Sophia L. Thomas, DNP, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP
If you haven’t been tested for diabetes lately, you may be tempting fate. More than 30 million adults have diabetes, and one in four have no idea, which means the problem is only getting worse. If you assume you’d notice warning signs of diabetes, think again. Symptoms are usually so subtle that patients miss them entirely. Here are three important reasons to make an appointment with a nurse practitioner or other health care provider to get tested for diabetes ASAP:
- Testing is easy. A quick blood test at your next checkup can determine if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
- You may already have diabetes. They call it the silent killer because many people don’t know they have it and, therefore, don’t treat it.
- You may have prediabetes. One in three adults has elevated blood sugar levels that can be addressed with lifestyle changes to prevent the onset of diabetes, but 90% of people with prediabetes have no idea they have it.
Diagnosing and treating diabetes early reduces the risk of serious complications, like heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney failure, so don’t wait to take a simple test to see where you stand!
