How can you know if you have diabetes? Through blood tests only? Or can you notice the sympotms yourself at home?

Another question, does the CBC (Complete Blood Count) that's done normally when you go to a clinic or a hospital, discover if you have diabetes [I mean does the CBC automatically check for diabetes]?

My father-in-law is an endocrinologist, a specialist in diabetes, so if you don't get detailed enough answers from HITMAN or the other good doctors here, I'll ask him what he thinks.

^ Thank you!

Diabetes is common in Malta, unfortunately. Almost everyone has someone in the extended family who has it.

From what I see, you start to feel dizzy and maybe faint, you lose weight for no apparent reason, (god forbid) you start seeing blurry, you get very thristy at night and wounds don't heal so quick.

This is just my own personal observations of someone in my family who had it. Maybe a doc can give you a more accurate list of symptoms.

My dad has the disease ours is genetic and ran from my great grandmother down to dad and his sisters. They usually became diabetic in their mid 40's. He has type II and currently takes 2 different types of insulin.

Diabetics will lose weight, crave water, urinate allot and the urine will have a sweet smell to it. Also there is the crankiness and craving sweets.

Diabetics will lose weight, crave water, urinate allot and the urine will have a sweet smell to it. Also there is the crankiness and craving sweets.

That's what I've been feeling lately. Except that I gained weight.. 12 kilos in 7 months! I had a CBC in January and I was told I am okay; that's why I am wondering if CBC includes diabetes!

You can ask your doc to test for it. If this runs in your family it is highly recommended to get tested and esp. once you reach your 40's to do so. Hope everything turns out ok.

As far as I know, no one in my family is diabetic, and I am only 22! I'll definately go for a check-up..

How can you know if you have diabetes? Through blood tests only? Or can you notice the symptoms yourself at home?

Diabetes mellitus can be only a provisional diagnosis by the signs & symptoms, but the only way to confirm a diagnosis is through blood test. The most accurate test is a fasting blood sugar & preferably done on two different occasions. A fasting blood sugar of more than 7 mmol/l confirms diabetes, a normal value shall be below 6 mmol/l, physicians consider the a value between 6-7 something as a risk factor that the individual will develop type 2 diabetes, this is termed imapired fasting glycaemia. If the person is not fasting, then a value of above 11 mmol/l confirms diabetes regardless



Another question, does the CBC (Complete Blood Count) that's done normally when you go to a clinic or a hospital, discover if you have diabetes [I mean does the CBC automatically check for diabetes]?

CBC has no relation whatsoever with diagnosing diabetes

Thank you HITMAN.