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There are symptoms of diabetes. The \n symptoms are often overlooked because they seem so ordinary and \n so harmless. \n It's important to know what the symptoms of diabetes \n are so that you can recognize them and be tested for diabetes. \n The \n earlier diabetes is diagnosed, the better the results will be, and \n the fewer the complications that will develop. \n The symptoms of diabetes are: \n \n \n - Frequent urination
\n - Excessive thirst
\n - Extreme hunger
\n - Unusual weight loss (or weight gain)
\n - Increased fatigue
\n - Irritability
\n - Blurry vision
\n \n \n If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should see your \n doctor and ask him to test you for diabetes. It's better to be safe \n than sorry. \n There are three tests that your doctor might run to help him \n diagnose diabetes: \n * Fasting plasma glucose test: \n This test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at \n least eight hours without eating. You'll be told not to eat or drink \n after midnight and then report to the lab for a blood test the next \n morning. This test is used to test for diabetes as well as pre-diabetes. \n * Oral glucose tolerance test: \n This test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at \n least eight hours without eating and again two hours after you drink \n a glucose-containing beverage. You will be told to not eat or drink \n after midnight and report to the lab the next morning. The lab tech \n will draw blood and perhaps ask for a urine sample as well. Then \n he will ask you to drink a liquid that is very high in sugar (glucose). \n You will wait two hours and then the tech will draw blood and ask \n for a urine sample again. The results of the two tests are compared. \n This test is used to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. \n * Random plasma glucose test: \n In this test, your doctor has the lab check your blood glucose \n without having you fast. The results of this test, in conjunction \n with an assessment of \n your symptoms, can be used to diagnose diabetes but not pre-diabetes. \n | \n