The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has specific guidelines about who should get screened for diabetes, at what age screening should start, and what tests should be used.
•Start screening at the age of forty-five.
If the test is normal, repeat every three years.
•Screen adults younger than forty-fi ve if they are overweight and have one or more of the following risk factors: •Have a parent, sibling, or child with diabetes •Are physically inactive •Belong to an ethnic group in which there is higher risk for diabetes (African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian-American, and Pacifi c Islander) •Had diabetes during pregnancy or delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds •Blood pressure readings are 140/90 or higher •Have an abnormal lipid profile* with a low level of HDL cholesterol (less than 35 mg/dl) and/or a high level of triglycerides (more than 250 mg/dl) •Have a medical condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) •Have had previous blood glucose testing that indicated the presence of prediabetes (described later in this chapter) •Have circulatory problems There are two screening tests for diabetes, and either is acceptable: 1.
FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST The ADA defines fasting glucose levels of less than 100 mg/dl as normal and 126mg/dl or higher as being in the diabetic range.
If fasting glucose level is 126 mg/dl or higher, a confi rmatory test is required on another day before a diagnosis of diabetes can be made.
A fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl is defi ned as impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
This means that you do not yet have diabetes, but are likely to develop diabetes in the future.
2.
ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT) With the glucose tolerance test, a two-hour glucose value of 200 mg/dl or above is considered to be in the diabetes range and a value below 140 mg/dl is normal.
If you have a glucose value between 140 and 200 mg/dl, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and are likely to develop diabetes in the future.
You are also at higher risk for developing heart disease.
Because people with IFG and IGT are at higher risk for developing diabetes, the current recommendation is to refer to these patients as having prediabetes.
The ADA recommends that doctors use the fasting glucose test because it is easier to do.
If the fasting glucose level is abnormal, but not squarely in the diabetes range, your doctor may go on to do an OGTT.
•Start screening at the age of forty-five.
If the test is normal, repeat every three years.
•Screen adults younger than forty-fi ve if they are overweight and have one or more of the following risk factors: •Have a parent, sibling, or child with diabetes •Are physically inactive •Belong to an ethnic group in which there is higher risk for diabetes (African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian-American, and Pacifi c Islander) •Had diabetes during pregnancy or delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds •Blood pressure readings are 140/90 or higher •Have an abnormal lipid profile* with a low level of HDL cholesterol (less than 35 mg/dl) and/or a high level of triglycerides (more than 250 mg/dl) •Have a medical condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) •Have had previous blood glucose testing that indicated the presence of prediabetes (described later in this chapter) •Have circulatory problems There are two screening tests for diabetes, and either is acceptable: 1.
FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST The ADA defines fasting glucose levels of less than 100 mg/dl as normal and 126mg/dl or higher as being in the diabetic range.
If fasting glucose level is 126 mg/dl or higher, a confi rmatory test is required on another day before a diagnosis of diabetes can be made.
A fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl is defi ned as impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
This means that you do not yet have diabetes, but are likely to develop diabetes in the future.
2.
ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT) With the glucose tolerance test, a two-hour glucose value of 200 mg/dl or above is considered to be in the diabetes range and a value below 140 mg/dl is normal.
If you have a glucose value between 140 and 200 mg/dl, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and are likely to develop diabetes in the future.
You are also at higher risk for developing heart disease.
Because people with IFG and IGT are at higher risk for developing diabetes, the current recommendation is to refer to these patients as having prediabetes.
The ADA recommends that doctors use the fasting glucose test because it is easier to do.
If the fasting glucose level is abnormal, but not squarely in the diabetes range, your doctor may go on to do an OGTT.
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