Every year, November is observed as Diabetes Awareness Month. Caused by acquired deficiency in production of insulin by the pancreas, or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced, diabetes mellitus is a complex health condition that affects millions of people. According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 30 million or 9.4 percent of Americans have diabetes. Without proper management, the condition can lead to serious complications such as eye problems, nerve damage and kidney disease. To diagnose the condition, HbA1c assay test kits are now commonly used which provide unique advantages over conventional immunoassay and chromatography methods.
While the risk factors are age, family history, overweight and high blood pressure, symptoms can include excessive urination, extreme hunger and thirst, fatigue, slow-healing sores and weight loss. Pre-diabetes can be defined as a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. However, people with prediabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Blood glucose levels are unstable and can change rapidly within minutes. As pre-diabetes and diabetes don't always have symptoms, it is critical to check your blood sugar regularly. Point-of-care diabetes management solutions are now available that make it easy for patients as well as doctors to not only diagnose your diabetes, but also treat it. DCA Vantage Analyzer is one such point-of-care system that helps to monitor glycemic control and detect early kidney disease. Its ease of use, powerful functionality, versatile data management, and reporting options help lab managers to streamline and simplify diabetes patient testing. Manufactured by Siemens Healthineers, this analyzer can test HbA1c from a small (1 µL) whole blood sample in 6 minutes. With this analyzer, diabetes testing oversight can be taken to the next level with the RAPIDComm Data Management System that remotely manages multiple analyzers and operators to enhance compliance and improve risk management. Reliable lab equipment dealers offer leasing plans and reagent rental agreements on this analyzer as an alternative to purchase.
Prevent diabetes before it creates serious related health concerns. It is critical to learn the risks for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and take preventive steps to potentially reduce the chances of developing the disease. If you think you have pre-diabetes, consider these tips:
- Make certain lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, getting more physical activity, and losing weight
- Join a Diabetes Prevention Program that focuses on weight loss and physical activity
- Get regular checkups to check your blood pressure and cholesterol and ask the doctor about your diabetes risk
World diabetes day is celebrated on November 14 each year, during which events are hosted worldwide to raise awareness about diabetes. The American Diabetes Association also offers a Diabetes Risk Test to measure your risk for type 2 diabetes.