Over the last decade there has been a massive increase in the number of people diagnosed as a diabetic and many experts believe this is literally just the tip of the iceberg. There are even some experts who believe that for every one person diagnosed with diabetes, whether type I or type II, there may be one other person undiagnosed and the problem could be literally twice as bad as it looks at the moment!

The telltale signs of diabetes

There are many simple ways in which diabetes can potentially expose itself via simple medical conditions such as:-

Extreme thirst
Nausea
Extreme tiredness
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Heart disease
Fatty liver
Excess production of urine

But ultimately these are conditions which many people will experience on a regular basis and unless a group of these conditions materialise it is unlikely that it would force anyone to take a formal diabetes test. So what should we do to ensure diabetes diagnosis happens as quickly as possible?

Diabetes screening tests
While it is very simple to organise a diabetes screening test with your local doctor there is no test to actually say whether you have the condition diabetes type I or diabetes type II. These are basically preventative tests which will measure the amount of glucose in your urine as this is directly linked to the level of glucose in your blood which can indicate the onset of diabetes.

It is basically down to the doctor in charge of your test to analyse the results and decide whether you need to consider medication for diabetics to ensure there are no serious consequences for your health in the future.

How common are diabetes screening tests?
While 10 or 20 years ago very few people were regularly screened for diabetes, there has been a sea change in the view of the medical profession and more and more diabetes tests are being carried out on a regular basis. This is how the authorities have gained an inside knowledge of the spread of diabetes and the ultimate link with other conditions such as obesity. It is now easier to identify individuals who may well be at risk, whether hereditary or because of their own lifestyle, and regular screening can alert the authorities to a growing risk of developing full-scale diabetes.

Whether diabetes tests become part of life insurance schemes in the future is another question which is open to debate but ultimately the increased number of diabetic sufferers in the UK and around the world continues to be a drain on health budgets and health insurance companies. At some point, there is no doubt that the insurance industry will adjust premiums to take account of individuals who may or may not develop full-blown diabetes in the future.

Early warning signs of diabetes
While we have covered the more common symptoms of diabetes above, a diabetes test will potentially allow the doctors to take preventative action which could actually prevent the onslaught of full scale of diabetes. In a worst-case scenario, it will also allow doctors to subscribe medication which will avert any potentially life-threatening situations which can occur if diabetes goes untreated.

The more that the medical profession know about pre-diabetes and what may or may not bring it on the more chance we will at some point see an improvement in diabetic treatments and diabetic medicines. For many years this has been the hidden medical condition which could ultimately kill millions of people if left undetected and untreated.

If my glucose levels are high do I have diabetes?
While above-average levels of glucose in your urine and your blood are very closely related to a diabetes condition there are also other reasons why it may be artificially higher than average. Many young children have undergone regular diabetic screening tests predominately because of their intake of high sugar content drinks which are more commonplace today than ever before. Very often a sudden rush of sugar into the bloods can create an artificially high glucose measurement which in a one-off test could be taken as a potential diagnosis of diabetes.

As a consequence, if a diabetes screening test was to show above average levels of glucose it is highly likely that short-term medication or advice may be administered and further tests would be undergone further down the line. As we mentioned above, there is no one-off test to say whether a person has diabetes or not as this is purely and simply the body’s ability to ingest (or not ingest) glucose from the blood.

If my blood glucose level is low am I safe?
As we mentioned above, the level of glucose in your blood and your urine can and does change on a regular basis depending whether you have eaten, exercised, taken on board a high sugar content drinks, etc. therefore a lower than average blood glucose level, together with potential diabetes symptoms, may not mean you’re out of the woods. It may be that you need further tests to confirm whether or not your general glucose levels are dangerous but at least you are doing something about it if you are potentially on the verge of developing diabetes.

Is there a need to worry about diabetes?
Even though type I diabetes and type II diabetes are potentially life-threatening medical conditions, there has been massive progress in the medical profession and medication is now available for every degree of diabetes which may or may not occur. Therefore, by educating sufferers of the condition doctors are now able to avert potential life-threatening situations and the vast majority of diabetics will experience a full and fruitful life. There are many sportspeople, movie stars and other well-known celebrities who are diabetic but still go on to perform at the very top of their professions.

What do you do if you think you may be diabetic?
As we mentioned above, there are a number of well known and common medical conditions which on their own may not indicate a potential diabetes sufferer but together may well give the warning signs. If you experience a number of these conditions on a regular basis and are concerned about being diagnosed as a diabetic then you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.

The problem is that many people will associate the very symptoms of diabetes with their lifestyle and their general emotions at the time when ultimately it may be the body’s way of warning of potential problems. As with any illness, the body does have a warning mechanism but there needs to be an appreciation of the warning signs so that a potential diagnosis can be made as soon as possible. Never feel as though you are “pestering your doctor” by suggesting a diabetes screening test because if left untreated not only is it a potentially life-threatening situation but the cost of your future treatment will grow.

How much does a diabetes diagnosis cost?
The screening test for diagnosis is very simple and while there is no definitive yes or no answer about the diabetes condition, high glucose levels in the blood on a regular basis are a sure sign that there are problems, whether this is diabetes or another medical condition. These diabetes screening tests are very simple, very cheap and very cost-effective and when you compare them to the cost of treating diabetics in the future it is just a fraction.

There are signs that some people who are entering the “pre-diabetes” phase have benefited from action taken prior to the onset of full-blown diabetes. Whether this is a change in diet, change in lifestyle or increase in exercise, all have been shown to reduce blood sugar levels which can if caught early enough have an impact upon the severity of any future developments.

Why have you not heard of diabetes screening tests?
More and more doctors are now looking to screen potential diabetes sufferers on a regular basis although there is much work to be done on publicising this potentially dangerous condition. There are now more warnings, more adverts and more leaflets available than ever before and various governments around the world are now trying to avert what are potentially unhealthy lifestyles emerging in the mass population.

When you consider there are literally millions of diabetics around the world, and potentially millions of undiagnosed diabetics, there is a need for health authorities and governments around the globe to act quickly. While only 20 or so years ago diabetes was relatively unheard-of in those under 40 years of age we are now seeing regular instances of diabetes type II in particular in those of teenage years and below.

Why is diabetes such a problem?
In order to understand why diabetes is such a problem we need to separate type I diabetes and type II diabetes which are both very different in the way they develop. Type I diabetes is predominately passed from generation to generation although not all of those with the potential diabetic gene will develop full-scale diabetes. However, the situation with diabetes type II is very different!

You will see more and more people describing type II diabetes as a lifestyle condition which is a reflection of the lack of exercise, unhealthy diets and generally stressful life which many people now live. Fewer and fewer people are taking care of their health and their bodies and we continue to see a massive increase in the number of diabetic sufferers.

How can we slow down the onslaught of diabetes?
Each member of the worldwide population has the potential to reduce their likely development of type II diabetes in future years by improving their lifestyle, improving their diet and taking on more exercise. This all sounds very simple but all of these activities have a direct impact upon the level of glucose in your blood and ultimately can determine whether you develop full-blown diabetes in the future.

Many people believe that with obesity now more commonplace than ever before in the younger generation, it is the responsibility of parents to improve the general health of younger children around the world. There are many ways to incorporate fun activities with healthier diets and more exercise and the potential benefits for all parties involved are there for all to see.

Can diabetes lead to other medical conditions?
Unfortunately in some circumstances diabetes can lead to other medical conditions although this is predominately associated with type II diabetes. Some of the conditions which can follow if treatment is not administered correctly or on time include kidney disease, eye disease, nerve disease and heart disease. These are all the consequences of high glucose in the blood and can in some circumstances cause irreparable damage and possible fatalities.

However, as we have mentioned on numerous occasions, there have been massive developments in the treatment of diabetes and if medication is administered correctly and on time the likelihood of developing further medical problems is greatly diminished. We need to educate doctors, sufferers and the general public about the potential problems of diabetes and ensure that we are all aware of the situation.

Conclusion
To think that a simple screening test could effectively result in a successful diabetes diagnosis is something which we should all be aware of. Being diagnosed as a diabetic is not the end of the world as developments in medication have seen more and more diabetics experiencing normal lifestyles with very little in the way of after effects or side effects.

The very fact that diabetes, both type I diabetes and type II diabetes, are easily treatable is not the main issue, as the main problem is that many people could potentially be suffering from diabetes or entering a pre-diabetes phase without knowing it. Some experts believe that for every diabetic diagnosed there is another as yet undiagnosed sufferer in the background. This is the frightening situation with which we are faced as health budgets around the world are stretched to the limit with a need to change the lifestyle and eating habits of millions of people.

While type I diabetes is passed from generation to generation, although not all people with the diabetes gene will develop the condition, type II diabetes is in many cases a lifestyle condition although we can all reduce our chances of developing the condition by improving our exercise regime, eating healthily and reducing the stress and strains of everyday life. Sounds simple?

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diabetesforum.com