How to test for diabetes?

Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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The examination for diabetes primarily involves assessment based on symptoms and measuring blood glucose levels through a venous sample. Typical clinical symptoms of diabetes include "three more and one less"; where "three more" refers to dry mouth, increased thirst, and frequent urination, and "one less" refers to weight loss. Thus, generally, when these symptoms are observed, there is an awareness of the possibility of diabetes. Subsequently, one should consult a hospital for further tests, which usually include urine testing and venous blood extraction. For diabetic patients, the glucose level in routine urine tests will significantly increase. Another measure is the direct measurement of blood glucose through venous blood. A fasting blood glucose level of ≥7.0 mmol/L, or a two-hour glucose level of ≥11.1 mmol/L post-OGTT, or a random blood glucose level of ≥11.1 mmol/L, meeting any one of these conditions, combined with the symptoms of diabetes, can diagnose the disease.

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Prevention of Gestational Diabetes

The prevention of gestational diabetes mainly focuses on diet and exercise. First, weigh yourself every morning to monitor weight changes during pregnancy, as excessive weight gain can increase the risk of gestational diabetes. Second, maintain a healthy and balanced diet that is low in fat and calories, and high in fiber and protein, avoiding excessive consumption of high-sugar foods. Third, regularly engage in exercises suitable for pregnancy. Fourth, keep a regular routine. Finally, closely monitor the fetus.

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Can frequent urination be diabetes?

If the amount of urine increases, the first thing to consider is the possibility of diabetes. In this case, a routine urine test will reveal a significant increase in urinary glucose. If a blood test for blood glucose is performed, an increase in blood glucose will also be found. For this situation, it is necessary to go to the hospital's endocrinology department for hypoglycemic treatment in a timely manner. Secondly, diabetes insipidus should be considered, which also causes an increase in urine volume, and the patient will have obvious thirst. Routine urine tests find that blood sugar in the urine is not high, the specific gravity of urine will initially decrease, and the patient's daily urine output will exceed 2500 milliliters, even reaching more than 4000 milliliters.

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Symptoms of diabetic foot

Diabetic foot is one of the severe chronic complications of diabetes, generally referred to as the abnormalities in the lower limbs caused by diabetic vascular neuropathy. Diabetic foot with gangrene of the extremity due to concurrent infection is referred to as diabetic foot with gangrene of the extremity, representing a serious stage in the progression of diabetic foot. The main symptoms of diabetic foot include: first, subcutaneous fat atrophy, thinning of the skin, common pigmentation spots on the shin, no hair on the feet and toes, and thickening of the toenails often accompanied by fungal infections; second, atrophy of the extremity muscles, malnutrition, poor muscle tone, and susceptibility to injury in joints and ligaments; third, visible sinking of the finger joints, joint bending, weakening or disappearance of foot deformities, and cool, swollen skin at the extremities; fourth, patients often experience extremity pain, numbness, sensory abnormalities, and dull or absent deep and superficial reflexes. In the initial stages of diabetic foot gangrene, blistering, blood blisters, erosion, and infection can gradually develop into ulcers, gangrene, or necrosis. Clinically, this is manifested as localized redness, swelling, increased skin temperature, pain, functional impairment, and the presence of purulent secretions, sometimes accompanied by a foul odor.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
Endocrinology
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What should diabetics pay attention to in their diet?

There is a general principle for the diet of diabetes, which is to pay attention to controlling the total daily caloric intake. The second principle is to have a balanced diet, and to be more specific, there are several points: The first one is to eat at fixed times and fixed amounts. Fixed times means having three meals a day at regular intervals, eating on schedule and paying attention not to have extra meals. Generally, the majority of diabetic patients should not eat less in more meals. Fixed amounts mean that the portion size of each meal should be roughly the same every day, not less today and more tomorrow. The third principle is to try to eat drier foods and avoid liquid foods, as liquid foods are easy to digest and absorb, causing blood sugar to rise quickly after meals. Therefore, these are some of the points that need attention in the diet for diabetes.

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Early symptoms of diabetes in men

Symptoms of diabetes in men in the early stages first require distinguishing by gender. Diabetes can be characterized by "three excesses and one deficiency": excessive drinking, excessive eating, excessive urination, and weight loss, which are typical symptoms. Of course, many patients, such as those in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, may have atypical symptoms such as itchy skin, blurred vision, and foamy urine which appears more foamy. There might also be dental cavities characterized by severe decay, or some men might experience sexual dysfunction. These symptoms may be related to diabetes, and if these symptoms appear, it is important to consider checking blood sugar levels to confirm the presence of diabetes.