Type 2 Diabetes - Exams and Tests
Type 2 Diabetes Guide
- Topic Overview
- Health Tools
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When to Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Living With Type 2 Diabetes
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Diagnostic tests
If your doctor thinks that you may have diabetes, he or she will order blood tests to measure how much sugar is in your blood. The tests used are blood glucose tests and hemoglobin A1c.
To make a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, your doctor will use your blood test results and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. He or she will also ask you questions about your medical history and do a physical exam for type 2 diabetes.
If it is hard to tell if you have type 2 or type 1 diabetes, your doctor may do a C-peptide test or an autoantibodies test. (Autoantibodies are produced when the body's immune system does not work right.) For example, many people with type 1 diabetes produce the autoantibody zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8Ab). People with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes do not produce ZnT8Ab. These tests may not be able to confirm the type of diabetes you have. Getting a definite diagnosis may take months or years. In either case, your blood sugar levels will need to be controlled right away.
Tests to monitor your health
You'll need to see your doctor every 3 to 6 months. At each visit you'll:
- Check your blood sugar levels since your last visit and review your target range.
- Check your blood pressure and start or adjust treatment if your blood pressure is high. Nerve and blood vessel damage can result from high blood pressure, leading to heart problems and strokes. For more information, see the topic High Blood Pressure.
- Have a hemoglobin A1c test. This blood test shows how steady your blood sugar levels have been over time.
See a list of tests to monitor diabetes to help you remember what to do and when.
Review your progress regularly
Regular visits and checkups with your doctor are also a good time to:
- Review your meal plan.
- Food List(What is a PDF document?)
- Tracking My Foods and Blood Sugar Levels(What is a PDF document?)
- Review your physical activity.
- Physical Activity Log(What is a PDF document?)
- Review your mental health.
- Tracking My Feelings About Diabetes(What is a PDF document?)
- How Do You Cope With Stress?(What is a PDF document?)
- Review your blood sugar records.
- Blood Sugar Testing Times Form(What is a PDF document?)
- Home Blood Sugar Diary(What is a PDF document?)
- Review your medicines.
- Master List of Medicines(What is a PDF document?)
These visits are also a good time to talk with your doctor about how you're feeling. It's normal to feel frustrated or overwhelmed with all there is to do. If you're having trouble coping, your doctor can help.