"DX diabetes" refers to the diagnosis of diabetes. The abbreviation "DX" is commonly used in medical contexts to represent "diagnosis." So, "DX diabetes" essentially means the process and criteria used to confirm that someone has diabetes. One key diagnostic marker is fasting blood glucose.
More specifically:
- Diabetes is generally diagnosed when a fasting blood glucose level is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L). This is usually confirmed with a repeat test on a different day.
This elevated glucose level indicates that the body is not properly regulating blood sugar, a hallmark of diabetes. Other tests, like the A1C test (measuring average blood sugar over several months) and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), can also be used to diagnose diabetes.
