A Diabetes Overview: Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Testing

Educational Resources for Diabetes Awareness 

By 2045, this number is projected to rise to over 780 million. More than 1.2 million children and adolescents (0–19 years) are living with type 1 diabetes.¹

Almost 1 in 2 adults living with diabetes are undiagnosed.¹ Many of those who are undiagnosed may have or be at risk of prediabetes, and recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already occur in people with prediabetes.²

As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, so must the effort to raise awareness. Early detection and monitoring can help minimize complications caused by chronically elevated glucose levels.

A diabetes diagnosis is made primarily by the detection of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. There are many tools, however, in the array of diabetes-related diagnostic tests. 

Type 1 Diabetes

• Formerly called “insulin-dependent” or “juvenile-onset” diabetes.
• An autoimmune disease that causes destruction of pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for synthesizing and secreting insulin.
• Accounts for 10 % of all diabetes patients.¹

Type 2 Diabetes

• Formerly called “non-insulin-dependent” or “adult-onset” diabetes.
• Caused by insulin resistance or inadequate insulin secretion.
• Accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases.²

Pre-diabetes

• Patients have impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose.
• Individuals have blood glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
• People with pre-diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.³

Diabetes is usually accompanied by other conditions, which is why early detection and monitoring is crucial for better patient outcomes. 

• Kidney disease, for which diabetes is a leading cause. 
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects the majority of type 2 diabetes patients.
• Hypertension (increased blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease which could lead to heart attack or stroke.
• Eye problems which could lead to blindness.
• Sores and infections on feet and skin which could lead to amputation. 
• Nerve problems can develop at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes. 

Diabetes-related tests are performed for various reasons on many different types of patients:

• Newly diagnosed diabetes patients: To help determine if they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes when the clinical indications are inconclusive.
• Type 2 diabetes patients: To monitor and adjust therapies.
• All diabetes patients: To test for diabetic nephropathy by measuring their urinary albumin levels.
• Postmenopausal women: Studies indicate that this group may have an increased risk for cardiac mortality if they have an elevated urinary albumin level.
• Women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome: This syndrome affects 6–10% of all women, with 50% having insulin resistance. These women are at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes. An abnormally elevated insulin level with hyperglycemia could indicate insulin resistance.

Each November, Siemens Healthineers works to raise awareness about diabetes—a serious chronic condition, but manageable when detected early enough to begin a physician-monitored treatment plan. We are passionate about helping patients lead healthy lives and partnering with nurses and clinicians to aid them in managing their patients’ conditions.