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Diabetes is a medical condition in which the blood glucose levels remain persistently higher than normal. It is becoming more common in Singapore. This may be due in part to ageing population, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body cells to use blood glucose (sugar) for energy. Food is converted into glucose before it is absorbed into our bloodstream. The pancreas then releases insulin to move the glucose from the bloodstream into the body cells for use or storage. People with diabetes are unable to fully use the glucose in their bloodstream due to:
There are three major types of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
Signs & symptoms
The common symptoms of diabetes are:
Complications
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) and low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia).Both situations can cause a diabetic to become very sick very quickly and even go into a coma.
The long-term complications of diabetes include:
Screening & diagnosis
Diabetes can be detected through a blood glucose test.
Readings in mmol/L:
Normal Random Blood Glucose is less than 7.8 mmol/L
Normal Fasting Blood Glucose is 6.0 mmol/L or less
You have diabetes mellitus if your
Random Blood Glucose is 11.1 mmol/L or higher
Fasting Blood Glucose is 7.0 mmol/L or higher
Readings in mg/dL:
A Normal Blood Sugar Level (two hours after eating) is less than 140 mg/dL
A Normal Fasting (no food for eight hours) Blood Sugar Level is between 70 and 99 mg/dL
Diabetes is diagnosed by any one of the following:
Random Blood Glucose that is greater than 200 mg/dL
Two consecutive fasting Blood Glucose tests that are equal to or greater than 126 mg/dL
See Testimonials on Diabetes Here.
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