Physical Health Guide

Although urine and fingerprick tests are able to highlight elevated levels of blood glucose, you can’t be 100% sure until you take several clinical blood sugar tests to confirm the diagnosis: the 2 main tests are the fasting blood sugar test together with an oral blood sugar test. Your diagnosis is based on your test results and your symptoms. If you don’t have symptoms but diabetes is suspected, there will need to be more tests over the following days.

Successful Diagnosis of Diabetes

The accepted way to diagnose diabetes is through a series of detailed blood tests in laboratory conditions. Under normal circumstances, diagnosing type 1 is quicker than type 2, mainly because the symptoms usually develop rapidly and are more severe. It is generally identified as type 2 when you notice an early signs of diabetes or similar issues. A visit to the opticians may for example show up issues that an eye test detects problems at the back of your eye known to be related to diabetes.

Confirmation of your diabetes will be undeniably diagnosed with several blood based diabetes test: an arbitrary blood sugar test, an oral sugar/glucose tolerance test and a fasting blood sugar test. Tests such as fingerprick and urine tests are inadequate, to provide conclusive evidence, to corroborate that you have diabetes.

If your fasting blood glucose level is 6-7 millimoles per liter, your blood glucose is not normal, but that in itself does not confirm diabetes. The local doctor will explain what your test results mean and how you need to react to them.

What if you do have diabetes

You’re never alone if you have diabetes, so not long after your diagnosis is confirmed, you will be offered the following routine tests to make sure your health is OK and that you’re successfully managing your diabetes. The date you receive your test results is when your yearly checkups start, known as your annual review. If these tests show up any complications, you will be referred for the appropriate type 2 diabetes diet info.

Managing Your BMI

As a diabetes sufferer you need to keep control of your BMI or Body Mass Index. This tells you if you’re the correct weight for your height.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes. In the event that you suffer prolonged periods of high blood pressure, you will be prescribed medication to lower it.

Don’t Neglect Your Feet

A reflexologist can check your blood circulation from your feet and nerve supply and teaches you how to look after your own feet.

The Eye Test

The retina at the back of your eye is checked for damaged blood vessels using either a special eye camera or an ophthalmoscope.

Other Tests

Another series of blood tests are performed to check that the thyroid, liver and kidneys are working efficiently, and blood lipid levels are OK. A HbAlc test will determine what your blood sugar levels were over the last couple of months. A urine test will also check your body’s protein levels as this can signify a problem with your kidneys.