“People who like to eat sweets must have diabetes”… This statement is not always true because diabetes does not directly result from eating sweets but from the body lacking the hormone insulin, which prevents normal sugar utilization, leading to high blood sugar levels. Therefore, eating sweets is only one factor in the development of the disease. If you have this risk along with other risks, diabetes screening can help you control the risk and better avoid diabetes.
Diabetes screening is important for everyone
Because early-stage diabetes or prediabetes often shows no symptoms, only diabetes screening can tell us whether blood sugar levels are close to the point of diabetes. This helps reduce risk because we can adjust behaviors to prevent the disease. In cases where diabetes is detected early, starting treatment early will yield better results than being diagnosed at a more advanced stage.
Who should get diabetes screening?
In reality, many factors can cause diabetes. If you have multiple risk factors combined, you should get screened as soon as possible. Those at risk include…
- Those with a family history of diabetes in parents, siblings, or direct relatives
- People aged 35 years and older
- People with obesity, defined as a body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher, or men with a waist circumference over 90 cm and women with a waist circumference over 80 cm
- People with high blood pressure
- People with cardiovascular disease
- People with high blood lipid levels
- Those who have had gestational diabetes
- Those who have given birth to a baby weighing more than 4 kilograms at birth
- People who regularly consume sweet foods and drinks
- People who rarely exercise
What is diabetes screening?
Since “diabetes” results from higher than normal blood sugar levels, the most common screening method is a blood test analyzed in a laboratory (LAB), which is convenient, fast, and accurate.
Get to know the 4 methods of diabetes screening
- Fasting plasma glucose test (FPG)
This is a blood test measuring glucose levels in plasma (Fasting plasma glucose test: FPG). It is one of the most commonly used initial tests. Patients must fast for 8 hours before the blood draw. The results are interpreted as follows:
- Normal blood sugar levels range from 70-99 mg/dL
- Blood sugar levels indicating risk of diabetes range from 100-125 mg/dL
- Blood sugar levels that may be diagnosed as diabetes are 126 mg/dL or higher
In some cases where blood sugar is below 126 mg/dL but other risk factors exist, doctors may consider additional diabetes screening methods.
- Casual plasma glucose test
The casual plasma glucose test measures blood sugar levels without requiring fasting beforehand.
Blood glucose levels in this test should not exceed 200 mg/dL. Levels above this indicate a high risk of diabetes diagnosis.
- Hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c)
The Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test is an important blood test for monitoring and diagnosing diabetes.
This test measures the average blood sugar control over the past 6-12 weeks, reflecting whether medication, diet, and behavior have effectively controlled blood sugar, as the average lifespan of red blood cells is about 3 months.
If blood sugar remains uncontrolled, doctors may adjust medication. This test does not require fasting. Results are expressed as percentages as follows:
- Less than 5.7% is considered normal
- Between 5.7-6.4% is considered at risk for diabetes
- 6.5% or higher may be diagnosed as diabetes
However, this test may give inaccurate results in pregnant women, so additional tests may be needed to confirm.
- Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) involves drinking a glucose-sugar solution, then measuring blood sugar levels 2 hours later. If the level is higher than 200 mg/dL, it is considered diabetes.
Measurement criteria are as follows
- Less than 140 mg/dL is considered normal
- Between 140-199 mg/dL is considered at risk for diabetes
- 200 mg/dL or higher may be diagnosed as diabetes
Even if a doctor diagnoses diabetes based on blood test results, if you have doubts about the results, you can consult a specialist who treats you directly. Each patient has different blood sugar targets and testing frequencies, and specialists can provide the most accurate advice and consultation.
Diabetes is a silent threat that diminishes our quality of life but can be prevented by “taking care of physical and mental health”. You must conquer yourself by trying to change behaviors, exercising regularly, and choosing to eat only nutritious foods. One essential thing is regular “diabetes screening” to reduce the risk of the disease or to receive early treatment before complications develop.
Just by “strengthening the body… strengthening the mind”
“Diabetes” can be far away from us
