About Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that requires a diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious complications. Without treatment, blood glucose levels can become dangerously high, causing damage to blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, says the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Once diagnosed, diabetes can be well managed with medications, a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Plasma Glucose Tests
These tests measure the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood at different times. A fasting plasma glucose test, called an FPG test, checks to see how much glucose is in the blood while fasting--not eating for a minimum of eight hours, says the NDIC. A glucose test may also be performed without fasting, called a random or casual plasma glucose test. If these test results come back positive, a second test is required to confirm the diagnosis.
Glucose Tolerance Test
This test also measures glucose levels in the blood and requires fasting for between eight and 12 hours, says the NDIC. This test requires drinking a special solution that contains large amounts of glucose. The blood is drawn and examined after waiting for the glucose in the drink to reach the blood and glucose levels are measured.
A1C Test
This is another blood test, but instead of measuring the immediate effects of glucose or fasting on the blood, it tests your history of blood glucose levels. The glycated hemoglobin A1C test takes an average of blood glucose levels across the previous two or three months by counting how much sugar has bound itself to the protein hemoglobin. The more hemoglobin that has bound to glucose, the higher your blood glucose levels have been over the last few months. According to Mayo, a test result of 6.5 percent or greater can confirm a diagnosis of diabetes--but two tests are needed with consistently high results.
