By Beverleigh H Piepers
Type 2 diabetes is difficult enough to control for those people who have been diagnosed. But what about those people who do not have a clue they have this condition? According to statistics, approximately one out of every three people who have pre-diabetes, or full-blown Type 2 diabetes, are not aware of it. That's why diabetes screening is so important.
The most important thing to know is that screening for early detection is essential. Many individuals may not even show signs there is a problem until it is too late to correct it totally. Early detection not only shows if the disease exists but it can also point out pre-cursors that will develop into full-blown Type 2 diabetes if left untreated.
Screening involves one of two basic tests. It can either be performed with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a fasting glucose test, where blood is drawn and tested after you've gone without food or drink for at least 8 hours. The OGTT may be done right after a fasting test, or it may be done separately. Both of these tests are highly accurate and can be requested by your doctor.
So who should be screened? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) those individuals who are 45 years of age of older should be screened at intervals of no more than once every three years. They also recommend those who are overweight and have certain risk factors should be screened earlier.
Some of the factors that might warrant earlier screening include:
* having a family history of Type 2 diabetes
* those with a sedentary lifestyle
* anyone with a history of glucose problems including gestational diabetes, and
* women who have given birth to babies that weighed more than 9 pounds (4.1 kg)
People who have certain medical issues should also look into screening. These include people who have:
* cholesterol problems
* vascular disease
* high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and
* polycystic ovarian syndrome
just to name a few.
But some factors are also specific to certain groups. Research has determined that African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are all at higher risks than other nationalities.
There is also the subject of age. Even though Type 2 diabetes was once considered to be strictly an adult disease that is simply not the case anymore. With the dramatic increase in the last decade of obesity and cholesterol in children and teens, the disease has crept into these classifications of people, as well. Now, the ADA has established guidelines concerning children who fall into certain risk categories.
And other organizations have followed suit. According to the guidelines of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, people who are in these categories should undergo annual screenings beginning at age 30. Regardless of which standard is observed, this is something that should be dealt with as a serious matter.
Type 2 diabetes is difficult enough to control for those people who have been diagnosed. But what about those people who do not have a clue they have this condition? According to statistics, approximately one out of every three people who have pre-diabetes, or full-blown Type 2 diabetes, are not aware of it. That's why diabetes screening is so important.
The most important thing to know is that screening for early detection is essential. Many individuals may not even show signs there is a problem until it is too late to correct it totally. Early detection not only shows if the disease exists but it can also point out pre-cursors that will develop into full-blown Type 2 diabetes if left untreated.
Screening involves one of two basic tests. It can either be performed with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a fasting glucose test, where blood is drawn and tested after you've gone without food or drink for at least 8 hours. The OGTT may be done right after a fasting test, or it may be done separately. Both of these tests are highly accurate and can be requested by your doctor.
So who should be screened? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) those individuals who are 45 years of age of older should be screened at intervals of no more than once every three years. They also recommend those who are overweight and have certain risk factors should be screened earlier.
Some of the factors that might warrant earlier screening include:
* having a family history of Type 2 diabetes
* those with a sedentary lifestyle
* anyone with a history of glucose problems including gestational diabetes, and
* women who have given birth to babies that weighed more than 9 pounds (4.1 kg)
People who have certain medical issues should also look into screening. These include people who have:
* cholesterol problems
* vascular disease
* high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and
* polycystic ovarian syndrome
just to name a few.
But some factors are also specific to certain groups. Research has determined that African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are all at higher risks than other nationalities.
There is also the subject of age. Even though Type 2 diabetes was once considered to be strictly an adult disease that is simply not the case anymore. With the dramatic increase in the last decade of obesity and cholesterol in children and teens, the disease has crept into these classifications of people, as well. Now, the ADA has established guidelines concerning children who fall into certain risk categories.
And other organizations have followed suit. According to the guidelines of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, people who are in these categories should undergo annual screenings beginning at age 30. Regardless of which standard is observed, this is something that should be dealt with as a serious matter.
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