Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis
How do you diagnose juvenile diabetes?
Juvenile diabetes is also Type 1 diabetes as well as being known as “insulin dependent” diabetes.
If your doctor suspects that you could have Type 1 diabetes, he will need to do several tests to confirm his diagnosis. Current medical protocol is to give the following test:
Glycated hemoglobin or A1c test
This is a blood test which designates your average or typical blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. It measures the percent of blood glucose which is connected to the hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is the protein which carries oxygen in the red blood cells. The more elevated the blood glucose level, the more hemoglobin you will have with glucose attached. When the A1c level is 6.5% and higher on 2 separate tests it usually points to you having diabetes. A number in between 6% to 6.5% is considered prediabetes which usually indicates you have a likely risk of developing diabetes.
If an A1c test is unavailable, or if because of certain conditions you have that may cause the A1c test to be inaccurate – example, being pregnant or having an unusual form of hemoglobin – your doctor will probably use one of the below described tests to further test for diabetes:
Random blood glucose test – With this test a sample of blood will be taken at an indiscriminate time. Blood glucose values are stated in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). A random blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher will suggest diabetes, especially when combined with any of the signs and symptoms which are frequent with diabetes, such as extreme thirst and frequent urination.
Fasting blood glucose test – After an overnight fast a sample of blood will be taken. A fasting glucose level below 100 mg/dL is considered normal. A blood glucose level between 100 to 125 mg/dL is usually considered prediabetes. If it is 126 mg/dL or higher with 2 different tests, the diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed.
If your doctor does make a diagnosis of diabetes, he/she will then need to do blood tests in order to check for the autoantibodies which are found in Type-1 or juvenile diabetes. The tests will aid your doctor in diagnosing whether you have Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes. Also the existence of ketones (side-effects from the breakdown of fat) in your urine always suggests Type-1 diabetes.
Type 1 or juvenile diabetes is caused by insulin not being produced by the Beta islet cells in the pancreas. Without insulin to metabolizing glucose or sugar in the blood, there is no way for the cells in the body to absorb the energy they need for growth and repair. Those with juvenile or Type 1 diabetes will need to be on some form of insulin therapy for their entire life.
