Getting Diagnosed
1. How are diabetes and pre-diabetes
diagnosed?
The following tests are used for diagnosis:
- A fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose
after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating. This test is used to
detect diabetes or pre-diabetes.
- An oral glucose tolerance test measures your blood glucose
after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating and 2 hours after you drink
a glucose-containing beverage. This test can be used to diagnose diabetes or
pre-diabetes.
- In a random plasma glucose test, your doctor checks your
blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along
with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not
pre-diabetes.
Positive test results should be confirmed by repeating the fasting plasma
glucose test or the oral glucose tolerance test on a different day.
2. When should I be tested for
diabetes?
Anyone 45 years old or older should consider getting tested for diabetes. If
you are 45 or older and your Body Mass Index (BMI) indicates that you are
overweight, it is strongly recommended that you get tested. If you are younger
than 45, are overweight, and have one or more of the risk factors, you should
consider testing. Ask your doctor for a FPG or an OGTT. Your doctor will tell
you if you have normal blood glucose, pre-diabetes, or diabetes. If your blood
glucose is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range (called
pre-diabetes), have your blood glucose checked in 1 to 2 years.
3. What factors increase my risk for type
2 diabetes?
- I am 45 or older.
- I am overweight or obese
- I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
- My family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American,
Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino.
- I have had gestational diabetes, or I gave birth to at least one baby
weighing more than 9 pounds.
- My blood pressure is 130/85 or higher, or I have been told that I have high
blood pressure
- My cholesterol levels are not normal. My HDL cholesterol ("good"
cholesterol) is lower than 1.0 mmol/l (men) or lower than 1.3 mmol/l (women),
or my triglyceride level is 1.7 mmol/l or higher.
- I am fairly inactive. I exercise fewer than three times a week.
Source: 2003 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and
Management of Diabetes in Canada
Important Notice: Information provided is for general
background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis
or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your
physician about any health care questions you may have, especially before
trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to health care
issues.