Additional blood work

Further blood tests will be performed, including the following. The first is an oral glucose-tolerance test, which involves fasting overnight and measuring one's fasting blood sugar level. After that, one consumes a sugary liquid, and blood sugar levels are checked every two hours for the next two hours. The second is fasting blood sugar, which involves taking a blood sample after an overnight fast. A fasting glucose level of less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is considered normal. Prediabetes is defined as a fasting glucose level of 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L). If it is 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, one is considered to have diabetes. Another check is two-hour postprandial test. In this case blood test is done two hours after one has taken prandial, that is after taking a meal). Random blood sugar check can also be done, and in this case a blood sample is taken at a random time. Blood sugar values are expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L) (Pagana & Pagana, 2013).

Additional information that to be collected from the patients include checking frequent urination, checking increased thirst, dryness of mouth and increased hunger, especially after eating. The current therapy is diabetes medication or insulin therapy. Because normal digestion interferes with insulin taken by mouth, insulin must be injected. Depending on one’s needs, the doctor may prescribe a mixture of insulin types to use throughout the day and night (Evert et al., 2013). Often, people with type 2 diabetes start insulin use with one long-acting shot at night. One’s specialist may endorse low-dose aspirin treatment and in addition use blood pressure and cholesterol-bringing pharmaceuticals down to help counteract heart and vein illness.

Recommendations concerning needed changes include: blood sugar monitoring, practicing healthy eating pattern, regular physical activity, and often pharmacotherapy. Also, A1C levels need to be checked between two and four times a year. One’s target A1C goal may vary depending on one’s age and other factors. The A1C test is a better indicator of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working. Lifestyle modifications or changes appropriate for the patient include: eating healthy. Eating well is crucial when you have diabetes, because what you eat affects your blood sugar (Evert et al., 2013). Other lifestyle modifications include; exercising, getting checkups, managing stress, stop smoking and watching your alcohol.

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References

Evert, A. B., Boucher, J. L., Cypress, M., Dunbar, S. A., Franz, M. J., Mayer-Davis, E. J., ... & Yancy, W. S. (2013). Nutrition therapy recommendations for the management of adults with diabetes. Diabetes care, 36(11), 3821-3842

Pagana, K. D., & Pagana, T. J. (2013). Mosby's manual of diagnostic and laboratory tests. Elsevier Health Sciences.