Diabetes Assessment
| Introduction |
Why You Should Take This Assessment
As of 2019, 37.3 million Americans had diabetes. One out of five people with diabetes do not know they have it. Diabetes is defined by high levels of sugar in the blood. This occurs when your body does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that lowers your blood sugar.
Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to serious long-term health problems. These include stroke and diseases of the heart, kidney, eye, nerves, skin, and feet.
This Diabetes Assessment is for adults age 20 and older. It serves several purposes. If you don't have diabetes, the assessment will help you understand your risk of getting diabetes in the future. If you aren't sure whether you have diabetes now, it will help you better understand the likelihood, including symptoms and how you can be tested for diabetes. Finally, if you already know that you have diabetes, this assessment can help you manage your diabetes and control your blood sugars. Studies are clear that the better controlled your blood sugar, the less likely you are to develop complications of diabetes.
How Much Time This Assessment Will Take
5 minutes
How to Prepare for This Assessment
Before starting the assessment, you should gather the following information if you have it:
- Family history of diabetes
- Your most recent fasting blood sugar
- Your most recent HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c--a diabetes-related blood test)
You can still benefit from this assessment, however, even if you don't have this information.
What You'll Get at the End of the Assessment
- An explanation of your important risks
- Recommended action steps for reducing your risks
- Links to additional reading
| Review Date: | 03/01/2024 |
| Reviewed By: | Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. |
| References: | click to view. |
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