{"id":3081,"date":"2023-01-11T03:00:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T16:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/2023\/01\/11\/diabetes-tests\/"},"modified":"2024-07-02T15:59:03","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T04:59:03","slug":"diabetes-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/health-hub\/diabetes-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you Test for Diabetes?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before answering the question \u201chow do you test for diabetes?\u201d, it is important to understand what diabetes is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes is a condition in which the body has too much glucose, a type of sugar in the blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, the body produces a hormone known as insulin that moves glucose from the bloodstream to the body\u2019s cells. However, diabetes affects the body\u2019s ability to produce or use insulin, leading to a build up of glucose in the blood that can lead to health complications in both the long and short term.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is why it is important to test for diabetes when it is first suspected. The earlier diabetes is detected, the easier it is to manage (and in some cases related to Type 2 Diabetes, even prevented).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, your doctor will order one or more diabetes tests if you exhibit the following symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being more thirsty than usual<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passing more urine<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling tired and lethargic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always feeling hungry<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having cuts that heal slowly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Itching, skin infections<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blurred vision<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unexplained weight loss (this is for type 1 diabetes)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gradually putting on weight (this is for type 2 diabetes)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mood swings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling dizzy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leg cramps<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What kinds of tests for diabetes are there?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are multiple diabetes tests available in order to accurately measure the amount of glucose in the blood and effectively determine whether or not diabetes is present in the patient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Test<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As glucose circulates in the blood, it can bind to haemoglobin (the protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen), resulting in a combination known as HbA1c. As a result, higher glucose results in higher HbA1c levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The HbA1c test is a blood test in which the goal is to measure the amount of HbA1c to determine the levels of glucose. If the person is subsequently diagnosed with diabetes, it is required that they repeat the test every 3-6 months in order to monitor HbA1c levels as a helpful guide to reduce risk of complications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This test does not require preparation beforehand and can be conducted at any time. However, the patient may be asked to fast (e.g. no food or fluid except water for eight hours) beforehand.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oral Glucose Tolerance Testing (OGTT)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This test analyses how effectively the body\u2019s cells are able to absorb glucose in order to diagnose type 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This test involves the person being given a bottle of glucose to ingest in a 5 minute period. After that, multiple blood tests are conducted after one hour, and then after another hour, to monitor the changes in your body\u2019s glucose levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other tests for diabetes include fasting blood glucose and random blood glucose tests. Fasting blood glucose test measures blood glucose after you have not eaten for 8 to 12 hours hours while random blood glucose test measures the blood glucose regardless of when you last ate.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is diabetes diagnosed?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only way to formally diagnose diabetes is with a blood test. Once the blood has been extracted from the vein, it is sent to a pathology lab for analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When is diabetes confirmed?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes is confirmed when one or more of the following conditions are met:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes symptoms are present and:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fasting blood test result is at or above 7.0mmol\/L, or\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a random blood test result is at or above 11.1mmol\/L<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HbA1c blood test result is at or above 6.5% (48 mmol\/mol)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There have been no symptoms and:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fasting blood test result is at or above 7.0mmol\/L, or\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a random blood test result is at or above 11.1mmol\/L<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can diabetes be diagnosed with a blood glucose monitor or urine test?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A diabetes diagnosis cannot be made until the person\u2019s blood is analysed by a pathology lab. While a blood glucose monitor or a urine test can uncover trends in the person\u2019s glucose levels, they can\u2019t be used to diagnose diabetes on their own.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How will my doctor know which type of diabetes it is?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults. Your doctor will make an informed decision based on the history and severity of your symptoms, then use further blood tests to confirm whether or not you have type 1 diabetes (if type 1 diabetes is suspected).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor may also check for ketones in your blood or urine which can help with the diagnosis. Ketones can be a sign that you lack insulin (and is usually associated with rapid weight loss). There are other tests that can help to determine the type of diabetes, such as insulin levels and certain antibodies in the blood, but these can take several weeks to confirm.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if my blood test is not normal, but not diabetes either?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people will have a fasting blood level that is above the normal range, but not high enough to be diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, a fasting blood glucose level that is between 5.5mmol\/L and 6.9mmol\/L is above the normal range but does not confirm or rule out diabetes or pre-diabetes. In this situation your doctor should order a glucose tolerance test (GTT).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Life!<\/em> <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">program help me prevent type 2 diabetes?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Life!<\/em> <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">program offers a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/#health-check\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">health check<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 a 2-minute survey that assesses your risk for type 2 diabetes. It also offers you a wide range of resources to help you adopt a lifestyle that will help prevent type 2 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Life!<\/em><\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a free healthy lifestyle program that helps you improve your eating habits, increase your physical activity and manage stress. You can choose from a group course or the Telephone Health Coaching service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our experienced health professionals will help you make small changes to your lifestyle so that you can achieve your health goals and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Life!<\/em><\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is funded by the Victorian government and managed by Diabetes Victoria. You can check your eligibility for the program <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/learn-about-life\/#am-i-eligible\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button teal\" href=\"#health-check\">Take the health check<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabetesvic.org.au\/Diagnosis?tags=Left-Mega-Nav%2Fwhat%20is%20diabetes%2FWhat%20Is%20Diabetes%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.diabetesvic.org.au\/Diagnosis\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clinicallabs.com.au\/patient\/our-tests\/diabetes-testing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.clinicallabs.com.au\/patient\/our-tests\/diabetes-testing\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diabetesaustralia.com.au\/about-diabetes\/what-is-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.diabetesaustralia.com.au\/about-diabetes\/what-is-diabetes\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clinicallabs.com.au\/patient\/collection-information\/collection-guide\/blood-collections\/glucose-tolerance-test-gtt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.clinicallabs.com.au\/patient\/collection-information\/collection-guide\/blood-collections\/glucose-tolerance-test-gtt\/<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndss.com.au\/living-with-diabetes\/managing-diabetes\/blood-glucose-monitoring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ndss.com.au\/living-with-diabetes\/managing-diabetes\/blood-glucose-monitoring\/<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndss.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/fact-sheets\/fact-sheet-continuous-glucose-monitoring.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ndss.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/fact-sheets\/fact-sheet-continuous-glucose-monitoring.pdf<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndss.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/fact-sheets\/fact-sheet-flash-glucose-monitoring.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ndss.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/fact-sheets\/fact-sheet-flash-glucose-monitoring.pdf<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthdirect.gov.au\/diabetes-testing-and-monitoring\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.healthdirect.gov.au\/diabetes-testing-and-monitoring<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthdirect.gov.au\/diabetic-ketoacidosis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.healthdirect.gov.au\/diabetic-ketoacidosis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reviewers<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/elleni-kaias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elleni Kaias<\/a>, Accredited Practicing Dietitian | Primary Care Engagement Lead<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/kristie-cocotis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kristie Cocotis<\/a>, Head of Prevention and Health Promotion<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sarah-dub%C3%A9-57861660\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sarah <\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW248055663 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW248055663 BCX0\">Dub\u00e9, Strategy and Engagement Lead<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/au.linkedin.com\/in\/ria-cheripuram\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ria Cheripuram<\/a>, Digital Communications Officer<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/au.linkedin.com\/in\/tegankohlman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tegan Kohlman<\/a>, Communications and Social Marketing Officer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before answering the question \u201chow do you test for diabetes?\u201d, it is important to understand what diabetes is.\u00a0 Diabetes is a condition in which the body has too much glucose, a type of sugar in the blood.\u00a0 Typically, the body produces a hormone known as insulin that moves glucose from the bloodstream to the body\u2019s cells. However, diabetes affects the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3082,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3081"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4075,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3081\/revisions\/4075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}