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DiabetesThis is a condition where the blood sugar (glucose) is abnormally high. This is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, eye problems and nerve damage.
The American Diabetes Association defines diabetes as a person with one of the following: 1. Fasting glucose 126 or greater on 2 separate occasions, OR 2. A random glucose 200 or greater on 2 separate occasions, OR 3. An abnormal glucose tolerance test. 4. A hemoglobin A1c (a blood test) greater than 6.5%.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, a useful test is one called a hemoglobin A1c. Hemoglobin is a protein in your blood that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide. Glucose binds to it permanently. By measuring the percentage of hemoglobin that has glucose bound to it, we are able to make a rough estimate of the average blood sugar (the estimated average glucose) over the past 2-3 months. The rough conversion is as follows:
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