How is diabetes diagnosed?
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes. In the OGTT test, a person’s blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.
The fasting blood glucose (sugar) test is the preferred way to diagnose diabetes. It is easy to perform and convenient. After the person has fasted overnight (at least 8 hours), a single sample of blood is drawn and sent to the laboratory for analysis. This can also be done accurately in a doctor’s office using a glucose meter. • Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). • Fasting plasma glucose levels of more than 126 mg/dl on two or more tests on different days indicate diabetes. • A random blood glucose test can also be used to diagnose diabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl or higher indicates diabetes. When fasting blood glucose stays above 100mg/dl, but in the range of 100-126mg/dl, this is known as impaired fasting glucose (IFG). While patients with IFG do not have the diagnosis of diabetes, this condition carries with it its own risks and concerns, and is addressed elsewhere. The oral glucose tolerance test Though not routine
” + ” To find out if you have diabetes, your healthcare provider can ask if you’ve noticed any signs or symptoms of diabetes, like being thirsty or tired, going to the bathroom a lot, having tingling in your feet, or experiencing blurry vision. These are clues that you might have diabetes. Your healthcare provider can also do tests to see how much sugar is in your blood. If there’s too much sugar, you probably have diabetes. One of these tests is just a simple finger prick. This test uses a small drop of blood to see if your sugar levels are too high. Another test, called a ‘fasting glucose test,’ is done after you haven’t had anything to eat for 10 hours. Blood is then taken from your arm and sent to the lab to be analyzed. Usually, when you haven’t eaten for a while, your body should keep your sugar levels at about 60 to 110. But, if you have diabetes, the sugar levels will be higher than normal. If the fasting sugar levels are more than 126, your doctor will do the test again on ano
