Diabetes is not a disease that you want to leave uncontrolled. It can lead to blindness, kidney failure, loss of limbs, and heart disease. All this and maybe more, because of a glitch in how your body handles blood sugar. How do you know if you should be screened for diabetes and what are your next steps? Read below.
Symptoms of diabetes may include:
- Frequent thirst or peeing
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Cuts or sores that don’t heal
- Numbness
- Tingling
But diabetes may cause no symptoms. So how can you know if you have it? That’s where screening comes in.
Screening for type 2 diabetes.
Doctors don’t suggest screening for type 1 diabetes. One reason is that symptoms often rear their ugly heads early. So screening isn’t needed. But type 2 diabetes is another story. With this type, your body doesn’t use insulin well. Screening may make a difference in the quality of your life. That’s because lifestyle changes and medications can slow the progress of the disease. But up to one-third with type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it.
Screening guidelines
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening for type 2 diabetes every year in patients 45 years and older. But the ADA also recommends screening patients with major risk factors who are younger than 45.
For this test, you have your blood drawn to check sugar levels. You may or may not have to fast before the test. If the results are a concern, your doctor may suggest a second test.
Higher-risk groups.
Major risk factors may include:
- A family history of type 2 diabetes
- A history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- A hormonal disorder causing problems in the ovaries (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Certain racial and ethnic minorities
Why the need to screen younger adults? Here’s a big reason: The rate of undiagnosed diabetes in adults 20 to 44 is almost 60 percent higher than in adults as a whole. In addition, undiagnosed diabetes is much higher in Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Black Americans than in non-Hispanic whites. Also, about half of women who have had gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes. Patients who don’t have health insurance or receive regular health care may also be falling through the cracks.
Do you see yourself in one of these high-risk groups? Regardless, let’s talk about whether it’s time for you to get screened. It isn’t any fun finding out you have a disease like diabetes. But it’s a lot less fun to develop complications of the disease. The sooner you start taking steps to control diabetes, the better. As always, talk to our pharmacists if you have any questions.
Nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or is a substitute for professional advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition.