If you suspect that you have type 2 diabetes, there are some things you can do to help confirm your suspicions before you visit your healthcare team. Read on to learn more about diabetes self-diagnosis.
Risk factors for diabetes
Knowing the risk factors for diabetes is important, as it can help you determine how high your risk may be. There are 2 types of risk factors for type 2 diabetes: those you cannot control and those you may be able to control.
Risk factors that are beyond your control include:
- Being over 40 years of age
- Having a close relative with diabetes (for example, a parent, brother or sister)
- Being of African, Arab, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous or South Asian descent
Risk factors that you may be able to control include:
- Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels
- Being overweight (especially if the excess weight is mostly around your stomach)
- Having prediabetes
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome
- Having a psychiatric disorder (for example, schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder)
- Having obstructive sleep apnea
- The appearance of darkened patches of skin (called acanthosis nigricans), which typically occur in skin folds around your groin, armpit or neck
The CANRISK questionnaire and self-diagnosis
The Public Health Agency of Canada developed the Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire (CANRISK), a validated self-assessment tool to help Canadians identify their risk of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Completing the questionnaire gives people an overall score that shows their risk for prediabetes or diabetes. There are 11 sets of questions, and it takes only 5 or 10 minutes to complete.
Some of the topics include information about your age, weight, family history of diabetes, eating habits and physical activity. You can complete the CANRISK questionnaire here.
If you feel that you have a number of risk factors for diabetes – and the CANRISK questionnaire confirms that you are at higher risk – it’s a good idea to book an appointment with your healthcare team to discuss your situation.
Do you have symptoms?
Many people have type 2 diabetes and don’t know it. This is because they often have no obvious symptoms at first, or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed.
The most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes are:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Urinating (peeing) more than usual
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Feeling very tired
- Blurred vision
- Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
- Frequent or recurring infections
- Tingling, pain or numbness in your hands or feet
- Trouble getting or maintaining an erection
If you feel you have a high risk of diabetes, and are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, it is a good idea to get tested.
Book an A1C test with your doctor or pharmacist
An A1C (glycated hemoglobin) test is one of several blood tests that is used to diagnose diabetes. The test is typically done in a laboratory using a sample of your blood. Some pharmacies also provide this service by the pharmacist. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they offer A1C testing.
The A1C test measures the amount of glucose in your blood over the last 2 or 3 months. A normal A1C is 6.0% or lower. An A1C of 6.0 to 6.4% indicates prediabetes. An A1C of 6.5% or higher means that a person likely has diabetes. With any blood test used to diagnose diabetes, a second test is required to confirm the diagnosis, especially if you have no symptoms.
New technology – home A1C tests
Recently, there has been an innovation in A1C testing. Home test kits are now available in some areas of Canada. Some can be ordered online, while others can be purchased at a pharmacy.
The test allows you to take a sample of your own blood (using a finger stick), place the sample on a sheet of special paper to preserve it and then send it to a laboratory for analysis. The results are delivered to you via a secure website.
If you are concerned that you may be at high risk for diabetes, pay close attention to your risk factors and any symptoms you may be experiencing. The CANRISK questionnaire and a pharmacy or home A1C test can help you determine your next steps toward confirming a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and learning how to manage the condition. Armed with this information, you can contact your healthcare team to confirm your diagnosis, and discuss management issues such as lifestyle (diet and exercise) and medications.
