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It’s estimated that about one-fourth of people with diabetes don’t know it. If you have symptoms or are at risk, getting tested is important for treatment and to avoid complications. Here’s what you need to know about screening for type 2 diabetes and the next steps after you’ve been tested.
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Who Should Be Screened?
Knowing your risk for type 2 diabetes can help you determine if you should be screened. Risk factors include:
- Having prediabetes
- Being overweight
- Age 45 years or more
- Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
- Not being physically active
- Having ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes with onset during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
People in the United States who are Black, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or Asian should be screened, as people in these groups are more often diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than White people.
When Should You Be Screened?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends getting screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you are between the ages of 35 and 70, are overweight or have obesity, and have no symptoms of diabetes.
If you have signs and symptoms of diabetes or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), it is important to get screened regardless of age or weight. Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
Diabetes Tests
Several tests can check your blood sugar (glucose) levels. The screening tests are blood tests that can be drawn at a healthcare provider’s office or lab. A healthcare provider may have you take one or more of the following to screen you for type 2 diabetes:
Fasting Blood Sugar Test
This test is performed after you have fasted (not eaten or drunk anything besides water for at least eight hours or overnight). A normal (negative) result is 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or lower. A level between 100 and 125 mg/dL is a sign of prediabetes, while a result of 126 mg/dL or higher is a sign of diabetes.
Hemoglobin A1C Test
This test can be performed fasting or non-fasting. It is a measurement of your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. A normal result is 5.6% or less. A level between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes, while 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
Random Blood Sugar Test
This test can be performed at any time throughout the day, regardless of when you last ate. A normal result is 199 mg/dL or lower. A level of 200 mg/dL or higher is suggestive of diabetes.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
For this test, you need to have fasted at least eight hours or overnight. Your fasting blood sugar level is tested first. Then you will drink a liquid containing a certain amount of glucose. Your blood sugar levels will then be checked at one hour, two hours, and possibly three hours after drinking the glucose beverage.
At two hours, a normal blood sugar level is 140 mg/dL or less. A level between 140 and 199 mg/dL suggests prediabetes, while 200 mg/dL or higher suggests diabetes.
Positive Test Results
If you have one or more positive test results or a level that indicates prediabetes or diabetes, talk with your healthcare provider. They can discuss the results in detail and provide a treatment plan to help you be your healthiest.
You may need to take diabetes medication and monitor your blood sugar levels at home. Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercising regularly and following a healthy eating pattern, are also important aspects of diabetes self-management. If needed, your healthcare provider can refer you to a diabetes care and education specialist for additional diabetes education.
Negative Test Results
If your results were negative, or normal, then you do not have diabetes. However, if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, it’s important to be screened regularly. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends getting screened every three years if your results were normal.
In addition to getting screened regularly, engaging in healthy lifestyle activities and getting to or maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Summary
Your risk factors for type 2 diabetes and the signs and symptoms can determine if you should be screened for diabetes. If you are asymptomatic (have no symptoms), are overweight or have obesity, and are between the ages of 35 and 70, it’s recommended to get screened for type 2 diabetes.
Several different tests screen for diabetes, including fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, and glucose tolerance tests.
If your results come back normal, it may be recommended to get screened every three years afterward. If your results were positive, your healthcare provider may diagnose you with diabetes. They will provide you with education and a treatment plan to help you successfully manage your diabetes.
A Word From Verywell
Becoming educated and informed about the risk factors and signs and symptoms of diabetes can guide you in knowing if you need to be screened for type 2 diabetes. Being proactive and getting screened can help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes or diabetes complications.
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October 01, 2022 at 08:37PM
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Type 2 Diabetes Screening and Diagnosis - Verywell Health
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