history of diabetes | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

Blood sugar level test

Do you have a family member who is diabetic? Do you have diabetes that runs in your family or a past medical history of diabetes? If this sounds like you then chances are you have been faced with the dreaded blood sugar level test.

The blood sugar level test can be given in various different ways such as drinking pure glucose. A lot of times your doctor will have you come into the office fasting and then ask you to drink a small bottle of pure glucose which is basically sugar water within a certain period of time and then you will be asked to either give a urine sample or a blood sample so that they can test your blood glucose level in order to see if you are a diabetic or not.

For most people hearing those dreaded words that they need to come in for a blood sugar level test is a hard thing to stomach but it has to be done in order to keep them safe, healthy and happy as well as to be able to live a long and healthy lifestyle. Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin production or lack of responsiveness to insulin, resulting in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels). There are 2 primary types of diabetes mellitus, type I (insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset), which may be caused by an autoimmune response, and type II (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset).

When my grandmother was first diagnosed with diabetes many years ago, it was just a simple life changing habit of changing up some foods and diet and then knowing that she needed to monitor her sugar several times a day. When I have asked her about her trials and tribulations that she has gone through she said that the worst news she got was having her come in for a blood sugar level test which would let her know if she was a full blown diabetic or not.

Do you need fasting blood glucose levels?

We all have seemed to do it at some time or another in our life, given a fasting blood glucose level. Fasting blood glucose levels are often times easy to come by in certain instances or with certain peoples given medical history and background.

Often times we are asked to fast and asked to provide a fasting blood glucose levels check, fasting a1c or fasting diabetes test for many reasons, could be because we are at risk for gestational diabetes when we are expecting, have a history of diabetes in the family or are showing signs and symptoms of diabetes.

Diabetes is a very dangerous and can be life threatening medical illness that generally once diagnosed with you will have for the rest of your life. Diabetes if not treated correctly can lead to strokes, heart attacks, comas, dialysis and even various other medical problems. Diabetes is definitely not a medical condition to play with or take lightly. Diabetes can take years off your life or you can maintain your health and enjoy many happy years.

For many after they reach a certain age and have had a past medical history or family medical history of diabetes will be asked or required to have a fasting hypoglycemia, fasting diabetes or fasting a1c levels test periodically on a regular basis. Even when you are not being tested on a regular basis if you have a family history or have had any signs or symptoms of diabetes then a safe way to monitor your diabetes is with a blood glucose monitor. A blood glucose monitor works well so that you can safely monitor your blood sugar without monthly or weekly checks to the doctor’s office. By using a blood glucose monitor you can check your fasting blood glucose levels and keep your own log or journal from the comforts of your own home.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Women

Symptoms of diabetes in women can be many, can varied, but it is important for every woman to be familiar with the symptoms of diabetes in women, especially if she has a family history of diabetes. In the present day, diagnoses for heart disease, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer are on the decline due to advances in medical knowledge as to what preventative measures can be taken.

Diabetes rates, on the other hand, continue to rise at an alarming rate, and though there is no cure for diabetes early diagnosis and treatment can help mitigate some of the worst of the disease’s health effects. This makes familiarity with the symptoms of diabetes in women very important knowledge.

Before any discussion of how to recognize diabetes in women can begin it is a good idea to note that some women are subject to gestational diabetes, or diabetes during pregnancy, which usually resolves itself after the child is born and the mother’s body returns to a more normal state. Type one and type two diabetes are chronic incurable, but treatable, conditions that occur with or without pregnancy.

The three classic early symptoms of diabetes in women that a woman should be on watch for are increased thirst, increased hunger, and increased urination. These symptoms manifest because the body is not correctly processing the glucose that comes from food and is needed to power the cells of the body. Along with these symptoms it is common for women who may be developing diabetes to get frequent yeast infections, extreme fatigue, weight fluctuations, and even numbness or poor circulation in the extremities.

If you or someone you know begins to develop these symptoms it is definitely time for a trip to the doctor for a fasting glucose test to ascertain whether you may be developing diabetes. The key to proper management and treatment of diabetes is early diagnosis, and this can be achieved if you are familiar with the symptoms of diabetes in women.

The Average Blood Glucose Level

Not long ago very few people ever had any concerns as to the average blood glucose level. In those days people rose early, drank coffee, ate eggs, biscuits, gravy, home fries, and any other high calorie, high cholesterol thing they could find, then went off to work with nary a though.

Those same people worked hard all day, smoked cigarettes by the pack, drank heavily and usually lived to the ripe old age of fifty or sixty before dying of heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetic complications. In modern times most people are a little more health conscious that their ancestors, and when you couple this with modern medicine this has led to an increase in life span and quality of life.

These days’ death and disability from heart disease, stroke, and cancer are on the decline, yet the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to climb each year. The average blood glucose level is becoming a chief concern of a growing number of people.

The average blood glucose level of a normal, healthy person is generally between 60 and 110. This isn’t a hard and fast rule however, as the average blood glucose level for the individual can vary according to age, weight, and other existing health problems, as well as time since the last meal was eaten. If you have a family history of diabetes and you start to experience increased thirst, increased appetite, and increased urination it may be time to be concerned with your average blood glucose level. If you experience these symptoms it is time to go see your doctor for a glucose tolerance test. Your doctor can tell you exactly what your average blood glucose level should be, and if you are diagnosed with diabetes your doctor can put you on track to knowing how to maintain your average blood glucose level.

Normal Fasting Blood Glucose Level

When it comes to determining the normal fasting blood glucose level the numbers are sometimes subject to the individual. In most cases, however, a normal fasting blood glucose level is considered to be between 60 and 100 mg/dl. This is not a hard and fast rule however, as at times blood glucose levels can be influenced by age, weight, and even underlying health problems. The number one concern is that if you or someone you know suddenly develops increased thirst, increased appetite, and increased urination, and/or if there is a family history of diabetes it is probably time for a trip to the doctor to test for a normal fasting blood glucose level.