Should you be tested for diabetes?

If anyone in your circle of family and friends has been diagnosed with diabetes, you may wonder if you should be tested, too.

It's wise to consider this. It's estimated that 7 million people — more than a quarter of those who have diabetes — don't know that they have the disease.

Should you be tested?

If you're 35 or older, the American Diabetes Association recommends that you be tested at least every 3 years, regardless of your weight or other risk factors. Age is one of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors for diabetes are:

• Being overweight or obese
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle
• Having a family history of diabetes among first-degree relatives, such as a brother, sister or parent
• Being of African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Latino or Pacific Islander descent
• Having a history of gestational diabetes or giving birth to at least one baby over 9 pounds
• Having high blood pressure
• Having a high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol level below 35 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or a triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome
• Having a history of cardiovascular disease

Complications can be the first clue

If you don't get tested, you may not discover that you have the disease until long-term complications have developed. These can include:

• Cardiovascular disease. Heart and vascular disease are the leading causes of death among people with diabetes. Cardiovascular disease can result in narrowing of the arteries and may lead to heart attack.

  People with diabetes don't always have chest pain when they have a heart attack. Instead, they may have other symptoms like nausea, weakness and difficulty breathing.

• Stroke. Cardiovascular disease can also cause strokes. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced. When brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die.
• Nerve damage. High blood glucose levels can lead to nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy most commonly occurs in your limbs, especially your legs. This can be painful and debilitating, though symptoms can also be mild.

• Eye damage. Eye damage, also known as retinopathy, is a common complication of diabetes. Nearly everyone with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of people with type 2 diabetes develop some form of eye damage by the time they've had diabetes for 20 years. Good glucose control can help delay it.

  Most often, signs and symptoms are mild, but some people suffer from distorted vision or even blindness.

• Kidney disease. Up to 40% of people with diabetes eventually develop kidney disease, also called diabetic nephropathy. Over time, nephropathy can cause your kidneys to stop working properly.
• Foot problems. Nerve damage and poor blood flow increase the risk of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections. Severe damage might require toe, foot or even leg amputation.

If you're experiencing any of the risk factors or potential complications of diabetes, talk to your doctor. A simple blood test can help you determine whether you have diabetes.