Test: Glucose Challenge
On: Humans, animals
Summary
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Method: Skin prick, strip analysis
Source: OTC
Measuring: blood sugar level
Units: milligrams of glucose per decaliter of blood (mg/dL)
Nominal range: 90-120 mg/dL
At risk: (Source: American Diabetes Association) Anyone with a body mass index higher than 25, regardless of age, who has additional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, having delivered a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds, a history of diabetes in pregnancy, high cholesterol levels, a history of heart disease, or having a close relative with diabetes. Anyone older than age 45 is advised to receive an initial blood sugar screening, and then, if the results are normal, to be screened every three years thereafter.
Details
Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.
Getting Tested
You can pick up diabetes test kits from any supermarket, drugstore or discount house. You can also order online. Here are some links to highly rated diabetes test kits: