How Is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed? 3 Key Tests to Know About

Testing for Type 2 diabetes is crucial. Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes often do not appear until blood sugar levels are already very high. That means you could live for months or years with Type 2 diabetes and not even know it.

What tests do doctors use to diagnose Type 2 diabetes?

Your doctor will want to check the following numbers to see whether you have type 2 diabetes.

Fasting blood glucose test

This number tests how much glucose is in the blood when you’re in a fasting state (usually at least eight hours), and this is included in routine blood tests. A fasting blood glucose equal to or greater than 126 may indicate type 2 diabetes.

A1C test

The A1C test measures your average blood sugar over two to three months. An A1C level above 6.5 is consistent with type 2 diabetes.

Glucose tolerance test

In this test, doctors will record your fasting blood glucose, and then have you drink 75 grams of a glucose drink. After two hours, you’ll take a blood glucose test again and see how much glucose is still in the blood—or how well your body “tolerates” glucose. After the second test, a number above 200 mg/dL indicates type 2 diabetes.

It’s possible for one test to suggest you have type 2 diabetes and another to show “normal” results. That’s why doctors may do repeat tests to get a more accurate picture.

Don’t wait until you’ve noticed symptoms of diabetes, which may not show up until the disease has progressed to an advanced state. An early diagnosis of diabetes  has many benefits for your health, such as reducing the risk of serious complications.