How often should I be tested for diabetes?

It is recommended that you have a fasting plasma glucose test every three years starting at age 45. However, they are recommended more often, or earlier, if you're overweight or at risk for diabetes. The fasting plasma glucose test (also called blood glucose test) provides an early warning sign of high blood sugar levels, which could mean an increased risk for diabetes. 

When it comes to understanding your diabetes risk, knowledge is power, which is why regular diabetes screenings are so important. A simple blood test can tell you if your blood glucose is rising or whether you have prediabetes, a state in which blood sugar levels are slightly elevated but not high enough to qualify for diabetes. Experts estimate that prediabetes affects 79 million people in the U.S. "When people learn they have prediabetes, I tell them they're extremely lucky," says Betul Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic. "It's an opportunity for them to make changes so they can reverse the disease." Get a blood glucose test every one to three years, depending on whether you have other risk factors.