Diabetes

There are different tests to diagnose type 2 diabetes. The oral glucose tolerance test, the fasting plasma glucose test and the random plasma glucose test are the tests used.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Testalso known as OGTT as its name indicates is a glucose tolerance test. A minimum fasting of 8 hours and the ingestion of a glucose beverage are required before blood glucose levels are tested. Ideal blood sugar level is below 139mg/dL. Between 140 to 199, is considered as a pre type 2 diabetes stage and a diet and exercise are highly recommended to reduce blood sugar levels not to reach the 126 and higher synonymous of  type 2 diabetes. To be positive for diabetes 2 the OGTT must be performed twice, in different days and over passed the 126 in both cases.



For the Fasting Plasma Glucosetest or FPG as the previous one, a minimum 8 hours of fasting is required, but there isn’t ingestion of a glucose beverage. The regular blood sugar levels in that case are below 99mg/dL, while in between 100 and 125 is a sign of an impaired fasting glucose. A higher blood sugar level than 125 signs a type two diabetes.



In Random Plasma Glucosetest, the acceptable blood glucose level is below 200 mg/dL. Higher blood sugar levels readings added to the increased urination, increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, are the signs of type 2 diabetes.

Being inactive, having a diabetic history, being non Caucasian, having a baby high weight or being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, suffering hypertension or hyper-cholesterol, having polycystic ovary syndrome, being in a pre-diabetes stage, suffering of acanthosis nigricans, having an historical past of cardiovascular disease are the type 2 diabetes risk factors.

Controlling blood sugar levels for people without symptoms who are considered at risk overweight or obese with one of the previous risk factors is highly recommended to avoid type 2 diabetes consequences.

Oral glucose tolerance test is the most accurate test while the random plasma glucose test and the fasting plasma glucose test are more convenient and less expensive. While diagnosing type 2 diabetes the sooner is the best these considerations are questionable in matter of public health, because being diagnosed in the pre type 2 diabetes stage is believed to be reversible in many cases.

Years ago test for type 2 diabetes were not concerning children but with change in the eating habits, children overweight or obese are highly recommended to be tested, mostly because in their case, the consequences will strike in their early age.

So if diagnosed in pre-diabetes stage, type 2 diabetes in children the long term consequences could be decreased if not suppressed.