Diabetes Tests Explained

Diabetes is among the most common diseases worldwide. People often ask questions such as "What blood test shows diabetes?" and "Can a blood test detect diabetes?" Therefore, it is critical for people to learn about the disease.

Normal blood sugar levels should be less than 140 mg/dL. However, no matter how stringent the diet, it is impossible to determine a person's blood sugar levels independently. As a result, methods for detecting a person's blood sugar levels emerged.

Diabetes symptoms may not develop right away. Various medical tests, however, may allow a doctor to discover the illness in its early stages.

These tests can diagnose several types of diabetes, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

In this guide, we will look at the various types of diabetes and the tests that may be used to detect them, as well as the processes and outcomes. We also discuss home testing tools and when to visit a doctor.

Want to reverse your diabetes? Book our diabetes management programme today.

What are diabetes tests?

So, what is the diabetes test? The answer is a blood test. Physicians could identify diabetes more accurately by obtaining blood samples and evaluating their sugar levels.

But what blood tests detect diabetes? Let us have a better understanding of the numerous types of diabetes testing accessible today:

Type 2

Doctors can use multiple tests to identify type 2 diabetes. In this condition, the body creates insulin but is unable to use it efficiently.

1. Hemoglobin A1c

The A1c test is one of the most often used diabetes tests.

The doctor may also call this the haemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or glycated haemoglobin test. It analyzes the binding of glucose (blood sugar) molecules to haemoglobin, a component of red blood cells.

The A1c test results show a person's average blood sugar level over three months. If this level exceeds 5.7%, it indicates that there is a constant, abnormally high amount of glucose in the blood.

A person does not need to fast before performing this test, which just requires a small blood sample. An A1c test results alone may be enough for a clinician to diagnose diabetes. However, it can only detect type 2 diabetes.

2. Fasting plasma glucose test

The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test requires a person to fast for 8 hours before providing a blood sample. The doctor's office normally schedules it early in the morning, and the test often includes drawing blood from a finger, which some healthcare professionals refer to as a "finger-stick test," or a vein in the arm. This tests your blood sugar levels following an overnight fast (no eating).

• Normal: 99 mg/dL or less.
• Prediabetes: 100 to 125 mg/dL.
• Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or above.

3. Random plasma glucose test

A random plasma glucose (RPG) test may also entail a finger prick or blood draw from an arm vein. The primary distinction between this test and an FPG test is that an RPG test does not need the individual to fast in preparation.

• Normal: n/a.
• Prediabetes: not applicable.
• Diabetes: 200 mg/dL or more.

Test your blood sugar today. Book a checkup now!

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes can be challenging to diagnose. It develops when the body does not create enough insulin, a hormone required to metabolize blood sugar.

Without treatment, type 1 diabetes can produce extremely high blood sugar levels. Insulin injections are used to treat this condition.

If a doctor suspects type 1 diabetes, he or she will examine the patient to see if they are having symptoms such as excessive exhaustion or flu-like symptoms.

The doctor may also utilize the following tests:

1. FPG: This blood test measures how well the body processes glucose.
2. Oral glucose tolerance test: In this test, a person must fast before drinking a glucose-containing solution. A healthcare practitioner will then take blood sugar readings every hour for 2-3 hours.

At two hours:

• Normal: 140 mg/dL or less.
• Prediabetes: 140 to 199 mg/dL.
• Diabetes: 200 mg/dL or more.

3. A1c: This test can determine average blood sugar levels over the previous three months, although the results may be inappropriately low in persons with type 1 diabetes.

If the results are inconclusive, the doctor can prescribe any of the following tests:

4. C-peptide: In addition to insulin, the pancreas produces this protein. Low levels of C-peptide in the blood may indicate low insulin levels.
5. Insulin autoantibodies: This test detects the presence of proteins that target and destroy insulin.
6. Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies: Doctors employ this test to detect antibodies capable of destroying enzymes in insulin-producing cells.
7. Insulinoma is related to two autoantibodies: The existence of these antibodies may also signal that the body is fighting the insulin-producing cells.

Gestational Diabetes

Doctors usually use two tests to detect gestational diabetes, which occurs in pregnant women.

1. The glucose screening test

This measures your blood sugar at the moment of testing. You will consume a beverage containing glucose. Then, one hour later, your blood will be collected to determine your blood sugar level. A normal result is 140 mg/dL or less. If your level exceeds 140 mg/dL, you will need to undergo a glucose tolerance test.

2. Glucose tolerance test

This test measures your blood sugar levels before and after you ingest a glucose-containing liquid. You will fast (not eat) overnight before the test and have your blood drawn to determine your fasting blood sugar level. Then you'll drink the liquid and have your blood sugar checked. These tests are frequently performed one, two, or three hours later.

Results may vary based on the size of the glucose drink and how frequently your blood sugar is measured. Inquire with your doctor about the interpretation of your test results.

Change your lifestyle, change your life. Book a dietitian service today.

Home testing

Some tests can be performed at home by an individual. This includes:

1. Blood sugar tests

Blood sugar can be measured using home testing kits. The components of the kits vary, but the majority include:

Supplies include lancets for finger pricking, test strips for blood collection, and a glucometer for sample evaluation and reading.

A doctor will assess a patient's target blood sugar levels and explain which findings require medical treatment.

2. Urine Ketone Testing

A different sort of home test looks for the presence of ketones in the urine, which the body makes by breaking down lipids for energy. Ketones usually suggest that the body has insufficient insulin.

Most pharmacies sell these kits. The test consists of taking a urine sample and then inserting the supplied strips into the urine. These will signal the existence of ketones.

If ketone levels are moderate to high, a person should seek medical assistance.

Summary: 

A doctor or qualified diabetes educator can provide more information about the tests and their purpose. The majority of testing are blood tests, however, a urine ketone test can also reveal whether the body is producing enough insulin.

Following a diagnosis, the doctor may perform some of these tests to monitor the effectiveness of a diabetic's treatment plan.

FAQs

1. How do you check for diabetes at home?

Prick your finger, place a drop of blood on a test strip, and insert it into the glucometer to get your blood sugar reading.

2. How do I get tested for diabetes?

Always consult a diabetic specialist, who can order the necessary blood tests for diabetes.

3. How do doctors check for diabetes?

Doctors order diabetic blood tests, such as sugar tolerance tests, to determine the patient's average glucose level and compare it to normal blood sugar levels.

4. How to use diabetic test strips?

Insert the test strip into the glucometer, apply a drop of blood, and wait for the device to display your glucose level.

5. What is the blood test for diabetes?

There are various typical blood sugar tests, including the HbA1C test and the type 2 diabetes blood test.