What are the symptoms of high blood sugar?
If you think that you have diabetes, check for the following symptoms include the:
- Frequent urination, Excessive thirst, Extreme hunger
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sudden vision changes
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Feeling very tired much of the time
- Very dry skin
- Sores that are slow to heal
- More infections than before
How will you know you have Diabetes?
- Random Blood Glucose Test - This test also calculates the amount of sugar in your blood, and you can do it anytime of the day without stopping yourself from eating or drinking
- Fasting Plasma Glucose Test - This test estimates the sugar level in your blood. To have this test you must not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before this test. So, it is preferably done in the morning.
- Urine Analysis - This test finds sugar in your urine.
What is HbA1c?
HbA1c is what’s known as glycated haemoglobin. This is something that’s made when the sugar sticks to your red blood cells. Your body then cannot use this sugar, so more of this sugar starts to stick to your blood cells for around 2-3 months. For this reason, the reading is taken every 3 months.
HbA1c levels and targets
- If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below.
- If you're at risk of Type 2 diabetes
Your target level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).
