Finding diabetes can help to decrease complications. It may also find a condition called prediabetes. This is a blood glucose level that is high but not yet diabetes. It will often move on to type 2 diabetes. Finding it early may help to prevent diabetes from starting.
Screening tests are given to people who may be at high risk.
Screening Guidelines
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in the following:
- Adults who are overweight or
obese
with one or more of these risk factors:
- First-degree relative with diabetes
- High-risk group (African American, Latino, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)
- History of cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
-
Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (good) cholesterol level and
high triglycerides
levels
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Inactive lifestyle
- Other conditions that can cause insulin resistance such as severe obesity, acanthosis nigricans
- Women who have had gestational diabetes
- Anyone with previous prediabetes
- Adults aged 45 and older with or without risk factors
- Overweight children over 10 years old (or after puberty starts) with 1 or more of these risk factors:
- High body mass index (BMI) based on child's weight and height
- Family history of any type of diabetes, including during pregnancy
- Signs of insulin resistance or having a condition associated with insulin resistance
- At-risk ethnic background
Screening may be repeated again in 3 years.
Screening Tests
HbA1c Test
The HbA1c test is a good indicator of your average blood glucose levels over the past 2-4 months. This test usually does not require any dietary restrictions.
| Diagnosis | HbA1c Level |
|---|
| Prediabetes | 5.7%-6.4% |
| Diabetes | 6.5% or higher |
Fasting Plasma Glucose
With this blood test, you need to fast (not eat anything) for at least 8 hours before the test.
| Diagnosis | Fasting Plasma Glucose Level |
|---|
| Prediabetes | 100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) |
| Diabetes | 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher |
Two-Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
After fasting overnight, the doctor tests your glucose level. You are then asked to drink 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. Two hours later, the doctor tests your glucose level again.
| Diagnosis | Glucose Levels |
|---|
| Prediabetes | 140-199 mg/dL (7.8-11 mmol/L) |
| Diabetes | 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher |
