Diabetes Test
A diabetes test and screening is recommended for many people at various stages of life, and for those with any of several risk factors. 
Many medical conditions are associated with diabetes and warrant screening and diabetes testing.
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by recurrent or persistent hyperglycemia, and is diagnosed by performing one of the following diabetes tests:
Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test
The preferred type 2 diabetes test is a screening blood sugar test called the fasting plasma glucose test, in which a blood sample is taken to assess blood sugar levels. This diabetes test is easy to do, convenient and less expensive as compared to other diabetes tests, according to the American Diabetes Association.
A person undergoing FPG diabetes test is not allowed to eat anything for at least eight hours before the blood sample is drawn for lab analysis. Any nutritional supplements and medications that can affect the blood sugar should be avoided, to increase the accuracy of FPG diabetes test.
In a FPG diabetes test, a test result of 80 to 110 is considered normal, while results between 110 and 125 suggest a person is at risk of developing diabetes in the future. Levels higher than 125 indicate the presence of diabetes and this diabetes test must be repeated at a later date to confirm the diagnosis. The standard diagnosis of diabetes is made when two separate blood FPG diabetes tests show that your fasting blood glucose level is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL.
Casual Plasma Glucose Test
The casual plasma glucose test is another method of diagnosing diabetes. During this diabetes test, blood glucose is tested without regard to the time since the person's last meal. The person is not required to abstain from eating prior to this diabetes test.
A random blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or more, plus presence of the following symptoms, can mean that you have diabetes, especially if the diabetes test is repeated at a later time and confirms the results:
- increased urination
- increased thirst
- unexplained weight loss
Hemoglobin A1c Test
Another diabetes test that measures blood sugar levels is the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test. This diabetes test can indicate blood sugar levels over a period of time, while the typical blood sugar diabetes test measures blood sugar levels only at a specific point in time.
The HbA1c diabetes test measures how much glucose in your blood stream has become bound to hemoglobin. Since blood cells last for about 90 days, this diabetes test can indicate how much glucose has been in the blood stream for the past one to three months.
People who do not have diabetes should have HbA1c levels of about three percent to 6.5 percent. If you have diabetes, you should aim for HbA1c levels of about eight percent.
Positive diabetes test results should be confirmed by repeating the diabetes test on a different day.
