by Perry McCarney

Created on: March 08, 2009   Last Updated: February 02, 2010

Adult diabetes is a significant concern for both health authorities and the public. Not only because the incidence rate in adults is steadily growing, but because this disease is striking down its victims at younger and younger ages; from an average age of 52 in the USA between 1988 and 1994, to 46 between 1999 and 2000. In fact, its common name of adult or adult-onset diabetes has become a misnomer. Where once it only occurred in people over the age of 40, it has now been diagnosed in children as young as two.

Adult-onset diabetes is known medically as diabetes mellitus type 2, and as that name implies, there is a type 1 people may develop. Both diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2 relate to the hormone insulin, with type 1 sometimes called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) because it requires daily injections of insulin. A temporary form of type 2 DM called gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy.

Diabetes Symptoms

Both types have similar symptoms, including:

Polydipsia: frequently thirsty.
Polyuria: needing to urinate often.
Polyphagia with weight loss: losing weight despite eating more due to an increased appetite.
Lethargy and weakness: feeling constantly tired and having reduced muscle strength.
Blurred vision.

More serious symptoms, such as retinopathy leading to blindness and nephropathy leading to kidney failure, can occur if medical treatment is not received.

Diagnosis of Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when insufficient insulin is being produced or the body's cells are resistant to its influence. This results in difficulty processing glucose ingested in meals. Therefore, diagnosis is based on measuring glucose in blood samples, commonly called the blood sugar level. High levels are hyperglycemia, indicative of diabetes. There are several possible tests:

The Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test. This is the standard test for diagnosing diabetes. A blood sample is taken from the patient 8 hours after they last ate. If the glucose level is above 125 mg/dl, or 1.25 grams per liter, diabetes is probable. Additional tests are recommended for confirmation or if the level is near.

The Oral Glucose Tolerance test (OGTT). The patient is given a standard glucose solution to drink after fasting for 8 hours. A blood sample is taken two hours later and the glucose level determined. If it is over 200 mg/dl, diabetes is likely.

Glycolated Hemoglobin test. This blood test does not require the patient to fast beforehand. Normally levels should be below

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