When my optomitrist noticed changes in my eyes associated with diabetes, my doctor did a random blood glucose test, and a fasting blood glucose test. One came back within normal limits and the other came back with elevated blood sugar, but not diabetes.

However, when I had an HbA1c test, it came back extremely high, showing that I had full blown diabetes which was raging out of control. If I had not asked for the HbA1c test, my diabetes would have gone untreated, and the complications would have become even worse.

In my personal experience, if you have been told that you are borderline diabetic or insulin resistant, or if you suspect that you have diabetes, the best thing you can do is to ask for an

HbA1c test,

and

a Glucose Tolerance Test.

These two tests combined can tell your doctor a whole lot more than a random blood glucose or fasting blood glucose test. They can detect diabetes that other tests may actually miss. With diabetes, the sooner you get treatment started, the better off you'll be.

Also, if your optomitrist notices changes in your eyes, do NOT ignore advice to get tested for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Diabetes is well known to cause changes in your eyes and some of the changes can eventually lead to blindness, if you don't start treating the diabetes. This is a very serious disease, with no cure, but it can be controlled.

Most type 2 diabetics don't think they have it, and may not even suspect it. They usually find out years after developing it, when they develop serious complications.

In type 2, its the complications that cause the most noticable symptoms, not the diabetes. You may notice increased thrist and more frequent urination, but you may attribute it to hot weather or aging.

If you ignore these symptoms, later on your eye sight may be affected, and you might have unexplained pain in your feet or hands. You may start to get tired, and feel hungry all the time, and crave sweets. You may lose or gain weight for no apparent reason.

Eventually, you could even suffer a heart attack or stroke as a complication of untreated diabetes. Not everyone gets all of the common symptoms - that's why type 2 diabetes is a silent killer.

If you have it, you need to know now and start treating it.

If you are insulin resistant or borderline, changing to a reduced carbohydrate diet such as the South Beach Diet can help. Ask your doctor about it.

Also ask for a blood pressure check while you are at the doctors. High blood pressure often goes with diabetes, and so do thyroid problems. They all need to be treated, so get tested and find out where things stand. Start treatment now if you need it. Don't put it off.

This blog expresses my personal opinion and experiences. It is not for diagnostic purposes.

Please talk to your doctor and get a proper diagnosis and treament plan.

For more info about testing click the link below...

http://www.umm.edu/careguides/000291.htm

If you would like to assess your risk of developing diabetes, you can take a test here...

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Or do you know anyone who has diabetes?

If you're over 40, and overweight, you might be diabetic, and not even know it!

Over 40 and overweight? Please ask your doctor to test for diabetes, at your next physical.

Most people with type 2 diabetes will go undiagnosed for about 8 years. That's a long time, and all the while, their body is being damaged by high blood sugar, which can lead to nerve, eye, and kidney damage, and even amputation of limbs, later on.

Ask for a Fasting Glucose Tolerance test,

and an HbA1c test

These two tests are the most revealing, and when combined, they really tell your doctor what's going on.

The best hope for diabetics is to know you have it, and to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. In this case, ignorance is NOT bliss!

Here are two webpages you should look at if you think you might be diabetic.

The first has the symptoms for type 1 diabetes, and the second for type 2. Please read both, make a list of any symptoms you have and then take the list to your doctor.

Ask for the two tests mentioned above, the glucose tolerance test, and the HbA1c.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Keep in mind that you need to get your tests done at a lab, because the blood glucose testing meters that you can use at home can be up to 20% off.

If you are Canadian, and a diabetic,

please join our new Yahoo group

Canadian Sugar Babies