Diabetes Testing - Blood Sugar Test as a Diagnostic Tool

Diabetes:
Diabetes is a health condition marked by the presence of high levels of blood glucose in the body. In normal circumstances, the blood sugar in our body is absorbed by the cells and converted into energy with the help of the hormone Insulin (produced in the pancreas). Excess blood glucose is absorbed and stored in the liver, again with the stimulation of Insulin; another pancreatic hormone Glucagon helps release the glucose stored in the liver as and when required by the body.

Sometimes, however, the body does not produce Insulin in the required quantity or the cells fail to react to the hormone. So the blood glucose is not converted into energy and is retained as it is.

The retention of blood glucose in high levels in the body can bring on a host of serious health problem. These problems include heart disease , stroke, kidney damage, eye damage, blood circulation problems, nerve damage to the feet and other parts of the body, and impotence.

There are different causes for Diabetes, including hereditary, lifestyle, and age-related factors. Some of the common symptoms are constant fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, cramps, and blurred vision. If you experience any of these, it is important that you go for diabetes testing.

Diabetes Testing:
A blood sugar test is taken as a diagnostic tool for Diabetes testing. This test is carried out in different ways -

• You may be required to fast for at least 14 hours beforehand.
• You don't have to fast. Blood samples are taken randomly several times during the course of the day.
• You are given a drink containing high levels of glucose and blood samples are taken and checked at regular intervals for two hours.

Taking the blood sample is a very simple procedure. When you visit the clinic or hospital, they will wrap a tight band about your upper arm to slow the blood circulation and make it easy to find the veins. Once they've located a vein, they'll swab the area with alcohol, inject with a hypodermic needle, and draw out the blood sample. Then the constricting band is removed, a cotton ball held on the injected area to stop the bleeding and then a piece of sticking plaster is applied on it. And that's it.

But, even the simplest of procedures can have their share of complications. In this case, some people may experience faintness or nausea when confronted with the hypodermic needles or at the sight of blood, or may have an adverse reaction to the oral glucose test. There is a chance – fortunately, not a common one - of the injected point bleeding or bruising or developing an infection. Sometimes multiple injections are required to collect blood samples, and this can be problematic. Talk to your doctor about any special care you need to take if complications arise.

After the blood samples are collected, they undergo analysis in the laboratory. If they happen to have higher levels of blood glucose than normal, this is an indication of Diabetes.

Bear in mind though that the blood sugar tests can be affected by the following -

• What you have eaten or drunk.
• What medications, if any, you are on. Oral contraceptives, some diuretics and corticosteroids can raise blood sugar levels.
• Whether you have recently been ill, injured or undergone a surgery. These can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Treatment for Diabetes:
Treatment for Diabetes is determined according to whether you have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus. The main treatment aim, however, in either kind of Diabetes is to control the blood sugar levels and maintain them at the normal range.

Gestational Diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women – during pregnancy, routine tests are carried out to check for this form pf Diabetes. Gestational Diabetes usually goes away after the birth of the baby and the mother shows no more symptoms of Diabetes, but it needs to be monitored carefully during the pregnancy.

The more serious and long-term form of Diabetes is Diabetes Mellitus, which again has two forms, Type 1 Diabetes (which occurs when the body cannot produce any Insulin) and Type 2 Diabetes (which occurs when the Insulin produced in the body is either not enough or not effective). Diabetes Mellitus cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with medication, diet and exercise, and the patient can lead a sufficiently normal life.

Diabetes treatment can include -

• Eating a low fat, low salt, and high carbohydrate diet.
• Avoiding sugar and sugary food and drinks.
• Taking regular exercise.
• Taking insulin injections and any other required medications.
• Regularly checking blood sugar levels with glucose test strips.