Diabetes tests: 4 exams that confirm the diagnosis

Diabetes is confirmed by checking the results of several laboratory tests that assess the amount of glucose circulating in the blood: the fasting blood glucose test, the capillary blood glucose test, the glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the examination of glycated hemoglobin.

Tests that assess the amount of glucose in the blood are requested by the doctor when the person has someone in the family with diabetes or when they present characteristic symptoms of the disease, such as constant thirst, frequent urge to urinate or weight loss for no apparent reason.

However, these tests can be requested without there being a risk of diabetes, just for the doctor to check the person’s general health status. Know how to recognize the symptoms of diabetes.

Reference values

Normal blood glucose values ​​vary according to the type of test and may also vary depending on the laboratory due to the analysis technique. In general, the values ​​for diabetes tests are indicated in the following table:

Through the results of these tests, the doctor can identify pre-diabetes and diabetes and, thus, recommend the best treatment for the person to avoid complications related to the disease, such as ketoacidosis and retinopathy, for example.

To find out your risk of developing this disease now, select the test performed and enter your result:

Main tests for diabetes

1. Fasting glucose test

This test is the most requested by the doctor and the analysis is carried out by collecting a blood sample after fasting for at least 8 hours or according to the doctor’s recommendation. If the value is above the reference value, the doctor may request other tests to be carried out, mainly the glycated hemoglobin test, which indicates the average amount of glucose in the three months prior to the test. This way, the doctor can assess whether the person is at risk or has the disease.

If the fasting blood glucose test results indicate pre-diabetes, lifestyle changes are necessary, such as changing your diet and practicing physical activity to prevent the onset of the disease. However, when the diagnosis of the disease is confirmed, in addition to lifestyle changes, it is also necessary to take medication and, in some cases, insulin.

Find out what nutrition should be like for pre-diabetes.

The glucose tolerance test, also known as the glycemic curve test, is carried out with the aim of evaluating the body’s functioning in relation to various glucose concentrations. To do this, three blood glucose measurements are taken: the first is carried out on an empty stomach, the second 1 hour after ingesting the sugary drink, dextrosol or garapa, and the third 2 hours after the first measurement.

In some cases, 4 blood collections can be carried out until 2 hours after drinking the drink, with collections being carried out at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after consuming the sugary drink.

This test is important to help diagnose diabetes, pre-diabetes, insulin resistance and pancreatic changes, and is also highly requested in the investigation of gestational diabetes.

3. Capillary blood glucose test

The capillary blood glucose test is a finger prick test, which is done using a rapid glucose measuring machine, which can be found in pharmacies and gives the result instantly. It is not necessary to fast for this test and can be done at any time of the day. This test is most used by people who are already diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes with the aim of controlling glucose levels throughout the day.

4. Glycated hemoglobin test

The glycated hemoglobin or glycosylated hemoglobin test is carried out by collecting a fasting blood sample and provides information on the amount of glucose circulating in the blood in the last 3 months before the test. This is because the glucose circulating in the blood binds to hemoglobin and remains bound until the red blood cell’s lifespan ends, which is 120 days.

Glycated hemoglobin can also be used to assess the improvement or worsening of the disease, and the higher the value, the greater its severity and the risk of complications. Understand what it is for and how to understand the results of the glycated hemoglobin test.

Who should take these exams

It is advised that all people who show symptoms of diabetes take tests to confirm the disease, as well as pregnant women, to prevent complications linked to excess blood sugar during pregnancy. Additionally, people who are losing a lot of weight for no apparent reason, especially children and teenagers, also need to have their blood sugar tested to diagnose the possibility of type 1 diabetes.

Finally, it is important to remember that all diabetics must undergo exams regularly to have better control of the disease.