Some +4.9 million people of all ages have diabetes in the UK. The number of people who are diagnosed with diabetes increases with age. If you have symptoms or risk factors for diabetes, you should get tested. The earlier diabetes is found, the earlier management can begin, and complications can be lessened or prevented.
There are multiple blood tests for diabetes that can be taken to measure the sugar (glucose) level in your bloodstream. It’s a simple, safe, and common way to diagnose prediabetes, diabetes, or gestational diabetes.
You can easily get a Blood Diabetes Test in a pharmacy near you or through your doctor.
What is Diabetes?
If you have diabetes, your body isn’t able to properly process and use glucose from the food you eat. There are different types of diabetes, each with different causes, but they all share the common problem of having too much glucose in your bloodstream.
If diagnosed with diabetes, treatments include medications and/or insulins. Some types of diabetes can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to serious consequences, causing damage to a wide range of your body’s organs and tissues – including your heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Diabetes is diagnosed and managed by checking your glucose level in a blood test.
There are three tests that can measure your blood glucose level: a fasting glucose test, a random glucose test, and an A1c test.
- Fasting Blood Sugar Test: This blood test for diabetes requires fasting for eight hours (nothing to eat or drink except sips of water) prior to the test. We recommend doing the test first thing in the morning.
- Random plasma glucose test: This test can be done any time without the need to fast.
- A1c test: This test, also called the HbA1 blood test or glycated haemoglobin test provides your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months. You don’t need to fast before this test.
Anna Pharmacy Group is now offering the Fasting Blood Sugar Test in our pharmacy locations in Carshalton, Sutton, Hackbridge, Wallington & Croydon. Our trusted pharmacists can help you understand what blood test for diabetes is the right one for you.