Diabetes is a growing concern. With the increase in a lazy lifestyle and obesity, cases of diabetes are growing at an astounding rate. More and more people are being diagnosed with this life altering disease, from children to the middle aged and elderly. This disease can cause kidney damage, loss of eyesight and weight gain, nerve damage and blood vessel damage. Diabetes affects millions of people and certain people are more at risk for this disease than others. So, who should get tested and when? The answers may surprise you.

Classic symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, especially at night, extreme thirst and sudden weight loss. These are only the basic symptoms there are a host of associated symptoms, including frequent yeast infections (women), swollen ankles, wounds that are slow to heal and even more. Not everyone experiences these symptoms; some people have few or no symptoms at all. Age groups, amount of exercise and family history all play roles in who develops diabetes as well. Certain ethnic groups are more susceptible to diabetes, also.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, mention them to your doctor. They’ll assess your case and can run several types of tests to determine whether you have diabetes and which type. There are a couple of different tests they may perform, depending on the doctor’s preference. A Fasting Plasma Glucose Test is the preferred method of testing for many doctors and is best performed in the morning, at least 8 hours after eating. This test measures the amount of glucose in your blood and compares it against an average rate. An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test can also be performed and is similar to the previous test. The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test is performed 8 hours after eating, immediately before and 2 hours after drinking a large dose of glucose dissolved in water. The results of this test are compared to normal readings and a diagnosis is made.

Overweight and obese people are at considerably higher risk of developing diabetes and anyone over 45 years of age should get regular checks. Minorities are also at higher risks of developing diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure and uncontrolled cholesterol are also implicated in diabetes.

Several methods have been shown to drastically reduce the risk of diabetes. Regular exercise, losing weight, a low calorie, low fat diet and regular checkups with a doctor are the easiest ways to reduce risks of developing diabetes and can help control existing cases, as well. Being aware of your risks is the first step in prevention, followed by brisk exercise and diet modifications.

Diabetes can be a debilitating disease, but it can be caught early or prevented entirely by a few simple to implement methods. Not all diabetes cases will have to be controlled with insulin; many cases, if caught early enough, can be managed simply through diet and exercise, eliminating the painful shots of insulin and the fear of insulin dependence.

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