Q: How do I know if I have diabetes?
A: You can tell if you have diabetes based on the results of a blood glucose test taken on two different days. The tests should be performed in a laboratory with blood drawn from a vein. A diagnosis of diabetes may be determined if the test performed before breakfast results in a reading of 126 mg/dL or higher. If the test is performed casually, meaning any time of day, a diagnosis of diabetes may be made if the reading is 200 mg/dL or higher.
Q: What is “borderline diabetes”?
A: The terms “borderline diabetes” or “a touch of sugar” have been used by health care providers for decades to soften the blow of the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The terms should not be used because they deny the seriousness of diabetes and do not encourage people to control their blood glucose levels carefully. A condition known as pre-diabetes is used to describe people who have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels, but who have not been diagnosed with diabetes.
Q: How can diabetes affect my teeth and gums?
A: Diabetes can affect your teeth and gums if your blood glucose levels run high over time. High blood glucose levels can promote the growth of bacteria in your mouth, which can contribute to bad breath and can cause gum disease.
Q: How can I prevent diabetes-related dental problems?
A: Keep your blood glucose levels in control. Also, be sure to brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush after every meal and floss at least once a day. Let your dentist know you have diabetes, and have your teeth cleaned twice a year.
Q: When should a person with type 2 diabetes start to take insulin?
A: The short answer is when blood glucose levels cannot be controlled on the maximum dose of two or more oral diabetes medications. Although many people with type 2 diabetes are able to manage the disease with diabetes medications, diet and exercise, nearly 30 percent of people with type 2 diabetes take insulin injections.
Q: Why can’t people take insulin by mouth?
A: The difficulty with taking insulin by mouth is that insulin is a large protein and proteins are broken down by digestive enzymes in your stomach. In order to take insulin by mouth, you would need to protect the insulin from those digestive enzymes. Researchers are working on other ways of delivering insulin, there may be a day in the future when insulin can be taken by pill or inhaled.
Q: What is the best treatment for low blood glucose or hypoglycemia?
A: Low blood glucose is defined as a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL or a level that has been established by your health care provider. Symptoms may include sweatiness, shakiness, hunger, dizziness, numbness around the mouth and disorientation. The best treatment is glucose tablets.
