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Diabetes – What are Type 2 Diabetes Exams and Tests? | Exams and Tests For Type 2 Diabetes | Diabetes Type 2 Exams and Tests

This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. It works by measuring the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying protein in red blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you’ll have with sugar attached. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates you have diabetes. A result between 6 and 6.5 percent is considered prediabetes, which indicates a high risk of developing diabetes.

If your doctor thinks that you may have diabetes, he or she will order a couple of blood glucose tests. Blood glucose tests are blood tests that measure how much sugar is in your blood. Usually, they are done first thing in the morning, before you eat or drink anything.To make a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, your doctor will use your blood test results and the American Diabetes Association’s criteria. He or she also will ask you questions about your medical history and do a physical exam.

If your blood sugar level is above normal but below the level for diabetes, you have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. For more information on prediabetes, see the topic Prediabetes.A home blood sugar test or a urine test for sugar are not the best ways to learn whether you have diabetes. However, after you are diagnosed, you may use home blood sugar tests to check your own blood sugar levels.

A review of your blood sugar levels since your last checkup. Your doctor may evaluate whether your treatment needs to be changed.A blood pressure check. Keep your blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg.7 If you have high blood pressure, ask whether you should monitor your blood pressure at home.An exam to check your feet for signs of injury, infection, or other foot problems.A hemoglobin A1c or similar test. If your blood sugar levels are stable and your treatment hasn’t changed, this test may be done every 6 months.

You can use the American Diabetes Association’s risk test for diabetes Click here to see an illustration. to see whether you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.If you are age 45 or older, the American Diabetes Association recommends that you be tested for diabetes every 3 years. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends testing for diabetes in people who have either high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors and how often you need to be tested.