Diabetes Assessment

Introduction

Why You Should Take This Assessment

Over 20 million Americans have diabetes and almost one-third do not know that they have it. Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes results when your body does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas.

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to serious long-term health problems, including heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, eye complications, nerve damage, and foot complications.

This Diabetes Assessment serves several purposes. If you don't have diabetes, the assessment will help you understand your risk for getting diabetes in the future. If you aren't sure whether or not you have diabetes now, it will help you better understand the likelihood, including symptoms and how you can be screened for diabetes. Finally, if you already know that you have diabetes, this assessment can help you manage your diabetes and control your blood sugars. Studies are clear that the better controlled your blood sugar, the less likely you are to develop complications.

How Much Time This Assessment Will Take

5 minutes

How To Prepare For This Assessment

Before starting the assessment, you should gather the following information, if you have it:
  • Family history of diabetes
  • Your most recent fasting blood sugar
  • Your most recent HbA1c (a diabetes-related blood test)
You can still benefit from this assessment, however, even if you don't have this information.

What You'll Get At The End Of The Assessment

  • An explanation of your important risks
  • Recommended action steps for reducing your risks
  • Links to additional reading
Review Date:9/12/2008
Reviewed By: Robert Cooper, MD, Endocrinology Specialist and Chief of Medicine, Holyoke Medical Center, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
References:click to view.
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