Diabetic informationThe Type 1 diabetes usually becomes noticeable very quickly with symptoms such as a strong urge to urinate, thirst and fatigue and is usually diagnosed quickly. In contrast, a Type 2 diabetes Often undetected for a long time. Its symptoms usually develop insidiously, so that they are not noticed by those affected. You get used to the signs without perceiving them as pathological. Thus, it may well take up to ten years before type 2 diabetes is detected and secondary diseases may have occurred due to the permanently elevated blood glucose levels (case example).
Screening is important
In order to diagnose type 2 diabetes at an early stage, it is important to attend regular check-ups: Blood glucose, a crucial diagnostic criterion, is also determined here.
Blood glucose measurements at the doctor
The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is made by the physician on the basis of blood values. parameters for the diagnosis:
Fasting blood glucose
Fasting blood glucose or fasting blood glucose proves the presence of diabetes when the value is ≥126 mg/dl or. ≥7.0 mmol/l is present. The value is determined in the morning before breakfast.
Occasional blood glucose
If the occasional blood glucose or blood sugar is ≥200 mg/dl or. ≥11.1 mmol/l, diabetes is present.
Oral glucose tolerance test
In an oral glucose tolerance test or sugar load test, the patient drinks a liquid containing 75 g of sugar. Blood glucose is measured before and two hours after drinking. If it is ≥200 mg/dl after two hours or. ≥11.1 mmol/l, diabetes is present.
HbA1c value
HbA1c (glycohemoglobin) is the pigment in red blood cells that has become inseparable from sugar, and can thus indicate how high the concentration of blood sugar has been on average over the last six to eight weeks. This value is therefore also called saccharified hemoglobin or blood glucose memory. Diabetes is present if the HbA1c is ≥6.5% or. ≥48 mmol/mol lies. Since the measurement of the value was standardized in 2010 and thus the measurement results became comparable, the HbA1c can serve as a diagnostic tool. Since then, the official unit has been mmol/mol. For more information, see the S3 guideline Therapy of type 1 diabetes. In the National Care Guideline Type 2 Diabetes.