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What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a condition that develops if your body stops making insulin (Type 1 Diabetes), doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly (Type 2 diabetes). Diabetes cannot be cured. It can be managed. Effective management of Type 2 Diabetes can return your blood glucose levels to the same range as a healthy person (4.0 mmol/L -6.0 mmol/L) who has been tested and not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form of diabetes.  

How do I know if I have Diabetes?

The only way to know is to take a fasting blood glucose also referred to as fasting blood plasma and blood glucose test.  It is typically ordered by your physician (MD) and/or nurse practitioner (NP), he or she will tick off the requisition form for ‘blood work’ (when they take/draw your blood into vials using a needle have it tested in the laboratory) . You are asked to not to eat for 12 (twelve hours) prior to your blood work being conducted. 

Many people do not know if they have been tested or what their test results are. Knowing your numbers is the most important follow up step after doing the blood work. 
Many people have fasting blood glucose levels that have been rising steadily over time and do not know until they are ether well into prediabetes or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Ask your physician, nurse practitioner office for your fasting blood glucose/fasting blood plasma reading or go in and book an appointment to learn about your readings over the past three or four years if possible (the information should be in your medical chart), have a health professional explain them and keep an eye open for changes from year to year. Diabetes often ‘creeps up’, unnoticed, until signs and symptoms become taxing or unbearable, if they appear at all.