The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that there are more than 180 million people in the world with diabetes - a conservative estimate since many people have the disease and don't know it. In 2005, about 1.1 million people died worldwide from diabetes complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, etc. In this country, the Canadian Diabetes Association reports there are more than 2.5 million Canadians with diabetes, and this number is expected to increase to three million by 2015.
Testing for and Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes destroys lives if not aggressively treated or managed, therefore timely screening and education is necessary. It adversely affects a person's health, longevity, and quality of life, as well as economic stability. Insulin, insulin pumps, most antidiabetic drugs, test strips, and lancets are costly even though some are partly covered by medical insurance. In 2002, the economic cost of diabetes to Canadians is a staggering $13.2 billion dollars and it is expected to rise to $15.6 billion by
2010.
Who Should Get Tested?
You should ask your doctor to make arrangements for you to get diabetes screening if you are:
- Forty years old or older
- Overweight (have more body fat around the belly)
- From a family with a history of diabetes
- A mother to a baby/babies that weighed more than nine pounds
- Suffering from chronic inflammation of the pancreas or polycystic ovary syndrome
Diabetes Testing and Diagnosis
To determine a person's blood glucose level, a blood sample is taken after 12 hours of fasting, or after an oral glucose tolerance test. Because people older than 65 years show higher blood sugar levels after meals, a fasting blood test is preferred for this group.
In pregnant women, an oral glucose tolerance test provides an accurate evidence of diabetes. In this test, a woman fasts, provides a fasting blood sample, then drinks a special solution with a standard amount of glucose. Additional blood samples will be taken and tested over the next 2-3 hours. In all cases, a positive diagnosis is reached when a person's blood sugar is abnormally high (over 10 mmol/L before meals and over 14 mmol/L after meals).
Diabetes is a serious disease. If you have diabetes, you should manage it aggressively and consistenly. If you think you are at risk, get tested for diabetes. It will not only prolong your life, it will also improve your odds against this debilitating malady.
References:
- "Diabetes" World Health Organization Fact Sheet, Number 312, September 2006
- "Diabetes: An Investment in the Future Health of Canadians" Canadian Diabetes Association Publication, August 29, 2006
- "Prevalence and Cost of Diabetes" Canadian Diabetes Association Publication, August 29, 2006
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