Diabetes screening

MinuteClinic providers can administer type 2 diabetes screening tests and perform examinations. They can review and help you understand the key health indicators from the test results. They can also make treatment recommendations.

1. Prior to scheduling your appointment, you may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit.
2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:


   
   If you made your appointment online:

   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.


   
   If you made your appointment in the clinic:

   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.
   
3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
   
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
   
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

A MinuteClinic® provider will give you an FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test to measure the blood glucose level at a single point in time. For the most reliable results, FPG testing usually happens in the morning, after you fast by not eating or drinking anything for at least 8 hours. Your MinuteClinic provider will take a blood sample from your finger to test your blood glucose. If you are not fasting, MinuteClinic providers can also diagnose diabetes with a random blood sugar or A1C (glycated hemoglobin) test.

Diabetes screening allows prediabetes or diabetes to be discovered sooner. It lets you get early treatment, manage the condition and prevent more serious health issues.

Both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are believed to be genetic conditions with one or both parents contributing to risk factors. This means if one or both parents have Type 1, a child of those parents needs diabetes testing from because the disease often arises in childhood. Type 2 diabetes typically takes longer to develop. This is because it mainly occurs due to lifestyle factors. You may have risk factors for the disease and never develop it if you maintain a healthy diet and exercise plan.

Causes of Type 1 diabetes

• Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. The medical community doesn't know what causes Type 1 diabetes, but they think that genes or environmental factors, such as viruses, might trigger the disease.

Causes of Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops over the course of many years and is caused by several factors including:

• Obesity (being overweight)
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor nutrition
• Genes & family history

• Excessive thirst and dry mouth
• Sudden weight loss
• Frequent urination
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Constant hunger
• Blurred vision
• Numbness in hands and feet
• Slow-healing wounds

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly — even in a matter of weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop over time and can be so mild that you might not even notice them.

Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes because it usually begins in childhood. Type 1 diabetes involves insulin therapy.

Currently, there is no evidence of interventions that can prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, so routine screening for type 1 diabetes is generally not recommended. MinuteClinic® providers do not manage type 1 diabetes. 

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Often, no symptoms appear in the early stages. For this reason, it may not be diagnosed for many years. People with no diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes are at risk of chronic hyperglycemia. It is a condition associated with long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.

Early diabetes screening tests can help people avoid the more severe complications of the disease. There is also a greater likelihood of abnormal cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity in individuals with diabetes. At present, no cure exists for type 2 diabetes. However, medical treatment, weight management, nutrition and exercise can reduce its effects.

Type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable. Your primary care provider can help you manage type 1 diabetes with treatment. You may avoid or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by improving your diet and getting more exercise. Health care providers recommend 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week to help avoid type 2 diabetes. Quitting smoking may also make a big impact on diabetes prevention.

Weight-loss programs as well as changes you can make to your diet, including adding more nonstarchy vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and peppers. Lean protein, fruits and whole grains may also help with prevention. You can also replace sodas and sugary drinks with water or unsweetened beverages.