Prevention is the Secret to Wellness

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for abnormal blood glucose and type 2 diabetes in adults 40 to 70 years of age who are overweight or obese, and repeating 

testing every three years if results are normal. Individuals at higher risk should be considered for earlier and more frequent screening.

There are two simple tests used in diabetes screening:

• The fasting plasma glucose test involves checking the level of glucose in your blood while you are fasting. 
• The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) involves drinking a sugary solution two hours before you have your blood drawn.

Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) is a class of metabolic diseases identified by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood glucose can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes--a condition known as prediabetes--as well as diabetes complications. A glucose screening is a blood test that measures the glucose level in your body. MinuteClinic® diabetes screenings are intended to help diagnose prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes is the condition when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not so high as to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes puts you at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and the complications of diabetes such as cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 84 million American adults--more than 1 out of 3--may have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, 90 percent do not know they have it. 

Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes because it usually begins in childhood. Type 1 diabetes involves insulin therapy. Currently, there is no evidence of interventions that can prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, so routine screening for type 1 diabetes is generally not recommended.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Because there are often no symptoms in the early stages, it may not get diagnosed for many years. Persons with no diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes are at risk of chronic hyperglycemia. It is a condition associated with long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. Early screening can help people avoid the more severe complications of the disease. There is also a greater likelihood of abnormal cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity in individuals with diabetes. At present, no cure exists for type 2 diabetes. However, medical treatment, weight management, nutrition, and exercise can mitigate its effects.

Gestational diabetes is a form of type 2 diabetes that may develop during pregnancy. High blood sugar levels in a mother also translate through to the placenta and the baby, gestational diabetes must be diagnosed and controlled to protect the baby's growth and development.