What are screening tests for diabetes?

One of the ways to screen for diabetes in symptomless individuals is to measure blood sugar levels after fasting; more than 126 milligrams of blood sugar per deciliter of blood (126 mg/dL) is considered an abnormal value. Another way to screen for or further diagnose diabetes is to give an oral glucose tolerance test. A series of blood samples is taken before and after swallowing a liquid that contains glucose. A blood-sugar reading that remains at or above 200 mg/dL two hours after drinking the glucose solution indicates inadequate production of insulin and, therefore, diabetes. Values between 127 and 199 mg/dL indicate a "glucose intolerance" state.

Glucose levels have to be abnormal on more than one occasion before a diagnosis of glucose intolerance or diabetes is made. Most persons detected with abnormal glucose tolerance do not proceed to frank diabetes, especially if they pay attention to maintaining recommended weight, diet and exercise.

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