How is an individual diagnosed with prediabetes or type II diabetes?
Currently there are a few different ways diabetes is diagnosed in individuals. According to the American Diabetes Association ([ADA], 2014), there are 3 ways to diagnose diabetes.
A1C Levels
One way to be diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes is by testing A1C levels within the blood. This test can be performed at any time, no fasting or ingestion or drinks is needed prior to administering this test (ADA, 2014). According to Mayo Clinic (2016) “the A1C test goes by many names, including hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1C and HbA1c” and the results of the test “reflect your blood sugar level for the past two to three months”. When a doctor reviews your A1C levels with you, they use the chart below to make a clinical diagnosis. A1C levels between 5.7% and 6.4% are deemed pre-diabetic. A patient with an A1C level greater than 6.5% would be clinically diagnosed with diabetes. Depending upon the results of your initial test and your symptomology a diagnosis may be made. However, in some cases a retest may be needed.
| Results | A1C |
| Normal | Less than 5.7% |
| Prediabetes | 5.7% to 6.4% |
| Diabetes | 6.5% or higher |
| Graph reconstructed based on ADA (2014) graph for diagnosing diabetes in individuals with increased A1C levels | |
Fasting Plasma Glucose
The second way of determining diabetes, according to the ADA (2014), is based upon Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) levels within the blood. To ensure the effectiveness and reliability of these test results individuals need to fast 8 hours prior to the test. Most physicians order the tests to be completed early morning so the patient can eat prior to starting their work day (ADA, 2014). When a doctor reviews your FPG levels with you they use the chart below to make a clinical diagnosis. FPG levels between 100mg/dl and 125mg/dl are deemed pre-diabetic. A patient with a FPG level greater than 126 mg/dl would be clinically diagnosed with diabetes. Depending upon the results of your initial test and your symptomology a diagnosis may be made. However, in some cases a retest may be needed.
| Results | Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) |
| Normal | Less than 100 mg/dl |
| Prediabetes | 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl |
| Diabetes | 126 mg/dl or higher |
| Graph reconstructed based on ADA (2014) graph for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes in individuals using FPG results | |
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
The third way of determining diabetes, according to the ADA (2014), is based upon an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This is a longer test, lasting two hours, in which a patient has blood glucose levels tested prior to and 2 hours after the consumption of a sweetened beverage. The test informs the physician how the patient’s body handles glucose over the course of 2 hours’ time (ADA, 2014). When a doctor reviews a patients OGTT results they use the chart below to make a clinical diagnosis. OGTT levels between 140mg/dl and 199mg/dl are deemed pre-diabetic. A patient with an OGTT result greater than 200 mg/dl means a clinical diagnosis of diabetes. Depending upon the results of your initial test and your symptomology a diagnosis may be made. However, in some cases a retest may be needed.
| Results | Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) |
| Normal | Less than 140 mg/dl |
| Prediabetes | 140 mg/dl to 199 mg/dl |
| Diabetes | 200 mg/dl or higher |
| Graph reconstructed based on ADA (2014) graph for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes using the OGTT results. | |
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