Living With Type 2
How Is Diabetes Diagnosed – Lab Tests for Type 2 Diabetes
Nov 27, 2016What Tests Confirm Diabetes?
Let’s being by understanding the diabetes diagnosed criteria. The 2016 guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) specify that a person who fulfills any of these criteria is classified as a diabetic:
- Fasting blood glucose is more than 125 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L). Fasting is defined as no food or drink (other than water) for at least 8 hours.
OR
- 2-hour post-glucose-load blood sugar levels are 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or more during an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. This test involves consuming a powder of 75 grams of anhydrous glucose dissolved in water.
OR
- HbA1C (average blood glucose of 2-3 months) of 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more.
OR
- In a patient with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia, a random blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or more.
What Tests Confirm Prediabetes?
The latest guidelines from ADA also lay down the basis on which doctors should decide if a person is at high risk of developing diabetes. This condition is called prediabetes.
- Fasting blood glucose between 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L to 6.9 mmol/L)
OR
- 2-hours after consuming a powder of 75 grams of anhydrous glucose dissolved in water, your blood sugar levels are between 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L to 11.0 mmol/L). This test is called Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).
OR
- HbA1C (average blood glucose of 2-3 month is between 5.7-6.4 (39-46 mmol/mol)
Are These The Only Diagnostic Tests to Know About?
Doctors of “functional medicine” often like to be more aggressive and catch the problem earlier. Functional Medicine doctors are those who have completed a full medical degree – such as M.D or N.D – and then gone on to further study how the body “functions” as a whole system. They often use diet, nutrition and lifestyle to fix the root cause of disease, using prescription meds only when absolutely needed.
Many of them believe that blood sugar in ranges lower than the ones classified as “prediabetes” above do terrible damage for many years before we wake up to the threat.
While the same tests could be used, they would interpret the results differently, by saying that levels of say, fasting blood glucose should be lower than even 80-85 mg/dL. Here’s a cheap, DIY home-testing method that will show you how to test for diabetes at home. This method can help you take advantage of what these cutting edge doctors are saying and prevent years of injury to your body.
If you have any of the tell-tale symptoms of diabetes, you should get a diabetes diagnosed type 2 done. Just remember though – Type 2 Diabetes is a dietary disorder that doctors today believe to be completely reversible. It needs you to do the work – eat right, do intermittent fasting to improve insulin sensitivity, lose weight, get the right exercise (including yoga) and manage your stresses better. Each of these elements can contribute to helping you achieve vibrant health again.
Mahesh is a hormone health counsellor & holistic health expert. He has a Mastery Certification in Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis from the US, is certified in Functional Nutrition from Washington State University and uses a wide array of healing modalities to guide his clients to vibrant health and well-being.
Latest posts by Mahesh Jayaraman (see all)
- Getting Pregnant: Your Foundational Health is Most Important - February 15, 2022
- Getting Pregnant after 35 – You CAN do it! - February 1, 2022
- Fertility Testing for Men and Couples Decoded - January 29, 2022
