Who should get a diabetes test in Amherst?

According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, anyone between the ages of 40 and 70 who are overweight or obese should be evaluated for diabetes every three years. For those 45 and older, as well as adults under 45 with significant diabetes risk factors, the American Diabetes Association recommends a yearly diabetes screening. High blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, and being overweight or obese are just a few of the many risk factors for diabetes.

How do they test for diabetes in Amherst?

Diabetes can be detected with a simple blood test. Many practitioners use the A1C test or a private fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test to diagnose diabetes. The A1C test measures your blood sugar over the previous two or three months, whereas the FPG test measures your blood sugar following an overnight fast. The results of the A1C test are ready in minutes, whereas the results of the FPG test are usually available in a few hours.

What is the blood test for diabetes?

The A1C blood test and the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test are the two most used diabetes diagnostics. The A1C test is also known as the HbA1C test, hemoglobin A1C test, or glycated hemoglobin test. This test allows you to eat and drink before the test, but the FPG test requires you to fast for at least eight hours prior to the test and only drink sips of water until it is completed.