diabetes.about.com
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm
References :
You may indeed by a diabetic. But if you have an infection of some sort, this can cause the blood sugars to rise. However, if they do an A!C on you and it is high, the infection does not have anything to do with that unless it is a bad infection that you have had for a long time. A1C levels indicate your blood sugar average for the last 90 days. So unless you have been sick with some thing for that long and your A1C is high, you are a diabetic. Don’t listen to terms like "pre diabetic" or border line diabetic"…most doctors do not use these terms anymore. You either are or you aren’t. Get all the testing needed to diagnose diabetes before you jump the gun. In many cases, diabetes (both types) is genetic. In type 1, the person is completely insulin dependent, meaning that they must inject insulin up to 6 times a day. Their pancreas does not make enough or any insulin. We are not sure why the pancreas stops working, but one of the theories is that it is attacked by some type of virus. With type 2, it is also a problem with the pancreas, and how the body uses insulin. When a person is insulin resistant (still type 2 diabetes), the pancreas makes lots of insulin, but the body does not use it correctly. In some cases, the pancreas makes too much and the body can’t put it all to use. Some who are type 2 have a pancreas that does not make enough insulin, and need to take oral medications that help stimulate the pancreas’s activity some and encourage it to make more insulin. It’s not your fault that you developed diabetes….there is no way to prevent it. Although eating a good diet and daily exercise can help delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, it cannot actually be prevented. And food does not cause it to develop….eating too much sugar or too much junk food….those are old wives tales. Being overweight does not cause type 2 diabetes either, although those who are insulin resistant do have a tendency to gain some weight before they are diagnosed. Most type 2 diabetics are not overweight or ever have been…that is another old wives tales. What you are going to have to do now is watch your diet, limit the amount of carbs you eat. Todays diabetic can eat just about anything as long as we limit our carb intake. You will have to learn to count carbs, which is simple, and pay close attention to what, and how much you eat. You will also have to get some daily exercise to help control your disease….walking is a great way to do it. Some types 2 diabetics (11%) can actually control their disease with diet and exercise for many years. But diabetes is a progressive disease, and in time these people usually have to start taking medication of some kind. Type 2 diabetics that can’t control by diet and exercise are treated with different types of oral meds, insulin, and many times use both. If you have diabetes, it is not the end of the world, the disease can be controlled well and you can live a normal, long life. Sign up for some diabetes educational classes and make an appointment with a dietitian or nutrutionoist. Doing this can make the biggest difference in the control of your disease.
References :
diabetic 17 years
lots of diabetic ed classes