patient's symptoms. Table 1-2 below describes criteria for screening individuals for

diabetes and Table 1-3 outlines criteria used for the diagnosis of diabetes.






 Diagnosed
 Undiagnosed
 50% 0O Pre-diabetes

 17%



Figure 1-2: Percentages of Pre-diabetic, Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Diabetics in 2002
 [13]

 There are so many undiagnosed cases of diabetes, primarily due to the fact that

diabetes is an insidious disease that one may have for decades without knowing it [13].

 Diagnostic tests for diabetes include: oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting

plasma glucose (FPG), and A1C. The OGTT is more sensitive than the other tests and

more specific diagnostic test than FPG, but not very reproducible so it is used less

frequently. Although FPG is less specific, it is less costly, easy to use and has high

patient acceptance.

 The OGTT performed having the patient fast for at least eight hours to test the

patients fasting glucose level. After that baseline the patient receives 75 grams of glucose

and blood samples are taken up to four times over a 2-3 hours time period to measure the

blood glucose. In a person without diabetes, the glucose levels rise and then quickly fall.

In diabetics the glucose levels rise higher than normal and do not fall as quickly.