Diabetes Defined : Symptoms and Diagnosis

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 4 of 8)

Diabetes is often called a "silent" disease because many people have no signs or symptoms before they are diagnosed. Symptoms can also be so mild that you might not notice them. More than 5 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes and do not know it.

The signs of diabetes are

• being very thirsty
• urinating often
• feeling very hungry or tired
• losing weight without trying.

The signs of diabetes are

• having sores that heal slowly
• having dry, itchy skin
• losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
• having blurry eyesight.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes, which occurs most often in children and young adults, usually develop over a short period of time. The symptoms for type 2 diabetes develop more gradually.

Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery. However, the mother is at increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life.

Doctors use the following tests to diagnose diabetes.

A fasting plasma glucose, or FPG test, measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating. Doctors use this test to detect diabetes or pre-diabetes.

An oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT, measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating and 2 hours after you drink a sweet beverage. Doctors use this test to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. Doctors also use the oral glucose tolerance test to diagnose gestational diabetes in pregnant women

In a random plasma glucose test, your doctor checks your blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not pre-diabetes.

If any of these tests show that you might have diabetes, your doctor will need to repeat the fasting plasma glucose test or the oral glucose tolerance test on a different day to confirm the diagnosis.

The fasting plasma glucose or FPG test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes and is most reliable when done in the morning.

Because type 2 diabetes is more common in older people, especially in people who are overweight, doctors recommend that anyone 45 years of age or older be tested for diabetes. If you are 45 or older and overweight, getting tested is strongly recommended.

Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to pain, disability, and death. Sometimes people have symptoms but do not suspect diabetes. They delay scheduling a checkup because they do not feel sick.

Many people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes complications, such as blurry vision or heart trouble. Finding out early if you have diabetes is important because treatment can prevent damage to the body from diabetes.

Quiz

1. Which of the following is a symptom of diabetes?

A. loss of appetite
B. frequent urination
C. improved vision
D. sweet taste in your mouth

B is the correct answer. Symptoms for diabetes include frequent urination, fatigue, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores.

2. What is the preferred test for diagnosing type 1 or type 2 diabetes?

A. fasting plasma glucose, or FPG test
B. oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT
C. random plasma glucose test
D. none of the above

A is the correct answer. The fasting plasma glucose, or FPG test, is the preferred test for diagnosing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This test requires a person to not eat or drink for at least 8 hours prior to taking the test. The test measures the amount of glucose in the blood.

3. Which test requires the patient to consume a drink containing glucose dissolved in water?

A. fasting plasma glucose, or FPG test
B. oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT
C. random plasma glucose test
D. none of the above

B is the correct answer. The oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT, is a test that doctors use to diagnose diabetes. Blood glucose is measured after fasting for 8 hours and 2 hours after a person drinks 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. This test measures blood glucose at timed intervals over a 2-hour period.

4. Doctors recommend that anyone who is _____ or older should consider being tested for diabetes.

A. 30 years of age
B. 21 years of age
C. 60 years of age
D. 45 years of age

D is the correct answer. Because type 2 diabetes is more common in older people, especially in people who are overweight, doctors recommend that anyone 45 years of age or older should be tested for diabetes. If you are 45 or older and overweight, it is strongly recommended that you get tested. Testing is recommended in adults younger than age 45 if they are significantly overweight and have other diabetes risk factors.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.