Am I at risk of diabetes?

With GP waiting times increasing in many practices, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health and wellbeing.

Am I at risk of diabetes?

Diabetes is on the rise in the UK. Every year, more cases are diagnosed – in particular, Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to weight, diet, and lifestyle. With more of us relying on processed foods and finding less time to keep active, the risks of developing the disease are increased.

Untreated, diabetes can have a wide range of knock-on effects for your health and wellbeing so it’s important to reduce your risks wherever possible.

Knowledge is power and early diagnosis is the best way to optimise your health and mitigate the chance of more serious problems later down the line.

But do you know what to look out for?

At Blue Horizon we offer a comprehensive range of blood testing options for diabetes markers, both standalone, and as part of a larger profile of diagnostic checks to help you get a complete picture of your health.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar rises, it tells your pancreas to release insulin, but this process can be interrupted, leading to complications that cause diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults. With this type of diabetes, the cells of the pancreas stop producing insulin because the body's immune system has destroyed them.


Type 2 diabetes involves a problem with the pancreas’ ability to produce enough insulin to meet demand. It’s more common in people with a family history of the condition or a previous history of gestational diabetes. It’s also more prevalent for certain ethnicities.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

There are a few tell-tale signs that could indicate you have diabetes. Look out for:

 

  • Blurry vision
  • Constantly feeling thirsty
  • Cuts and wounds take longer to heal
  • Fatigue
  • Genital itching or thrush
  • Losing weight without trying to
  • Needing to pee more often, especially at night

Who is most at risk?

While anyone can develop Type 2 diabetes, you're more at risk if you:

 

  • are over 40 (or 25 for south Asian people)
  • have a close relative with diabetes
  • are overweight or obese
  • are of Asian, African-Caribbean, or black African origin

Could you be at risk? A quick and easy way to find out

With GP waiting times increasing in many practices, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health and wellbeing.

At Blue Horizon we offer a comprehensive range of blood testing options for diabetes markers, both standalone, and as part of a larger profile of diagnostic checks to help you get a complete picture of your health.

These tests include:

 

  • Insulin
  • Glucose
  • Triglycerides
  • Haemoglobin

 

And our Comprehensive Plus test which includes checks for red and white blood cell quality, thyroid function, kidney and liver function, a check for diabetes, as well as essential elements and vitamins allowing you to check your current nutritional status and overall health.

Booking your private blood test

We make sure the experience of booking a private blood test is as easy, convenient, and painless as possible. By partnering with Spire Healthcare, we make the process simple and seamless by offering easy-to-book appointments at your local Spire Hospital.

After you have selected the right test for you, simply order online through our secure payment system or chat to a member of our team. Once your order is placed, you’ll receive all the information you need to arrange your convenient blood draw appointment at one of our Spire Hospital locations.

How your appointment works

We partner with Spire Healthcare to offer a professional phlebotomy service. This guarantees that your blood samples are taken and handled correctly and that your results are processed efficiently by clinical professionals. Our confidential blood examination for diabetes is available at over thirty private clinics around the UK.

At your appointment, the friendly team will talk to you about your test, collect your blood sample and send it off for testing at an accredited partner laboratory. All you need to do is arrive for your appointment. We’ll take care of the test, and the rest.

 

Clear, accurate results

The time it takes to receive your results will depend on the type of test you have chosen. When they are ready, your results will be sent directly to you, via email, within the time specified. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of your results through the post, that can be arranged for you.

You can also choose the option of reported or unreported results. Reported results include information and comment from our GP which you may find helpful to discuss with your own consultant, or for your records.

Find out more and book your private diabetes blood test

 


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