Getting Tested for Prediabetes

The best way to find out if you have Type 2 diabetes is to talk with your doctor or a healthcare provider. A simple blood test at a clinic or doctor’s office will let you know if you have the disease.

Should I get tested?

If you have many risk factors, such as obesity or a family history of diabetes, you should get tested. Overweight children, especially if they are part of a high-risk group such as Hispanic or African American, should be screened for prediabetes. Work with your healthcare provider to decide if testing is right for you. If you don’t have any risk factors, The American Diabetes Association recommends getting tested for diabetes starting at age 45.

How do I get tested?

Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about getting tested.

How does testing work?

There are different blood tests that are used to test for diabetes and prediabetes:

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG)

This test measures blood glucose (blood sugar) when you have been fasting (not eating) for at least eight hours, and is the most common test used to find out if you have Type 2 diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

This test measures blood sugar after you have fasted (haven’t eaten) for at least eight hours, and two hours after you take a special drink with a lot of sugar. This test is also used to diagnose gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).

Random blood sugar test

A blood sample will be taken at a random time. No matter when you last ate, a random blood sugar that is higher than it should be can mean you have diabetes.

A1C Test

This test measures your average blood sugar levels over two or three months. It tracks how much glycated hemoglobin (also called HbA1c) is in the blood.