The symptoms of diabetes don’t appear overnight, but sometimes it can be detected in early stages with the right medical test. There are several tests that can be done to detect type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. This article focuses on the first two types.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetics produce insulin, but their body isn’t able to use it effectively. Tests include:
- Hemoglobin A1c: The most common test, it measures the attachment of blood sugar (glucose) molecules to hemoglobin. The results measure your average glucose level over 3 months. It’s a simple blood test, and no fasting is required.
- Fasting plasma glucose test: You’ll need to avoid consuming any food or drink for 8 hours before they draw blood—either from your finger or a vein.
- Random plasma glucose test: Similar to a fasting plasma glucose test, but without the fasting.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin. Left untreated, the disease can lead to extremely high glucose levels. Tests include:
- FPG: This test measures how well the body is producing blood sugar.
- Oral glucose tolerance test: You’ll need to fast and then consume a drink that contains glucose and then have your blood sugar levels checked every hour for two to three hours.
- A1c: Although this test can measure your average glucose levels over 3 months, the results aren’t always accurate in people with type 1 diabetes.
If the doctor still isn’t sure after doing one of these tests, more tests may be ordered, including:
- C-peptide: This protein is produced, along with insulin, in the pancreas. Low levels can indicate low levels of insulin.
- Insulin autoantibodies: Designed to look for the presence of proteins that destroy insulin, this test can be helpful in diagnosing diabetes.
- Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies: This test is designed to detect antibodies that destroy enzymes in cells that produce insulin.
- Islet cell cytoplasmic autoantibodies: It’s estimated that 4 out of 5 people with type 1 diabetes have this antibody.
- Zinc transport 8: This test is used to determine if your body has antibodies that kill insulin-producing beta cells.
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