Diagnosing diabetes as soon as symptoms appear is the most important thing a patient can do for himself. At the first sign of symptoms, it is advisable to seek the help of a doctor immediately. Type one diabetes tends to have a more sudden onset than type two, but since the diseases have similar symptoms, it is a good idea to visit your doctor for a thorough evaluation instead of waiting. There are a few tests the doctor can perform to determine if you do, in fact, have diabetes and if so, what type of the disease you have. After the diagnosis is made, you can begin a recommended treatment regimen as soon as possible.

The Diagnosis Process

There are a few tests your doctor may choose to perform to determine if you diabetes. One test is called a fasting plasma glucose test, and this test is the preferred way for many doctors to diagnose type one or type two diabetes. The test is usually done in the morning and confirmed with a second test on a different day at a different time. After fasting for eight hours, the patient is given a blood test. If the glucose value of the plasma is 126 mg/dL after fasting, the patient may be given the diagnosis of diabetes.

Doctors can also choose to test randomly. A random plasma glucose value of 200 mg/dL or more with symptoms for the disease may indicate diabetes. This test can also be repeated at different times on different days. There is also the oral glucose tolerance test. This test involves the patient consuming a drink with 75 grams of glucose diluted in water. After two hours, a blood sample is drawn. If the blood sample shows a glucose level of 200 mg/dL, the person may be considered diabetic. This test is again repeated after a couple of hours and can be repeated as necessary.

While undergoing repeated blood tests may sound irritating, testing for diabetes is necessary in order to begin properly treating the disease. Patients who suspect they have symptoms will first be given a thorough physical examination, and their medical history will be considered. Then they begin the testing process described above to determine if they do have the disease.

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