Unlocking the Secrets of Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Blood Tests for Diabetes Diagnosis
Blood Test For Diabetes in Palam
Are you looking for the best blood test for diabetes near you?
Sheetal Chhaya Diagnostics in Palam offers diabetes tests at a reasonable price. Our best diabetes blood test lab in Dwarka offers all types of diabetes tests. We also provide diabetes blood testing at home at our Delhi blood test centre.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) health condition in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
The body uses insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, to help glucose enter cells, where it is used for energy. Diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney disease.
TYPES OF DIABETES
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing pancreatic cells. As a result, the body does not produce insulin and requires daily injections of insulin to survive.
Type 2 diabetes
It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the cells in the body do not respond correctly to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity and is more common in older adults, but it can occur at any age. This happens when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the cells in the body do not respond correctly to insulin.
Gestational diabetes
This type of diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born. Women who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
What tests are used to diagnose diabetes?
There are several blood tests used to diagnose diabetes and monitor blood sugar levels. Especially in people who have already been diagnosed with the condition. These include:
Fasting Blood Sugar Test (FBS)
The Fasting Blood Sugar Test (FBS) is a test that measures the level of glucose in a person’s blood after an 8-hour fast. The test is typically done in the morning before breakfast. It is used to diagnose diabetes and monitor blood sugar levels in people who have already been diagnosed with the condition.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is a test that measures how well the body is able to handle glucose. During the test, a person drinks a glucose solution, and their blood sugar levels are checked at set intervals (usually every 1 to 2 hours) over a period of 2 to 3 hours.
The OGTT is typically used to diagnose gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy) and to monitor blood sugar levels in people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. It is less common to use it for initial diabetes diagnosis, it is mainly used in special populations.
Hemoglobin A1c Test (HbA1c)
The haemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c) is a blood test that measures the average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. When blood sugar levels are high, glucose in the blood attaches to haemoglobin, forming a substance called glycated haemoglobin (A1c). The HbA1c test measures the percentage of haemoglobin that is glycated.
The HbA1c test is used to diagnose diabetes and monitor blood sugar levels in people who have already been diagnosed with the condition. It is also used to screen for prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
Test results of blood test for diabetes
The diagnosis of diabetes is typically based on the results of several blood tests, including:
Fasting Blood Sugar Test (FBS):
A normal fasting blood sugar level is typically between 70-100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). A level of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate occasions indicates diabetes.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT):
A normal OGTT result will show blood sugar levels that rise and then fall within a specific range over the course of the test. An abnormal result may indicate diabetes or prediabetes.
Hemoglobin A1c Test (HbA1c):
A normal HbA1c level is less than 5.7%. A level between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
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