ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

GUIDELINES FOR DIABETES SCREENING

AUBURN, JAN. 7, 2000---Are you 45 years old or older? If so, doctors recommend you have a test for diabetes at least once every three years.

The test helps get an early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes (late-onset diabetes). Previously, doctors didn't consider patients to have diabetes until their fasting blood sugar reached at least 140 milligrams/deciliters (mg/dl). But research has indicated that damage from elevated blood sugar levels actually begins earlier than that.

The new definition of diabetes now includes people with a fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dl or higher, says Dr. Evelyn Crayton, a registered dietician and a foods and nutrition specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Type 2 diabetes is particularly dangerous because it can show no symptoms in the early stages. But even so it begins a silent assault on eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

Doctors hope that by lowering the cutoff point for blood glucose and encouraging regular testing, more cases of diabetes will be diagnosed earlier or even prevented. Those diagnosed with diabetes can start treatment or make lifestyle changes before complications set in.

Early signs and symptoms are repeated trips to the bathroom, thirst and fatigue. All of these can be easily overlooked if they develop gradually. Other symptoms sometimes include recurrent urinary infections, tingling or numbness of hands or feet as a result of nerve damage and recurring vaginal yeast infections.

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately, says Crayton. Your doctor will take a full medical history and will check a random nonfasting or fasting glucose level in the blood. If the random plasma-glucose test exceeds 200 mg/dl, diabetes is probably present.

The fasting plasma-glucose test is the cornerstone of a diabetes diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you not to eat for a minimum of eight hours. Then your blood sample is sent to a lab where the amount of sugar in the blood is analyzed. Normal fasting plasma-glucose levels are less than 110 mg/dl; levels at or above 126 mg/dl may indicate diabetes and a need for further testing.

Diabetes is a self-care management disease, says Crayton. The most important person involved in your care is you. If you're diagnosed with diabetes, learn all you can about the disease. Partner with a doctor you can talk to and trust to offer you the most up-to-date care. Be open with your doctor and other health care providers about health recommendations that will or will not work for you.

Remember you must control this disease. If you don't, it will control you.

SOURCE: DR. EVELYN CRAYTON, Extension Foods and Nutrition Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (334) 844-2224