Diabetes 101: Pre-diabetes - An Early Wake up Call
Sunday, August 16, 2015
I have found many patients in a confused state when I said, you have "Pre-diabetes". The follow up questions from them would include: "So, Am I diabetic or not?", "Is it some special type of Diabetes?" and "Is it curable?" So, here goes the explanation:
Your responsibility as an aware patient is to know your sugar levels and weather they fall in range of "pre-diabetes." Doctors in rural regions are at times not up to date with present ranges mentioned above. Morover, a lot of people are leaning towards Ayurvedic or Homoeopathic medicines. They may have a difference of opinion when it comes to pre-diabetes. So, it pays off to know if you are diabetic or pre-diabatic. Not starting diabetic medicines while your blood tests indicate so, will be a cardinal sin.
Next post will be about symptoms.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as full-blown diabetes.Pre-diabetes people are at risk of getting a full blown "Type 2 Diabetes Melitus" if they don't make healthy changes in their life style and bring the blood sugar back to control.
Diabetes V/s Pre-Diabetes
It might feel like splitting hair but there are significant differences between diabetes and pre-diabetes. The distinction is observed in lab tests.
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
(A blood test with at least 8 hours of fasting)
- Diabetes is defined as having a fasting plasma blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or greater on two separate occasions. Normal range is 70 - 99 mg/dl.
- If diabetes symptoms exist and you have a casual blood glucose taken at any time that is equal to or greater than 200 mg/dl, and a second test shows the same high blood glucose level, then you have diabetes.
- If the test came out to be in the 100-125 mg/dl range, it is considered having "impaired fasting glucose."
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
(A blood test two hours after consuming measured glucose drink)
- If at two-hours your blood glucose is 140-199 mg/dl, you have "impaired glucose tolerance".
If you have either of the two tests positive, i.e., impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, your doctor will be telling "you have pre-diabetes."
To sum up, if FPGT comes around 100 - 125 mg/dl or OGTT comes around 140 - 199 mg/dl, you are pre-diabetic and consider it a warning bell from mother nature through your metabolism to make drastic changes in your diet and daily activities.
Your responsibility as an aware patient is to know your sugar levels and weather they fall in range of "pre-diabetes." Doctors in rural regions are at times not up to date with present ranges mentioned above. Morover, a lot of people are leaning towards Ayurvedic or Homoeopathic medicines. They may have a difference of opinion when it comes to pre-diabetes. So, it pays off to know if you are diabetic or pre-diabatic. Not starting diabetic medicines while your blood tests indicate so, will be a cardinal sin.
Next post will be about symptoms.
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