Shall I take Diabetes Test?

Management at a prediabetes stage can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by losing just 5-7% of the body weight through lifestyle modification.

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic with a projected number of 370 million adults in 2030. Ninety per cent of these diabetics will be type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetes is adult onset diabetes, where there is a relative insulin deficiency in the body.

Coping with type 2 diabetes

This disease can be managed by effective and widespread prevention strategies
Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes should be made in the prediabetes stage, and
prevention strategies instituted at that stage

Management at a prediabetes stage can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by losing just 5-7% of the body weight through lifestyle modification like the following:

Diet modification:

By cutting fats and calories in the diet

Increased physical activity:

Brisk walking 30 minutes a day; 5 days a week.

Medicines are also beneficial at this stage. They can be added if diet and exercise alone fail to convert prediabetes to normal in six months. It is estimated that 470 million adults will have prediabetes in the year 2025. Out of these, 50-70% of them will develop type 2 diabetes. Individuals with prediabetes are 34% more likely to die due to cardiovascular disorders than healthy individuals. This risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be reduced with early intervention. Early intervention is cost effective.

Who should be screened?

Screening for type 2 diabetes should be done if:

Older than 35 years of age
Obese BMI 23
Family history of diabetes
Family history of cardiovascular disease
Females with polycystic ovarian disease

All persons who fall in these categories should get their fasting blood glucose done at the earliest, and consult an endocrinologist.