Diabetes values
Certain methods are used to determine the values for diabetes. Find out more about three important tests and their significance below.
How is diabetes detected with laboratory tests?
Doctors use various tests to diagnose diabetes:
- Fasting blood glucose test (FPG): Measured after fasting for at least 8 hours. Normal is below 5.6 mmol/L, 5.6-6.9 mmol/L is pre-diabetes, and 7.0 mmol/L or higher on two days is diabetes.
- Oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT): you drink 75 grams of glucose, and after 2 hours is normal below 7.8 mmol/L, 7.8-11.0 mmol/L is pre-diabetes, above 11.1 mmol/L is diabetes.
- HbA1c test: Measures the average blood sugar over the last 2-3 months. Normal is below 5.7 %, 5.7-6.4 % is pre-diabetes, and 6.5 % or higher is diabetes.
If symptoms such as thirst, frequent urination or weight loss are present and a random blood glucose test shows 11.1 mmol/L or higher, this may also indicate diabetes.
Why is early detection important?
Early detection is crucial to treat diabetes and prevent complications such as heart problems or nerve damage. Many people notice the disease late because they have no symptoms for a long time, which is unexpected and underlines the importance of regular testing.
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