A variety of blood tests can diagnose diabetes. Some tests directly measure your blood sugar (glucose). Another test shows the effect of blood sugar levels on hemoglobin proteins in the blood. This is called the A1C test.
A woman who is pregnant can be diagnosed with a special form of diabetes called
gestational diabetes. The cutoffs for diagnosing this form of diabetes are different. That's because glucose levels usually are lower during pregnancy.
Generally, you have to have blood tests on two separate days to be diagnosed with diabetes. Both tests must fit the criteria above.
Your doctor usually can tell you the type of diabetes that you have based on your medical history, family history and a physical examination. Most people diagnosed as adults (except during pregnancy) have type 2 diabetes.
If your glucose or A1C level is above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, you may have
pre-diabetes. A glucose level in this range does not usually cause sugar-related symptoms, such as frequent urination, extra thirst or blurred vision. It does increase the chance that you will eventually develop diabetes. Even before diabetes develops, high blood sugar increases your risk of
long-term complications. Don't be confused! The numbers that are used for diagnosing diabetes are different than the numbers that are used as
goals for treatment in diabetes.
