Are you preparing for your first diabetes check? It is essential for you to be proactive when it comes to your health. This means if you think you might have diabetes or even be prediabetes, then making an appointment to get checked is vital. It is always best to identify potential health concerns before they start to affect your body. It is easier for medical professionals to treat illnesses and diseases in their earlier stages.
Do you still have questions regarding what happens during a diabetes check? For you to know whether or not you have diabetes, you will need to have a blood test performed. These blood tests will measure the amount of blood glucose in your blood, more commonly known as sugars. Many times, all you need is to have your finger pricked. If the physician recommends additional testing, it is likely that you will have blood drawn.
According to the American Diabetes Association, blood tests for diabetes are recommended for any person with symptoms of the disease. If someone is not showing any symptoms, then they should still have a blood test done between the ages of 40 and 45. If your blood test comes back showing that you do not have diabetes, then you should be retested every three to four years. Those who are overweight or obese should be tested more often.
It is necessary for those undergoing a diabetes check to fast for a certain amount of time before having their blood drawn. The specific amount of time will be given to you by the medical office. This window can be anywhere between eight and 12 hours. This makes it a good idea for those needing a blood glucose test to schedule their test sometime in the morning. Doctors require you to fast because the test results are more precise when food does not affect your blood glucose levels.
Certain medications can affect your blood test results because they tend to affect their blood sugar levels. If a medical professional determines that you are taking one of these medications, they might ask you to lower your dose or even stop taking them before undergoing the blood test. A short list of medications that can raise blood sugar levels include diuretics, birth control pills, hormone therapy and corticosteroids.
You might think that you need to see your primary care doctor for a diabetes check. While they can provide this service, there is no need to wait for days or even weeks to schedule an appointment at the doctor’s office. Our urgent care center can test your blood glucose levels to check for diabetes. You can walk in without an appointment at a time that is convenient for you. If you have questions about the diabetes check or want to know more about preparation, please call our urgent care center.
Call us today at (703) 743-7849 for more information from Millennium Medical Care Herndon.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Pap smears are routine screenings that check for abnormal cells in the cervix, which may indicate cervical cancer or other conditions. Getting these screenings helps detect these conditions early when they are easier to treat. Patients need to understand their results and when further screening is needed.Also known as a pap test, a pap smear…
A walk in-clinic provides outpatient medical services on a first-come, first-served basis. These clinics are valuable resources for those without a regular doctor or needing immediate care. They can diagnose and treat sudden illness or injury with professional treatment methods.As the name suggests, walk-in clinics provide basic healthcare services without an appointment. They cater to…
Sports physicals, or preparticipation physical evaluations (PE), are necessary to ensure a young athlete's safety when performing their chosen sport. Though they may seem intimidating, these evaluations can greatly improve athletes' chances of qualifying for their desired sport and help them better adjust to pain points within their performance and body. Learning what to expect…
Your primary care doctor is a valuable resource for keeping you healthy. Regular appointments with your doctor are important for both the prevention of illness and the management of your health. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of seeing a primary care doctor along with three key signs it may…
Pap smears are routine screenings that check for abnormal cells in the cervix, which may indicate cervical cancer or other conditions. Getting these screenings helps detect these conditions early when they are easier to treat. Patients need to understand their results and when further screening is needed.Also known as a pap test, a pap smear…
A walk in-clinic provides outpatient medical services on a first-come, first-served basis. These clinics are valuable resources for those without a regular doctor or needing immediate care. They can diagnose and treat sudden illness or injury with professional treatment methods.As the name suggests, walk-in clinics provide basic healthcare services without an appointment. They cater to…