Diagnosing Diabetes

It is not only diabetes that is the issue but conditions that cause elevated Blood Sugar.  This may include Prediabetes or Metabolic Syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes

A number of Tests can be used to diagnose or confirm the diagnosis of Diabetes

A1c Test – The A1c test also called glycosylated hemoglobin measures your average blood sugar over the last 2-3 months.

An A1c < 5.7% is considered normal. This is the normal range

An A1c between 5.6% – 6.4% is suggestive of Prediabetes or Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance

An A1c > 6.4% indicates that you have diabetes

FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE – The gold standard in diagnosing impairment in your sugar metabolism is to get a FASTING blood sugar which is part of our Basic Metabolic Profile

A Fasting Blood Glucose < 99 mg/dL is normal

A Fasting Blood Glucose between 100-135 mg/dL is suggestive of Prediabetes or Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance

A Fasting Blood Glucose > 126 mg/dL or greater is indicative of diabetes

 Medical Guidelines suggest you should get tested if:

• You are over the age of 45
• If you are under the age of 45 and Overweight (If your BMI is between 25 and 30)
• If you are under the age of 45 and Obese (If your BMI is greater than 30)
• If you have Risk Factors for Diabetes
  • Are Overweight
  • Have prediabetes
  • Have a parent, brother or sister with Diabetes or Prediabetes
  • Are physically active less than 3 times a week
  • Have had gestational diabetes during a prior pregnancy
  • Are African-American, Hispanic or Latino, Native American and within a ethnic group with a high prevalence of diabetes.

If you have been tested normal before, and are over the age of 45 then A1c test screening is recommended at a minimum of 3 years

About the HgA1c or A1c Test

The A1c Test is used to diagnose, confirm or monitor Metabolic Syndrome, Prediabetes, Diabetes Type 1, Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes

The A1c test measures the amount of sugar that is attached to hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells.  The amount of sugar that is attached is reflective of the overall or average concentration of blood sugar.  So the higher your blood sugar, the more it is attached to red blood cells and the higher the Percent value of A1c.

Diagnosing Diabetes with A1C

A1c Test – The A1c test also called glycosylated hemoglobin measures your average blood sugar over the last 2-3 months.  As a result FASTING IS NOT REQUIRED.

An A1c < 5.7% is considered normal. This is the normal range

An A1c between 5.6% – 6.4% is suggestive of Prediabetes or Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance

An A1c > 6.4% indicates that you have diabetes

How do I Read my A1c Result?

Normal – Less than 5.7%

Prediabetes / Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Syndrome – 5.7-6.4%

Diabetes – Greater than 6.4%

What is my Average Glucose?

7% = Average glucose of 154

8% = Average glucose of 183

9% = Average glucose of 212

10% = Average glucose of 240