Diagnosis of Diabetes

DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes affects just under 1 million Australians, and there is still

one person undiagnosed for every diagnosed person, meaning there

may be as many as 2 million with the disease. Diabetes is a major risk factor

for cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease and leg amputation, so it

is really important that it be diagnosed as soon as possible.

Some people will have symptoms of diabetes including increased

thirst, increased urination, tiredness, slow wound healing and persistent

infections. These people may go to their doctor with these symptoms and

will be diagnosed with diabetes. For other people, a regular diabetes risk

assessment is recommended once over the age of 40.

The first step in the risk assessment process involves the use of a tool

developed by the Baker Institute in Melbourne known as the AUSDRISK.

It is a diabetes assessment tool that we can use with you to assess your

risk of diabetes. It takes the following factors into consideration - your age,

gender, racial descent, family history, history of gestational diabetes, cigarette

smoking, diet, exercise and your waist; measurement. Many of these risk

factors are modifiable which we can help you to manage in our clinic if

necessary.

Secondly we will measure your blood glucose using capillary blood from a 

finger prick test. If these screening  tools show you are at risk, we will refer,

you to your GP for further assessment, including an oral glucose tolerance 

test (OGTT). This test gives the most conclusive diagnosis and involves

eating certain foods for three days before the test then fasting overnight.

Blood samples are taken fasting, then one hour and two hours after having a

sweet drink.

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, blindness,

kidney disease and leg amputation. If you are over 40 years of age and

would like us to help you with assessing your risk of diabetes, please talk to us in

the pharmacy.