10-second, DIY test reveals your diabetes risk

Last July, The CDC reported that more than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or prediabetes. If you’ve ever wondered about your risk for developing this chronic disease, I’ve got a simple DIY quiz you can take right now to figure out where you stand.

Of course, if you investigate possible diabetes symptoms online, you’ll likely come across the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. It only takes a few moments to answer seven questions that will give you a quick assessment of your own risk.

As a general overview, this test isn’t bad. But it relies on some sweeping generalizations, which might end up giving you a false sense of security.

For instance, you’ll score quite a bit lower if you’re under age 40 than if you’re over age 60. But age isn’t a very reliable risk factor these days, thanks to out-of-control consumption of processed foods and added sugars across all age groups.

Another pitfall is gender. Men score an extra point because, in general, they’re more likely than women to have undiagnosed diabetes.

And while carrying too much weight also puts you at higher risk, many “normal weight” people still develop diabetes.

You can see what I’m getting at here. If you’re a 38-year-old female who’s not overweight with normal blood pressure and no family history of diabetes, you’ll come away from this test thinking you’re just fine… when really, the opposite might be true.

I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t take the ADA test. But you should know that there’s a better —  and faster — way to assess your true diabetes risk.

It all comes down to sugar

In Dr. Fred Pescatore’s Metabolic Repair Protocol, he asks this question: “Do you eat sugar?” If your answer is yes, you’re likely a candidate for prediabetes. Simple as that.

But to get an even more accurate picture of your overall risk, he doesn’t stop there. He has a total of 15 questions, including these:

  • Do you eat processed foods?
  • Do you eat white flour?
  • Do you drink soda (either diet or regular)?

If you answer yes to any of these, chances are, you’re in the prediabetes danger zone — or heading straight for it.

Dr. Pescatore points out that the ADA questionnaire asks nothing about your diet or sugar intake, which he believes is “far more important than your age, or even your weight.”

The next two steps reveal all 

Of course, questionnaires like the one you’ll find in Dr. Pescatore’s Metabolic Repair Protocol are a great start in determining your overall diabetes risk.

But to know your metabolic status beyond a shadow of a doubt, Dr. Pescatore also recommends asking your doctor for two simple blood tests, which reveal your true insulin and blood sugar status:

  • Fasting blood glucose

This test measures your blood sugar level after 12 hours of fasting.

o   Dr. Pescatore notes that 70 to 80 mg/dL is a healthy level.

o   A level between 80 and 95 mg/dL is an early warning that you’re nearing a danger zone.

o   Prediabetic is a level between 95 and 110 mg/dL.

o   Above that, diabetes is likely.

  • HbA1c

This test shows your blood sugar levels over the previous six weeks, so it’s able to confirm a diagnosis.

o   A level between 5.7 and 6.3 percent indicates prediabetes.

o   Anything above 6.3 percent is considered diabetes.

Ironically, a lower HbA1C isn’t always better. Dr. Pescatore explains: “If you already have diabetes, trying to force the number down could be dangerous. A recent study showed that diabetics with HbA1C levels under 7 had the highest death risk. So diabetics should aim to keep theirs as close to 7 as possible.”

For more on determining your personal risk — as well as sensible, all-natural strategies to prevent, treat, and even reverse prediabetes and diabetes, refer to Dr. Pescatore’s Metabolic Repair Protocol. Click here to learn more about this online learning tool or to enroll today.

 

SOURCES

diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/diabetes-risk-test/
Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test
American Diabetes Association

cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html
New CDC report: More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes
Center for Disease Control