What
makes someone diabetic?
To
be classed as diabetic (suffering from diabetes mellitus),
an individual must suffer regularly from hyperglycaemia.
How
is regular hyperglycaemia determined?
This
is usually demonstrated by the following measures,
used to determine whether a person is diabetic:
-
Fasting plasma glucose level equal to or greater
than 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/l)
-
Plasma glucose equal to or greater than 200 mg/dL
or 11.1 mmol/l two hours after a 75 g oral
glucose load as in a glucose tolerance test.
-
Random plasma glucose - 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/l.
So
a single test could make me diabetic?
Generally,
physicians measure two fasting glucose tests; if both
exceed the figure above a diabetes diagnosis is made.
What
if your fasting plasma glucose is nearing 7.0mmol/l?
Those
patients whose fasting levels are between 6.1 and
7.0 mmol/l may be diagnosed with impaired fasting
glucose, or IFG. Those who have a level of 7.8 mmol/l
may be diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance,
or IGT. Together, these conditions constitute pre-diabetes.
For more about pre-diabetes, diabetes and obesity,
and tests for pre-diabetes, please follow the links.
How
do Hba1c levels fit into diabetes diagnosis?
Hba1c
is used to track blood glucose levels over a period
of time, usually 90 days. The recommended goal is
less than 7.0 per cent. When diabetics keep their
HbA1c below this level, they are likely to suffer
fewer complications.
