8 March 2019 Any adult aged 45 or over should be screened for diabetes. They should do so even if they are not overweight or have other risk factors. Watch the video and see why. What is diabetes? Impaired sugar metabolism is the factor shared by the different clinical conditions we call diabetes mellitus. There is more than one disease called diabetes. We can classify diabetes into: Type 1 - when the patient is insulin dependent; Type 2 - when the patient is not insulin dependent, although people with type 2 diabetes may take insulin for better control. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. There are cases of diabetes resulting from other diseases or from medications. This is called secondary diabetes . There are rare cases of genetic diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease and most of the time it is silent. No two diabetic patients are the same. Diabetes depends on individual and behavioural factors, such as: Diet; Physical exercise; Schedules. The complications the disease can cause in the body’s organs are the greatest concern and can reduce life expectancy and quality of life. Managing diabetes and its complications involves: Personalised clinical monitoring; A multidisciplinary approach. Why is diabetes screening important? The complications of diabetes are caused by high blood sugar levels. If there is no diagnosis, there is no treatment and the complications will appear earlier. This is why it is important for diabetes or pre-diabetes to be diagnosed as soon as possible. Who should be screened for diabetes? Simply speaking, any adult aged 45 or over , even if they are not overweight and have no risk factors. On the other hand, it is essential for adults who, regardless of age, are overweight and have at least one other risk factor: Physical inactivity; First degree family member with diabetes mellitus: Women with children weighing more than 4kg or gestational diabetes; High blood pressure; Women with polycystic ovary syndrome; Altered cholesterol. There are risk tables to measure the risk of getting diabetes. What type of screening should I have? Fasting blood sugar in people with no increased risk; Oral glucose tolerance test for people at increased risk. Note that capillary blood glucose should never be used to diagnose or screen for diabetes. This article was written with the support of physicians and other clinical professionals from the Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
