Although it is not known exactly which are the causes of diabetes mellitus, seems that there are involved genetic and environmental factors. It is thought that in type I diabetes, a virus or another microorganism that destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin triggers the immune system. In type II, age, obesity, and family history may play a role.
It is known that in type II diabetes the cells have become resistant to the insulin produced by the pancreas, so even if the pancreas produces enough insulin, it may not work as effectively.
The first signs of type II diabetes are lethargy, extreme thirst, and frequent urination, but there can be other symptoms too, like sudden weight loss, urinary tract infections, slow wound healing, and blurred vision.
It is known that there are some categories of persons who are at a high risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus. We can mention obese people, those who have a relative with diabetes mellitus, people who belong to a high-risk ethnic population like African-American, Native American, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian, persons who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or have delivered a baby weighing more than 9 lbs.
Also, at a high risk are those who have a high density lipoprotein cholesterol level less than or equal to 35 mg/dL and/or a triglyceride level greater than or equal to 250 mg/dL; those who have high blood pressure and have had impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose on previous testing
It was seen that some medications cause a condition called secondary diabetes, impairing the body’s use of insulin. For example, this can be caused by treatments for high blood pressure- such as furosemide, clonidine, and thiazide diuretics-, the anti-inflamation drug indomethacin and drugs with hormonal activity like oral contraceptives, thyroid hormone, progestins, and glucocorticorids.
Also, drugs that are used to treat mood disorders can impair glucose absorption, and there can be other medication too that cause diabetes symptoms: isoniazid, nicotinic acid, cimetidine, and heparin.
The symptoms of diabetes can develop suddenly, or gradually. Some classic symptoms are frequent urination, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, feeling tired and sick, and weight loss.
Ketoacidosis, a condition due to starvation or uncontrolled diabetes, common in type I diabetes shows symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, rapid breathing, extreme lethargy and drowsiness. This condition can bring death if left untreated.
In order to diagnose diabetes, the doctor analyzes the symptoms and also performs blood and urine tests. These tests can also be used once the patient is on a standardized diet, oral medications or insulin.
In what concerns urine tests, Clinistix and Diastix are paper strips or dipsticks that change color in contact with urine. The test strip is compared to a chart, and in this way it is found the amount of glucose in the urine. It is important to know that blood test is more accurate.
There are other dipstick tests that can determine the presence of protein or albumin in the urine, and also ketones in the urine.
So, if you want to find out more about type 1 diabetes or even about symptoms of diabetes please follow this link http://diabetes-info-center.com/
Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/about-diabetes-i-and-ii-symptoms-and-diagnosis-133369.html
August 30th, 2009 at 9:08 am
New diabetes diagnosis – blood sugar 168 – did not fast before test – should I have another test run?
My doctor ran a blood test to check my calcium level because I had muscle cramping. I did not fast before the test. I just got a message from the doctor stating my blood sugar is 168 and that I am diabetic. I’ve read through the symptoms of diabetes and I don’t have any of the other symptoms. The doctor wants me to pick up a prescription for Clometformin (? sp). I’m hesitent to accept this diagnosis under these conditions… any suggestions?
August 30th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
tell him what you wrote here. and tell him last time you ate. I would have that rechecked and have specific testing, like a glucose tolerance test and A1C. or I’d find another doctor. I wouldn’t accept this either. there is alot of teaching that needs to be done if you have diabetes and there is diet and exercise control regimes. You’re smarter than the MD, he must have been the bottom of the class.
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August 30th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
The formal diagnosis of diabetes cannot be made with a single elevated blood sugar of 168.
You need to have a fasting blood sugar level done, and I agree with above, a hemoglobin A1c (or just A1c) will give you basically a 3 month average. Non-diabetic range depends on the labs normal values (its not standardized), but generally an A1c for non-diabetics is <6.
good luck.
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August 30th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Let’s start with your blood sugar. Because that wasn’t your fasting blood glucose, I agree that you need a few more tests to confirm either way, including a fasting, HbA1c (three-month average of your blood sugar), and possibly an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test).
168 mg/dL is far too high, even considering that that wasn’t your fasting blood sugar reading. That being said, 168 isn’t necessarily in full-on diabetic range. It’s possible you’re pre-diabetic. It’s possible that you just have some insulin resistance. It’s possible that you drank three sodas an hour before your test and that you’re not diabetic. I don’t know the circumstances. Generally, a random blood sugar test needs to be >200 mg/dL for a diabetes diagnosis. That’s why I take issue with your doctor.
As for the symptoms, those only appear when blood sugar runs high (think: 250+) for a long period of time. Pre-diabetics and diabetics diagnosed early usually do not have any symptoms of diabetes. So, it’s entirely possible that you are diabetic and not showing symptoms at this stage.
My advice is that you request an HbA1c and a fasting glucose and then work from there.
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August 30th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
You should have a fasting blood glucose test done. Don’t eat or drink anything except water for 8 to 12 hours before the blood is drawn. I don’t know if they still draw blood and send it off to the lab any more, but I’m with you, I wouldn’t get medication until a fasting blood glucose is done. I think you should think about getting a second opinion. I’m not sure your doctor is competent because he didn’t do a fasting blood glucose to double check before before diagnosing you.
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54 years and 1 month of life as a type 1 diabetic, since I was 26 months old.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
You are right to not take that prescription! It could cause you to have dangerously low blood sugar levels. Your doctor was a bit too quick to diagnose diabetes. The American Diabetes Association says that a diagnosis of diabetes is made after 2 fasting readings of 125 or higher. Non-fasting numbers don’t mean much. Furthermore, even if you had diabetes, it is possible to control your blood sugar level through diet and exercise, not all type 2 diabetics need to take medication. If you ultimately get the dreaded diagnosis, I’d suggest that you meet with an endocrinologist before starting any medication and also meet with a dietician so that you understand the relatioship between food and diabetes.
Get the A1c test, the data means much more than a random fasting blood sugar reading.
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August 30th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
First off, diabetes canNOT be diagnosed through symptoms alone. Inf act, symptoms of diabetes are NOT important to the diagnosis AT ALL. The symptoms might cause you to go to the doctor, but diabetes is diagnoses TOTALLY through blood tests, NOT symptoms.
A proper diagnosis of diabetes REQUIRES a FASTING blood sugar reading. In fact, PROPER diagnosis of diabetes using blood glucose levels is thus: "Two consecutive fasting readings of more then 130".
But now, a new test is being used, the A1C test. The A1C test, because it AVERAGES your blood sugars over the last 90 days, can be taken fasting or not. But A1C readings come back, like, "5.6" or "8.2", NOT "168". So it appears that you did NOT get an A1C test.
SO . . . .
You have had ONE reading, and it was not fasting, Therefore, your diagnosis of diabetes is much to be questioned.
You need to make an appointment with an ENDOCRINOLOGIST for a "second opinion", and ASK FOR proper testing for diabetes.
Your current GP is "Old School", and, while he is trying to protect your life, he is being a bit too conservative with his judgments.
Make the appointment for the second opinion NOW, but wait on the prescritpion until you get a more definitive answer. But get that second opinion BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK!
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August 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
It sounds as if you simply had a chemisty panel done, with includes a blood sugar reading, along with other electrolytes. This is not a test people fast for, unless instructed to. A single reading is not an accurate diagnosis of diabetes. There are other causes of high blood sugar (such as steroid use).
In order to make a formal diagnoses, your doctor needs to have you do an oral glucose tolerance test. This involves fasting for 12 hours, having blood drawn, drinking a glucose drink (usually 100 grams) and then having blood drawn at set intervals for a certain number of hours (anywhere from 2-6 hours).
Before you being any medication, talk to your doctor or get a second opinion. Diabetes is nothing to mess around with yet being mistakenly diagnosed with it can be equally dangerous.
EMT
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