Diabetes & Blood Sugar Test - Diabetes & Blood Sugar Level Test

Discover our diabetes and blood sugar test to get a comprehensive assessment of your blood sugar levels and the risk of type-2 diabetes. Diabetes is a common public health disease that arises when the blood sugar level is too high, termed hyperglycemia. This is due to insufficient levels of insulin in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and plays a pivotal role in regulating blood sugar levels. When this balance is disrupted, various ailments can arise.

What is diabetes and its types?

Diabetes is a disease where the blood contains too much glucose (sugar). Glucose is the body's primary fuel and provides the energy needed for the body to function correctly. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas and is responsible for keeping blood sugar and glucose levels stable within the range of 3.3 to 7.0 mmol/liter.

Diabetes can arise due to reduced insulin production, reduced effectiveness of the insulin, or a combination of both. A certain amount of glucose is always present in the bloodstream. Insulin acts like a key and opens the doors of the cells so that glucose can enter and be converted to the energy the body needs. Without insulin, glucose cannot reach the cells and remains in the bloodstream. The result is an increase in blood sugar level, especially after a meal. This condition is called diabetes, and the body typically signals that something is wrong through various symptoms.

Symptoms of diabetes

High blood sugar can lead to type-2 diabetes. By continuously measuring your blood sugar, you can reduce the risk of insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. The symptoms of diabetes are many and often vague. When the blood sugar level gets too high, the body reacts by disposing of glucose and calories via urine. This can result in various symptoms in the body:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Unusual fatigue
• Strong feeling of hunger
• Unintentional weight loss
• Slow wound healing
• Dry and itchy skin
• Loss of sensation in the feet, tingling in hands and feet
• Sexual dysfunction
• Vision problems

When discussing diabetes, the focus is usually on high blood sugar, but low blood sugar is also problematic. Type-1 diabetics can suffer from low blood sugar if they take too much insulin. The initial symptoms of low blood sugar include fatigue, irritability, and shakiness. These symptoms can also affect a perfectly healthy person. For someone with type-1 diabetes, the symptoms can become more severe, like incoherent speech and unconsciousness. In the worst-case scenario, low blood sugar in type-1 diabetics can be life-threatening. However, the body has several mechanisms to avoid this and raise the blood sugar, such as the production of the stress hormone adrenaline.

Treatment of diabetes

Diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and physical activity to keep blood sugar levels stable. It's also important to maintain a normal body weight and avoid tobacco. Type-1 diabetes requires treatment with insulin injections. Type-2 diabetes can be treated with medication in the form of pills that increase insulin sensitivity or insulin production.