Have you been screened for diabetes?
The amount of people living with diabetes in Ireland is estimated to total 225,840 (Diabetes Ireland).
Diabetes is a lifelong condition where the amount of sugar in the blood is too high because the body cannot process glucose properly.
Diabetes can develop slowly and with vague symptoms until suddenly you find yourself severely ill. Symptoms of diabetes can include:
- increased thirst/hunger
- dry mouth
- frequent urination or urine infections
- unexplained weight loss or gain
- fatigue/drowsiness
- blurred vision
- headaches
- nausea
- wounds that heal slowly
- skin infections
Diabetes has a negative effect on several systems within the human body that impact quality of life and the ability to perform daily tasks, including causing damage to the heart, brain, circulation, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. In addition to the risk for heart attack or stroke, those with untreated diabetes are at a greater risk for painful legs and feet, infection, loss of limbs, blindness, and kidney failure.
The World Health Organization recommends HbA1c for screening for diabetes. A glucose test only gives you a picture of what the sugar levels in your blood are at that very moment, often greatly affected by what you have just eaten. The HbA1c is not impacted by your meals and you do not have to be fasting for the test. It gives a picture of what the sugar in your bloodstream has been over the course of 3 months, resulting in a much more accurate depiction of your diabetes risk. HbA1c is a smart choice as part of your routine health screening. Early detection of diabetes saves lives!
Contact our team at info@ameds.ie for more information on our corporate onsite health screening services or individual health screenings.