How do you get tested for Diabetes? This is a very significant question, as most patients find out about pre-diabetes or the development of diabetes much later, after the disease and its early symptoms have already occurred. Therefore, it is imperative to have access to appropriate healthcare providers who can detect diabetes along with regular medical checkups.With the increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide, many people find themselves asking: Can urgent care test for diabetes? and Can a primary care physician treat diabetes? The answer is yes, but with a distinction between the two types of healthcare providers.
In this article, we’ll explore the role of both urgent care centers and primary care physicians in diabetes testing, diagnosis, and treatment for the general knowledge and benefit of the public at large.
What is Diabetes?
Before going any deeper into the subject matter, I believe it is important for readers to understand what diabetes is. A very significant sugar required by various body parts and organs to operate at optimal potential is glucose. There is a mechanism in the human body responsible for converting food particles into glucose, which is then disseminated across the body for normal functioning.
An abnormality frequently occurs when the body is unable to decompose all the glucose and related elements from the food we consume. This results in the accumulation of unprocessed sugar elements as sediments. This abnormality causes nausea, organ malfunctions, lack of energy, vision impairment, blood circulation issues, and, in acute cases, amputations. This entirely constitutes the disease—diabetes.
It is also necessary to know that diabetes has no quick fixes or medicinal cures invented as of yet. This is a long-term disease and requires the patient to gain an in-depth understanding of their ailment and how to live with it and function normally until it is managed through medical treatments and certain lifestyle changes.
Who is at Risk of Diabetes?
Although there is no hard and fast rule for detecting who is prone to diabetes, there are a few yardsticks that have been developed through clinical research that could effectively be used to give a prognosis as to who is more susceptible.
Family History
If someone in your family has diabetes, especially close blood relatives, there is a higher chance of developing the disease. Although this is a pattern, it remains one of the biggest misconceptions about the disease, as anyone can develop diabetes.
Malnutrition
Excessive consumption of sugary foods combined with an inactive lifestyle may also result in excessive sugar being left undecomposed, thereby developing diabetes. People who are obese are also at a higher risk of developing the condition.
Ethnicity
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people who are African American or Hispanic are twice as likely to develop diabetes as their white counterparts.
Major Symptoms of Diabetes
As mentioned above, diabetes is a complex disease. Although you can have regular checks to detect the disease at urgent care centers or with primary care physicians, it is not always possible to determine which stage of developing diabetes you are in. Most commonly, diabetes and its severity are diagnosed with the following symptoms:
- Frequent urination or unnatural urination cycles
- Constant thirst
- Inability to rest at night due to the need to urinate every half hour
- Distorted vision
- Excessive weight loss
A chronic state of diabetes is referred to as ketoacidosis in its worst form (DKA). In this stage, you will develop extreme symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, mental dullness, swelling in the legs, partial body paralysis or weakness, seizures, or even a coma.
If not treated properly and left unattended, diabetes can result in mortality due to severe complications, including kidney or nerve damage, or clogging of the arteries.
Can Urgent Care Test for Diabetes?
So, can they test for diabetes? The answer is yes! Urgent care centers commonly use finger-stick tests to measure blood sugar levels quickly. The results and early diagnosis are generally accurate, but that is all that an urgent care center can offer in terms of diabetes care. They are not qualified to write prescriptions or undertake long-term treatment of the disease.
So, what is the benefit of an urgent care center when it comes to diabetes? They can conduct blood tests and serve as a source for early diagnosis, even if you are admitted as a patient for treatment of minor ailments or injuries.
While urgent care centers can perform a quick glucose test, they do not typically have the capacity for comprehensive blood work. For more detailed testing, your primary care physician is the best option.
In the case of blood sugar emergencies or minor procedures for diabetics, urgent care centers might provide short-term solutions, such as prescribing and administering insulin. But, can urgent care prescribe diabetes medication for long-term management? The answer is no.
What Urgent Care Tests Are Available for Diabetes?
At an urgent care center, you can expect to be asked a few questions about your diabetes history, medications, and symptoms. This helps the healthcare provider develop a general understanding of your condition and determine whether you have diabetes or which stage it may be in. Following this, a test called the “random blood glucose test” will likely be performed.
If this test shows elevated blood sugar levels, your urgent care doctor may recommend a “Fasting Plasma Glucose Test,” which provides a more accurate indication of diabetes.
In the fasting glucose test, you will be asked to fast before receiving glucose to determine how efficiently your body processes it. This may then be followed by an A1C test, which measures long-term patterns of glucose levels and how the body processes it. The results of this test are not immediately available, as the samples must be sent to a lab for analysis.
In summary, several tests are available at urgent care centers, depending on how well-equipped the facility is and the scope of the physician’s practice. In some cases, one or more advanced tests may not be available at all urgent care centers.
What Results Do These Tests Generate?
All of the above tests are conducted to provide an accurate diagnosis of your condition. These tests are essential for determining the level of diabetes present. The levels are classified as follows:
Type 1 Diabetes:
This is an advanced form of diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. It is insulin-dependent because the pancreas is unable to produce the required amount of insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes:
This is the most common form of diabetes. It typically does not require insulin and is a milder form of the disease that can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes such as exercise.
Can a Primary Care Physician Treat Diabetes?
The role of the Primary Care Physician (PCP) is much broader. A PCP, or General Physician (GP), is qualified and well-equipped for diagnosing and managing a wide range of both normal and chronic diseases, including advanced stages of diabetes. When you visit your PCP for diabetes care, they will review your medical history, symptoms, and any preliminary test results, such as glucose or A1C tests.
Based on this information, your primary care physician can diagnose the type of diabetes you may have—whether it’s Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes. Upon diagnosis, they will recommend the treatment plan best suited to your case.
Once diagnosed, a primary care physician can provide comprehensive management of your condition. They can prescribe medications, such as metformin or insulin, guide you on necessary lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, and monitor your blood glucose levels over time.
Regular follow-ups with a PCP or GP are essential to ensure that your diabetes is well-controlled and managed effectively.
Differences between Urgent Care Centers and Primary Health Providers
While both urgent care centers and primary care physicians play important roles in healthcare, they differ significantly when it comes to managing chronic conditions like diabetes. Urgent care centers are designed for immediate, short-term care, dealing primarily with injuries, infections, and sudden illnesses. They are suitable for initial testing and emergency circumstances, such as detecting high blood sugar levels through a finger-stick glucose test. However, many urgent care facilities lack the necessary tools for thorough diagnosis and ongoing care. They cannot prescribe long-term diabetic medications or treat the chronic aspects of the disease, though they can offer short-term stabilization, such as administering insulin in emergencies.
Providing early detection and referring patients to a primary care physician for more comprehensive care is a key part of their role. However, urgent care cannot diagnose diabetes on its own. A comprehensive diagnosis should be made by a primary care physician after a full evaluation and additional tests. In contrast, primary care physicians (PCPs) are responsible for the long-term management of diabetes. They are qualified and capable of performing thorough diagnostic procedures, such as the A1C test, to accurately diagnose and monitor diabetes.
A word of advice
By understanding the differences between urgent care and primary care in managing diabetes, you can ensure you’re receiving the right treatment at the right time. Always consult with your primary care physician for the long-term management of diabetes, while using urgent care for immediate or emergency situations.
FAQs
1. Can urgent care test for diabetes?
Yes, urgent care centers can perform basic glucose tests to screen for diabetes, but they cannot provide a complete diagnosis.
2. Can urgent care diagnose diabetes?
Urgent care centers can identify symptoms of diabetes but cannot provide a formal diagnosis. A primary care physician is needed for that.
3. Does urgent care do blood work for diabetes?
Urgent care centers typically perform quick glucose tests but do not provide comprehensive blood work like A1C tests.
4. Can urgent care prescribe diabetes medication?
While urgent care centers can provide short-term prescriptions, they generally cannot prescribe long-term diabetes medications. For chronic management, see your primary care physician.
5. Can a primary care physician treat diabetes?
Yes, a primary care physician can diagnose and manage diabetes, prescribe medication, and provide ongoing support for diabetes care.