Diagnosis?
Usually your doctor will do a blood test to determine whether or not you have diabetes or pre-diabetes. A diagnosis of diabetes can be made by several different tests. The following chart lists the tests used to diagnose diabetes.
Tests Used to Diagnose Diabetes.
| Normal |
Less than 100mg/dL |
|
Less than 140mg/dL after 2 hours |
| Pre-Diabetes |
Greater than or equal to 100 and less than 126 mg/dL |
|
Greater than or equal to 140 & less than 200mg/dL after 2 hours |
| Diabetes |
Greater than or equal to 126mg/dL |
Greater than or equal to 200mg/dL w/ symptoms |
Greater than or equal to 200mg/dL after 2 hours |
| Gestational Diabetes |
Greater than or equal to 95mg/dL (as part of OGTT) |
|
Greater than or equal to 180mg/dL after 1 hour Greater than or equal to 155mg/dL after 2 hours Greater than or equal to 140mg/dL after 3 hours |
View chart larger
Brief Description of Tests:
- Fasting Blood Glucose Test: Measured after you have not eaten for 8 hours. The Fasting Blood Glucose is the preferred test for diagnosis since it is easier and faster to perform, more convenient, and less expensive.
- Random Blood Glucose Test: Measurement is taken at any time, but must then be accompanied by the presence of symptoms to diagnose diabetes. A Random Blood Glucose test is taken anytime of the day without regard to food intake.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (or OGTT): Measurement of blood glucose level is taken after you have consumed a drink, containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water (100 grams are used to test for Gestational Diabetes).
