What do doctors do to test for diabetes?

Blood glucose & A1c: Diabetes can be diagnosed 4 different ways: 1) fasting blood glucose >125, 2) a1c>6.4, 3) random glucose >200 with classic symptoms of diabetes, or 4) oral glucose tolerance showing a 2 hour after the oral glucose load of >200. All of these are blood tests and per the american diabetes association # 1, 2 & 4 should be repeated to confirm the diagnosis.

To test : We check the HbA1c level in your blood which gives us a 3 month average of your daily glucose levels. We also perform oral glucose tolerance tests which consist of checking your glucose levels before and after you consume a controlled amount of glucose over several hours to test if your body is accommodating glucose normally.

Blood test: You doctor can order blood tests for you.