What Are The Tests Available For Diabetes?

Both Type I and Type 2 diabetes are a bit different from each other. Type I testing is done when symptoms (like frequent urination, unusual thirst, hunger, sudden weight loss, weakness, extremely tired, blurred vision, irritability, extreme case vomiting and nausea.) manifest themselves and it normally consists of the following tests:


1) Urinalysis: which shows the presence of glucose and and other mono-sugar molecules in the urine. But, this not a definite test so a blood test is also required after getting a positive result.

2) Blood Test: fasting sugar should be below 12mg per decilitre of blood.

3) Random plasma glucose test: This test can be done anytime as it does not depend on fasting and can also tell whether a person has diabetes or not.

4) Insulin Test: is meant to check whether Insulin is low or undetectable.

5) C-Peptide Test: To check whether there is low or undetectable level of the protein C-peptide which is a by product of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed after the blood tests given below are conducted on the patients having Type 2 diabetes symptoms (like frequent urination mostly at night, sudden weight loss when not on a diet, slow healing of wounds,especially in the feet and ankle area, blurred vision, lack of sensation on the skin and itching of the hands and feet, increased thirst during the night, erectile dysfunction and unreasonable increased fatigue).

a) Fasting plasma glucose test: which is done to measure blood sugar after fasting for 8 hours before the test and it can tell if the person has diabetes or not.

b) Oral glucose tolerance test: which measures the blood sugar level after not eating for 8 hours and after 2 hours of having taken a glucose rich drink. It can also tell the doctor if a patient has diabetes or not.

c) Random plasma glucose test: This test can be done anytime as it does not depend on fasting and can also tell whether a person has diabetes or not.


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