Diabetes is one of the most common diseases both locally and throughout the world and has repercussions on multiple organs in the human body.

Did you know?

• That the number of people with diabetes worldwide has reached 246 million.

•That Diabetes is the cause of 3.8 million deaths (6% of total mortality) worldwide.

•That the incidence of Diabetes in children is 1.9 per thousand.

Symptoms of Diabetes
The most common symptoms include extreme hunger, unusual thirst and frequent urination but may also present as unusual weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, delayed wound healing in addition to sexual dysfunction.

Types of Diabetes

1. Type I (Juvenile Diabetes) represents 10% of diabetic cases and usually affects young people due to a lack of secretion of the hormone insulin.
2. Type II (Adult onset Diabetes) represents 90% of diabetic cases and affects older people due to a lack of effectiveness of the hormone insulin.

Risk factors for Diabetes

 Risk factors for Diabetes include: family history of Diabetes, obesity, individuals over 40 years of age, women who suffer from polycystic ovaries as well as those suffering from chronic inflammation of the pancreas. Diabetes can also be caused by the use of drugs such as steroids, diuretics and oral contraceptives. Diabetes can affect pregnant women in the first three months of pregnancy but is often temporary and needs follow up by measuring the blood sugar level during pregnancy.

Complications of Diabetes

Complications include increased risk of heart disease, kidney problems, retinal detachment which may lead to blindness, gangrene that may require amputation and sexual dysfunction.

Early Diagnostic Tests for Diabetes

1. Measuring the level of fasting glucose level in the blood – fasting blood glucose
2. Measuring the level of sugar in the blood two hours after the ingestion of a meal – 2 hours postprandial
3.  Measuring of insulin levels in the blood, also done while fasting and after eating; this is used to determine failure to respond to oral medication, in the form of capsules or pills.  
4.  Measuring the level of C-peptide, also done while fasting and after eating and is a good indicator in measuring the function of beta cells of the pancreas, since it is not affected by external insulin or by non-active insulin content in the body.
5. Insulin antibodies; this is benefit to patients whose bodies secrete antibodies to insulin.

Precautions for Giving Samples

1. Fasting Blood Sugar Test:

Please ensure that you have not eaten or drank anything in the past 6 to 8 hours to ensure accurate fasting blood sugar results.

2. 2 Hours Post Prandial Glucose Test:

Please start measuring two hours from the start of your meal to ensure the secretion of insulin at the beginning of your mean and the meal should be ingested within 10 minutes at most; if you take medication for diabetes, then please do so unless you have instructions from the attending physician. During the 2 hours before the test, please refrain from eating but you may drink water.

3. Lipid (Fat) Profile:

Please fast for 12-14 hours before giving the sample to ensure complete absorption of fat in the blood and that its level has become stable.  

4. Cardio CRP:

Before giving a sample, please make sure that you are not suffering from any infections and that you don’t have a fever.

5. Microalbuminuria:

Sample sent to the lab needs to be taken from first voided urine in the morning.
 

Following is a list of follow up tests for Diabetes that needs to be done on periodic basis: