Diabetes Health Checkup

Diabetes is one of those diseases which has already affected a vast number of people across the globe. Basically, diabetes is a disease that affects our body’s ability to use blood sugar or glucose in our blood. Glucose is very important for our health because it acts as the source of energy for the cells present in our tissues and muscles. In fact, glucose is also required for proper brain functioning. Diabetes is a condition, which elevates the levels of blood sugar abnormally. If not treated on time, diabetes can result in various other more serious health conditions. Therefore it is very important to undergo diabetes health checkup to find out whether or not we have diabetes.

Diabetes health checkup is an important tool to find out whether or not you have diabetes and if you do, how much damage it has already done to your body. Diabetes health checkup consists of a set of blood tests. Take a look below to know about them.

HbA1c - The best way to know the levels of blood sugar in our body over a period of time is to undergo HbA1c testing. It is done without fasting and the reports play a significant role in understanding the blood sugar levels over a period of 2-3 months. If the reading comes less than 5.7%, it means you are not affected by diabetes. Reading between 5.7% to 6.4% means prediabetes and anything which is equal to or higher than 6.5% is a major sign of diabetes.

Ketone in Blood Test - A ketone in blood test helps to measure the level of ketones in our blood. As we already know, our body runs on glucose. Sometimes, when the glucose level is low or if we have diabetes and don’t have enough insulin supply for our cells to absorb glucose, the body starts to break down fats to supply energy. Ketones are the byproducts of this process. It is a very normal process for everyone. Those who are not affected by diabetes, have very low levels of ketone in their blood. But high levels of ketone in the blood indicate diabetes.

Fructosamine Test – TThis test is quite similar to the A1c test or HbA1c test. Fructosamine test can measure average blood glucose levels over the period of past 2-3 weeks by measuring glycated protein. In addition to these blood tests, there are few other tests as well which falls under diabetes health checkup. This includes lipid profile checkup to check for the levels of cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides in your blood. Kidney function test is also conducted to check whether the kidneys are functioning properly or not. Along with all these, thyroid profile tests, liver functioning tests, blood count tests, electrolytes tests, iron deficiency tests, etc. are also done.

Thyrocare Technologies Limited, India’s first and most advanced totally automated laboratory offers an exciting diabetes health checkup package known as Diabetic Profile M. Under this package, there are 67 tests, which include blood ketone test, HbA1c test, fructosamine test, average blood glucose test, complete hemogram, lipid profile tests, kidney function tests, thyroid profile tests, electrolytes profile tests, liver function tests, etc.

Why get Tested for Diabetes Health Checkup

Diabetes is one such disease that affects a very large number of people and not all the times, we can get to notice the symptoms. Mostly, the symptoms do not show during the initial stages, but it is very important to detect this disease early for prompt treatment which gives us the maximum chance of recovery. The only way to detect diabetes at an early stage is by undergoing Diabetes Health Checkup. If you have a family history of diabetes, your risk of getting affected by diabetes also increases. Women with PCOS also have a higher risk of diabetes. Hence, these people must get themselves checked for diabetes.

The most terrifying fact about diabetes is that it doesn’t spare any age. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can attack people from any age group, and even children are not safe. Hence, it is very important to go for a diabetes health checkup. Type 2 diabetes is more common for people over 40, but as we already said, it can happen to anyone from any age bracket. Diabetes, if left untreated for long, can do severe damage to our body. It can affect our overall lifestyle. Diabetes can damage the vital organs and normal functioning of our body. Also, it affects our vision. In fact, it can lead to cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, if not diagnosed on time. Hence, diabetes health checkup is a must to avoid all these health complications.

Age is another factor that increases the risk of diabetes. As we age, our physical activity decreases, we lose muscles and gain weight, which makes us susceptible to diabetes.Having high blood pressure is another factor that increases the risk of diabetes. Also, if you have low levels of HDL or good cholesterol, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is higher. Triglycerides are another type of fat and those with high levels of triglycerides are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

People suffering from obesity have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Anyone with a body mass index or BMI over 25 is considered as ‘obese’, irrespective of age. Additionally, if he/she leads a sedentary lifestyle, there is a greater risk of developing diabetes. If a woman develops gestational diabetes when she is pregnant, it increases the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes later in life. Hence, she must undergo diabetes health checkup. Women with PCOS also have a higher risk of diabetes.

When to get Tested for Diabetes Health Checkup

Some of the common symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing of any sores, frequent infection, irritability, etc. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult your doctor at once about undergoing diabetes health checkup.

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels, you must undergo diabetes health checkup as having high cholesterol increases the risk of diabetes. Experts recommend diabetes health checkup for children between the ages of 10 and 18 who are overweight or obese and have at least two other risk factors for developing diabetes, such as low birthweight or the mother had diabetes during pregnancy.

Preparation for Diabetes Health Checkup

Fasting Required, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything but water for eight hours before your test. It would be good to diabetes test in the morning so that you don’t have to fast during the day.

Diabetes can be managed successfully if it is diagnosed early. But if left untreated, diabetes can lead to several other serious health concerns, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, nervous system damage etc. And the best way to detect diabetes at an early stage is by opting for a diabetes health checkup. Not only it helps to know your current health status, but also let your healthcare provider give you the timely advice on lifestyle changes, dietary changes and other important things that you must follow to live a healthy life.