Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : February 8, 2015 5:28 PM IST
Hi, I am 38-year-old woman. I recently got my sugar level tested. The results show fasting blood glucose 125 mg/dL. I want to know what diabetes is and does my sugar level indicate that I am diabetic?
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by consistently high blood sugar levels. It can be either due to the lack of production of insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose levels in the blood or because the body fails to utilise it properly.
High blood glucose levels that occur due to lack of insulin is called type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes). The main reason for development of type 1 diabetes is the presence of faulty genes that produce faulty insulin. It is mainly seen in teenagers and young adults. High blood glucose levels caused due to failure of the body's response to insulin (insulin resistance) is called type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus. Poor diet and lifestyle are the main reasons for its development.
Clinically, a person is said to suffer from type 2 diabetes when his fasting blood sugar level goes above 125 mg/dL. Fasting blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg/dL indicates a condition called prediabetes. This condition means that the sugar level is elevated, but not high enough to be called diabetes. It implies that the person is most likely to develop diabetes in the near future if proper diet and lifestyle changes are not incorporated.
Although your sugar level falls under the pre-diabetic range, it is closely bordering diabetes. You should repeat the test to confirm the results. If it goes above 125 mg/dL, you're definitely diabetic. If it is below 125 mg/dL, you're prediabetic. Whatever the results indicate, you should start making changes in your diet and lifestyle to control your sugar levels as soon as possible.
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