Blood Sugar Tests Can Signal Early Diabetes

Q:  Both of my parents and an uncle developed diabetes late in life – in their 70s or 80s. The disease made the end of their lives more complicated and in my uncle's case directly led to his death. I am now 50 and need to go in for a long-overdue general physical exam. Are there tests I should request from my doctor that could lead to an earlier diagnosis before problems may arise? Are there signs I should be looking for in my own general health?

A:  Congratulations on turning 50! An enormous number of baby boomers are hitting that mark and recognizing that they need to be proactive about maintaining their health.

In your case the risk for Type 2 diabetes mellitus is extremely high because of a very strong family history. The most important thing for you to do is to avoid becoming overweight. Obesity will decrease your body's sensitivity to insulin, and diabetes can arise much earlier than in your parents.

To diagnose diabetes, your physician will check a fasting blood sugar. If it is 126 or higher on at least two occasions, that is enough to make the diagnosis. Another blood test, the "glycohemoglobin," looks at blood sugar trends over the prior three months and if it is high but normal, may indicate an early tendency toward diabetes. Both tests are a simple blood draw, taking a few minutes and eliminating the need for a four-hour glucose tolerance test.

For a recent HealthLink article on preventing diabetes in high-risk individuals, see “Diet, Exercise Can Stop Diabetes Before It Starts”