Diabetes Screening Jacksonville
According to the American Diabetic Association, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes with another 86 million Americans suffering with prediabetes. A diabetes screening is the first step in identifying those people who are pre-diabetic, or are unknowingly already suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Although diabetes is categorized by type, about 95% of diabetics have Type 2. Regardless of the type, diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or cannot properly use insulin (insulin resistance). Since insulin plays a vital role in converting the foods we eat into energy, uncontrolled diabetes can result in serious medical conditions including retinopathy, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and nerve damage to the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is commonly treated with oral medications, lifestyle changes or insulin injections.
Currently, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Some people with Type 2 can control their blood glucose levels by being more active and eating healthier. However, the first step is managing diabetes is to identify those individuals who are pre-diabetic or already suffer from Type 2 diabetes. If you've been to a health fair recently, you may have seen signs for a Free Diabetes Screening. Many chain pharmacies and big-box stores have also joined the effort for point-of-care blood sugar testing. This method of diabetes screening is beneficial but typically has a higher error rate than screenings provide by your primary care provider. The most reliable diabetes screening is done when you're fasting. Called an A1C test, the results give your doctor an average value for blood glucose control over the past 2 to 3 months.
Who Should Have a Diabetes Screening
Although it never hurts to have a diabetes screening, there are people who belong to a higher risk group. These include people over age 45, adults with high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol levels or high triglycerides, individuals with a family history of diabetes, ethnicity, being overweight, being physically inactive, or having diabetes during pregnancy. Since many people live for years without realizing they have diabetes, it is helpful to know some of the symptoms. These include frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue and irritability, frequent infections, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal and episodes of blurred vision. The good news is that with healthy choices most cases of prediabetes can be effectively managed without insulin injections.
To protect yourself and your loved ones, consider scheduling a visit to the Family Care Partners location nearest you for an accurate diabetes screening. It could save your health and wellness.
