Testing For High Blood Sugar Levels and Type 2 Diabetes!

Most people don't notice the gradual rise in their blood sugar levels because the backup occurs slowly, over many years. Consequently, at the time Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, most people have very high blood sugar levels and steps are sometimes needed very quickly to bring those levels down.

There are two main blood tests associated with diagnosing Type 2 diabetes. Most doctors will run the tests at least twice to confirm your diagnosis, as blood sugar levels can be affected by several different factors including stress.

1. Fasting Blood Glucose Test

The first is a 'fasting blood glucose test', which is performed early in the morning upon rising from an overnight fast (the person being tested cannot have eaten anything after midnight... including beverages with sugar or protein).

This test is performed by measuring the concentration of glucose in a small blood sample. If the amount of glucose is between 70 to 110mg/dL (3.89 to 6mmol/L), sugar levels are normal. A reading of over 126mg/dL (7mmol/L) on more than two occasions indicates high blood sugar and a strong likelihood of Type 2 diabetes.

2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: The second blood test is known as the 'oral glucose tolerance test', which is typically performed in the late morning after a fast of at least ten but not longer than 16 hours. An initial blood sample is drawn to test glucose levels, then the patient is given a 'glucola' drink... this normally contains 75 grams of glucose.

Blood is drawn and tested at specific intervals: 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours.

In a healthy person, glucose levels will rise sharply then level out; if, by the 2 hour testing, levels are equal to or less than 110mg/dL (6mmol/L) a normal response is diagnosed. If the levels fall between 100 and 126mg/dL (5.5 and 7mmol/L), an impaired fasting response is indicated... which is not a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, but it is an indication that the person being tested is at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

If the 2 hour test shows glucose levels between 140 and 200mg/dL (7.8 and 11mmol/L), an impaired glucose tolerance is indicated. Currently, glucose levels must be over 200mg/dL (11mmol/L) for Type 2 diabetes to be formally diagnosed, and this must be confirmed by a second test performed in the doctor's office or lab. Some doctors are lobbying to have this upper limit lowered to 180mg/dL (10mmol/L), so that intervention can begin earlier.

Gestational Diabetes:

Some women present with diabetes during pregnancy. The tests above can be used to diagnose gestational diabetes, with these parameters: two or more of the following:

• fasting glucose level over 105mg/dL (5.8mmol/L)
• 2 hour glucose level over 190mg/dL (10.5mmol/L)
• 3 hour glucose level over 145mg/dL (8mmol/L)

Gestational diabetes is another factor which can put an individual in the high risk category for Type 2 diabetes later in life.

These are the test your doctor will run to eliminate or confirm Type 2 diabetes.

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Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
http://drugfreetype2diabetes.com/blog
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