Just wondering where I can go to get tested for diabetes. I don't have a regular physician. Also, what exactly do they do to test you, just take a blood test i imagine? How quickly do you get the results?
Thanks in advance.
Oops, I think I put this in the wrong forum. Sorry about that.
You can go to a walk in clinic and ask for a test. What I had to do for my diabetes test (althought it might be different because I was being tested while pregnant) was drink a 500ml bottle of a sweet orangy syrup drink, similiar to orange crush. Then wait one hour and they drew blood.
I don't know how quickly you can get the test results back, but I did have them when I saw my midwife a week later.
Sorry I meant you ask for a requisition to be tested at the medical clinic - you go to a lab to have the actual test done. Most medical clinics have a lab onsite though.
If you need to know where a drop in medical clinic is just post what area of town you live and I'm sure others here can suggest a clinic for you.
Ok...I live in St-Vital in case someone wants to recommend a specific place, but I don't really care where it is providing I don't have to drive clear across town to get there.
What would trigger a person to think they may need this test?
I'm in a weird position of knowing next to nothing about my family health history, my fathers side is COMPLETELY unknown and I only know of certain portions of my mothers (loosely based on 'facts' second hand) so should I get the test done?
You can't go in and say "test me for everything" can you??
I have some symptoms that could potentially be caused by diabetes. There's also a bit of history of it in my family. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm hoping to get an appointment sometime this week to get these symptoms checked out, and go from there regarding a test.
[quote][cite] Shaynelle:[/cite]You can go to a walk in clinic and ask for a test. What I had to do for my diabetes test (althought it might be different because I was being tested while pregnant) was drink a 500ml bottle of a sweet orangy syrup drink, similiar to orange crush. Then wait one hour and they drew blood.
I don't know how quickly you can get the test results back, but I did have them when I saw my midwife a week later.
Katherine[/quote]
That's the OLD way of testing...
I just went in one day in December '05, to the St. James Clinic ("the Zoo") on Portage Ave. and within about 5 days they called me back by phone and confirmed the worst.
[quote][cite] jimj_wpg:[/cite][quote][cite] Shaynelle:[/cite]You can go to a walk in clinic and ask for a test. What I had to do for my diabetes test (althought it might be different because I was being tested while pregnant) was drink a 500ml bottle of a sweet orangy syrup drink, similiar to orange crush. Then wait one hour and they drew blood.
I don't know how quickly you can get the test results back, but I did have them when I saw my midwife a week later.
Katherine[/quote]
That's the OLD way of testing...
I just went in one day in December '05, to the St. James Clinic ("the Zoo") on Portage Ave. and within about 5 days they called me back by phone and confirmed the worst.[/quote]
That's odd then, because that is the same clinic I went to, not more than two weeks ago for my test. So what was so new about your test? Did you not have to drink the sweet liquid?
One test you cant eat for 12 hours before and they get you to drink something, another test they just take a blood sugar test. Not positive but I think it depends on what form of Diabetes they suspect.
The first test done is a Fasting Glucose Test (FGT) which means you don't eat for 12 hours before the test, then they take your blood and determine the glucose levels. It may be a good idea to test for other things that require fasting, such as cholesterol, at the same time.
The result of the fasting test then determines what other tests may be required. The one with the orange liquid is is called oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and is done if your fasting glucose is not perfect (i.e. > 6.1). It starts as a FGT, then you drink a measured amount of glucose solution and after 2 hours another blood sample is taken to see how well your body processed the glucose.
You can get this done at any walk-in clinic that has a lab, alternatively, they will give you a requisition slip to go to the lab.
[quote][cite] Shaynelle:[/cite][quote][cite] jimj_wpg:[/cite][quote][cite] Shaynelle:[/cite]You can go to a walk in clinic and ask for a test. What I had to do for my diabetes test (althought it might be different because I was being tested while pregnant) was drink a 500ml bottle of a sweet orangy syrup drink, similiar to orange crush. Then wait one hour and they drew blood. [/quote]
That's the OLD way of testing...
I just went in one day in December '05, to the St. James Clinic ("the Zoo") on Portage Ave. and within about 5 days they called me back by phone and confirmed the worst.[/quote]
That's odd then, because that is the same clinic I went to, not more than two weeks ago for my test. So what was so new about your test? Did you not have to drink the sweet liquid?
Katherine[/quote]
That is the oral glucose tolerance test. It is no longer used to test for diabetes, but is still used to test pregnant women at risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy.
That is the oral glucose tolerance test. It is no longer used to test for diabetes, but is still used to test pregnant women at risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy.[/quote]
The OGTT is used to determine pre-diabetes, a condition that indicates increased risk for diabetes that is reversible through lifestyle changes and also low dosage of metformin.
Shaw is running a story on Diabetes and getting people's children to get tested. They talked about the glucose tolerance test, that orange stuff looks good.
Oh that makes sense - I did mention it was while I was pregnant so I wasn't sure if it was the same test. They still do the three hour test for preggo's if you fail the one hour (thank god I passed the 1 hr with flying colours, I don't like sitting around waiting).
If you like Orange Crush you'll like the orange drink, its similar just sweeter. Bet kids love it.
My sister is diabetic, took them years to figure it out.
She had her ups and downs and now is doing well. She was lucky that after years of needles was able to go to the pump and they are considering her to try the inhaler. Tehcnology is helping make diabetes a little more bearable for her.
As an FYI - the guy who invented the insulun pump ? Same guy who invented the Segway (the pogo stick on wheels) ! After the Segway their design team decided to try something medical...
Someone mentioned Healthlinks. Great service. Write their number on your fridge or wherever you keep your importnat numbers.
I never realized how severe diabeties is until my father was diagnosed - he's been in a coma because of elevated sugar levels, and caused a really bad accident because for some reason one day his sugar spiked up extremely high. I'm surprised (but thankful) my dad is still alive.
I realize now how serious a disease diabeties is, it's just sad it's taken my dad's ill health to make me realize this. I'm going to try and find some info on the Shaw thing Pegcity mentioned, it sounds interesting.
Is that SHAW program still on? My next door neighbour wants to know.
Also, Transwave ... Youville Clinic on Dakota Shopping Centre and the other one in the Dominion Shopping Centre (near the Norwood Bridge) is a diabetes resource centre...