Diagnosis – Diagnostic tests include:
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test shows your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. It measures the amount of blood sugar attached to the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells (hemoglobin). The higher the blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you’ll have with sugar attached. An A1C level of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests means you have diabetes.
If the A1C test isn’t available, or if you have certain conditions that can make the A1C test inaccurate — such as pregnancy or an uncommon form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin variant) — your provider may use these tests:
Random blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken at a random time and may be confirmed by additional tests. Blood sugar values are expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L). No matter when you last ate, a random blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher suggests diabetes. Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken after you don’t eat (fast) overnight. A fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is healthy. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered prediabetes. If it’s 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, you have diabetes.
If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, your provider may also run blood tests. These will check for autoantibodies that are common in type 1 diabetes. The tests help your provider decide between type 1 and type 2 diabetes when the diagnosis isn’t certain. The presence of ketones — byproducts from the breakdown of fat — in your urine also suggests type 1 diabetes, rather than type 2.
What test determines type 1 or type 2 diabetes?
Random Blood Sugar Test – This measures your blood sugar at the time you’re tested. You can take this test at any time and don’t need to fast (not eat) first. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.
| Result* | A1C Test | Fasting Blood Sugar Test | Glucose Tolerance Test | Random Blood Sugar Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 6.5% or above | 126 mg/dL or above | 200 mg/dL or above | 200 mg/dL or above |
| Prediabetes | 5.7 – 6.4% | 100 – 125 mg/dL | 140 – 199 mg/dL | N/A |
| Normal | Below 5.7% | 99 mg/dL or below | 140 mg/dL or below | N/A |
Results for gestational diabetes can differ. Ask your health care provider what your results mean if you’re being tested for gestational diabetes. Source: American Diabetes Association If your doctor thinks you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may also tested for autoantibodies (substances that indicate your body is attacking itself) that are often present in type 1 diabetes but not in type 2 diabetes.
How do they diagnose type 1 diabetes?
How do health care professionals diagnose type 1 diabetes? – Health care professionals usually test people for type 1 diabetes if they have clear-cut diabetes symptoms. Health care professionals most often use the random plasma glucose (RPG) test to diagnose type 1 diabetes.
This blood test measures your blood glucose level at a single point in time. Sometimes health professionals also use the A1C blood test to find out how long someone has had high blood glucose. Even though these tests can confirm that you have diabetes, they can’t identify what type you have. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes, so knowing whether you have type 1 or type 2 is important.
To find out if your diabetes is type 1, your health care professional may test your blood for certain autoantibodies. Autoantibodies are antibodies that attack your healthy tissues and cells by mistake. The presence of certain types of autoantibodies is common in type 1 but not in type 2 diabetes.
Because type 1 diabetes can run in families, your health care professional can test your family members for autoantibodies. Type 1 diabetes TrialNet, an international research network, also offers autoantibody testing to family members of people diagnosed with the disease. The presence of autoantibodies, even without diabetes symptoms, means the family member is more likely to develop type 1 diabetes.
If you have a brother or sister, child, or parent with type 1 diabetes, you may want to get an autoantibody test. People age 20 or younger who have a cousin, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, or half-sibling with type 1 diabetes also may want to get tested.
How are type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
Diagnosis – Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed using the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Results are interpreted as follows:
Below 5.7% is normal.5.7% to 6.4% is diagnosed as prediabetes.6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes.
If the A1C test isn’t available, or if you have certain conditions that interfere with an A1C test, your doctor may use the following tests to diagnose diabetes: Random blood sugar test. Blood sugar values are expressed in milligrams of sugar per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles of sugar per liter (mmol/L) of blood.
Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L ) is normal.100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes.126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L ) or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes.
Oral glucose tolerance test. This test is less commonly used than the others, except during pregnancy. You’ll need to fast overnight and then drink a sugary liquid at the doctor’s office. Blood sugar levels are tested periodically for the next two hours. Results are interpreted as follows:
Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L ) is normal.140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes.200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L ) or higher after two hours suggests diabetes.
Screening. The American Diabetes Association recommends routine screening with diagnostic tests for type 2 diabetes in all adults age 35 or older and in the following groups:
People younger than 35 who are overweight or obese and have one or more risk factors associated with diabetes Women who have had gestational diabetes People who have been diagnosed with prediabetes Children who are overweight or obese and who have a family history of type 2 diabetes or other risk factors
Is prediabetes type 1 or type 2?
What Causes Prediabetes? – Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don’t respond normally to insulin. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond.
What glucose level indicates type 1 diabetes?
Exams and Tests – Diabetes is diagnosed with the following blood tests:
Fasting blood glucose level – Diabetes is diagnosed if it is 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher two different times.Random (non-fasting) blood glucose level – You may have diabetes if it is 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher, and you have symptoms such as increased thirst, urination, and fatigue. (This must be confirmed with a fasting test.) Oral glucose tolerance test – Diabetes is diagnosed if the glucose level is 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher 2 hours after you drink a special sugar drink. Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) test – Diabetes is diagnosed if the result of the test is 6.5% or higher.
Ketone testing is also used sometimes. The ketone test is done using a urine sample or blood sample, Ketone testing may be done to determine if someone with type 1 diabetes has had ketoacidosis. Testing is usually done:
When the blood sugar is higher than 240 mg/dL (13.3 mmol/L)During an illness such as pneumonia, heart attack, or stroke When nausea and vomiting occurDuring pregnancy
The following exams and tests will help you and your health are provider monitor your diabetes and prevent problems caused by diabetes:
Check the skin and bones on your feet and legs.Check if your feet are getting numb ( diabetic nerve disease ).Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. The goal should be 140/90 mmHg or lower.Have an A1C test done every 6 months if your diabetes is well controlled. Have the test done every 3 months if your diabetes is not well controlled.Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked once a year.Get tests once a year to make sure your kidneys are working well. These tests include checking levels of microalbuminuria and serum creatinine,Visit your eye doctor at least once a year, or more often if you have signs of diabetic eye disease,See the dentist every 6 months for a thorough dental cleaning and exam. Make sure your dentist and hygienist know that you have diabetes.
Can type 2 diabetes change to type 1?
Type 2 diabetes can’t turn into type 1 diabetes. They’re separate conditions with distinct causes. Type 1 diabetes tends to develop in early childhood while type 2 diabetes can take years to develop. However, some people may be misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes when they have another condition. Keep reading to learn more about type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and other diagnoses.
Can you be borderline type one diabetic?
We generally assume a diagnosis of prediabetes points us towards a future risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but we should not overlook an association or pre-diabetic stage surrounding type 1 diabetes. We generally assume a diagnosis of prediabetes points us towards a future risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Most nationally-led health campaigns surrounding prediabetes clearly define the link between prediabetes and risk of developing T2D. A majority of clinical statistics show individuals undergoing prediabetes diagnostic testing will have a direct link to the disease of T2D. However, we should not overlook an association or pre-diabetic stage surrounding type 1 diabetes (T1D).
A study by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health revealed that type 1 diabetes occurs in 90 percent of patients with no family history of the disease. Although the peak incidence occurs during adolescence, there are data to suggest that 5–10 percent of all adults diagnosed with T2D may actually have T1D, (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults ).
Diabetes – A condition characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) resulting from the body’s inability to use blood glucose for energy. Type 1 diabetes – A condition characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by a total lack of insulin. This occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in young people but can appear in adults. Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults – A type of diabetes, usually first diagnosed after age 30, in which people show signs of both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Most people with LADA still produce their own insulin when first diagnosed and do not require insulin injections. Some experts believe that LADA is a slowly developing kind of type 1 diabetes because patients have antibodies against the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Several years after diagnosis, people with LADA must take insulin to control blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes – A condition characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by either a lack of insulin or the body’s inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older adults but can appear in children, teens, and young people. Prediabetes – A condition where blood glucose or hemoglobin A1C levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
If you have prediabetes or if you have been told you are at a high-risk for diabetes, routine clinical and medical testing can help manage your health and monitor your diabetes risk. To learn more about diabetes symptoms and diabetes risk throughout the lifespan, visit Michigan State University Extension,
Can type 1 diabetes develop slowly?
Project summary – In some people, the immune attack that causes Type 1 diabetes can progress slowly from childhood. In other people, it can start later in life and progress quickly. Dr Anna Long will study the immune systems of these different groups to find out why some people develop Type 1 diabetes more slowly.