| An Introduction to Diabetes October 14, 2008 Print-friendly version
Email this article | Page 1 | What is Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes)?
| | Page 2 | How do I monitor my blood sugar (glucose) levels?
| | Page 3 | How does the body keep your blood sugar "normal"?
| | Page 4 | What causes diabetes?
| | Page 5 | How is diabetes treated?
| | Page 6 | Sources of Information
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What is Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes)?
Your body needs energy to perform everyday tasks. One kind of energy is sugar. Your body controls how much sugar is in your blood for your body to use. When your body cannot control the sugar in your blood, and the amount of sugar in the blood is too high, you are said to have "diabetes". While the body needs some sugar, too much sugar can be unhealthy.
High amounts of sugar in the blood for long periods of time, often years, can damage your blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and other body organs. Controlling your blood sugar can slow down and in some cases prevent the damage to your body.
There are a number of different blood tests used to diagnose diabetes. A fasting (greater than 8 hours after last meal or snack, usually overnight) blood sugar value of greater than 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) on two separate days, is indicative of diabetes. Fasting blood sugar values ranging from 110 mg/dL to 126 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L to 7 mmol/L) indicates some "glucose (sugar) intolerance". Fasting blood sugar values less than 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L) are considered normal.
When a random blood sample is obtained to check the blood sugar, a value of greater than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) may indicate diabetes, but this must be checked by looking at the fasting blood sugar as described above. This random blood sugar test also is interpreted relative to signs and symptoms of diabetes.
Other tests can be performed for diagnostic reasons. These can include the glucose tolerance test, which is based on a response to a "dose" of glucose that is taken by mouth. Up to five blood samples are then taken to determine if diabetes is diagnosed.
Controlling your blood sugar is the most important part of treating diabetes. You should be aware of your "normal range" for blood sugar values. It is likely the range of blood sugar values that are considered normal is between 70 and 140 mg/dL (mg stands for milligram and dL stands for deciliter...together these represent how blood sugar values are reported...milligrams per deciliter). Your health care provider will tell you what range is "right" for you. You need to keep your blood sugar in this range, and you should monitor your blood sugar value to help prevent damage to your body.
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