Control diabetes so it doesn’t wreak havoc on your body. This simple test is the first step.
The Diabetes Association has recently recommended that all adults over 45 get tested for Type II (adult onset) diabetes every three years.
Diabetes, a disorder that affects the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels, afflicts a large number of people, half of whom are not even aware they have it. If untreated, diabetes can cause serious complications, including blindness, kidney and heart disease, nerve damage, and stroke. The risk of such complications is dramatically reduced when diabetes is monitored and controlled with diet, exercise, and medications.
This test is inexpensive and easy to do. A blood sample is taken after an eight-hour overnight fast.
The blood sugar level at which someone is considered diabetic was recently lowered to 126 mg/dl (milligrams per decilitre) of blood. If your test results are below that number, you should be tested again in three years. If your blood sugar level is at or above 126 mg/dl, work with your doctor to develop a diet and exercise plan to control blood sugar levels. In some cases, pills and insulin injections will be needed as well.
