This is a blood test for diabetes. There are three main blood tests for diabetes: the fasting blood sugar test, the random blood sugar test, and the oral glucose tolerance test. The fasting blood sugar test is taken after a 6 hour fast; a fasting glucose level above 126 mg/dL on two separate tests would be diagnostic for diabetes and a value between 100 and 126 mg/dL may indicate pre-diabetes. A random blood sugar test result above 200 mg/dL is suspicious and may be followed with a fasting blood sugar test. Sometimes a test called a glucose tolerance test is used. In this test a sugary drink is given and if the blood level is greater than 200 mg/dL 2 hours later then diabetes is diagnosed.

This test is a screen for diabetes. Approximately 7% of Americans have diabetes and it is the sixth leading cause of death overall in the United States. Screening can lead to diagnosis and adequate control of the disease. This will help prevent the complications of the illness.

A simple blood test is done by withdrawing blood from an arm vein. Sometimes this test can also be done with a pinprick of the finger.

You may be asked to fast for 6 hours before the test if your doctor wants to check your fasting blood sugar.

• Family history-parent or sibling
• Obesity (especially apple-shaped)
• Age over 45
• African-American, Hispanic-American, Pacific Island heritage, Native American
• History of diabetes with pregnancy or baby over 9 pounds at birth
• High blood pressure
• High triglycerides
• High cholesterol
• Polycystic ovary syndrome