The most common test for diagnosing any kind of diabetes is a one-step approach called the oral glucose tolerance test. Prior to the test, you can’t eat or drink anything (except water) for between 4 and 8 hours. A health provider tests your initial sugar level and then gives you a sugar drink. Then your sugar level is checked every 30 to 60 minutes for up to 3 hours.1,2
Although NICHD studies different aspects of all types of diabetes, NICHD is not the primary resource for patient information about type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse provides detailed information about type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including specific information about diagnosis and glucose levels.
Risk for type 1 diabetes
Healthcare providers can use a test to check for certain blood markers that can predict how likely it is that someone will develop type 1 diabetes. These blood markers signal that the immune system is attacking the beta cells of the pancreas. Having two or more of these markers, called antibodies, is associated with higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes over the next 10 years.3
Testing for gestational diabetes
Healthcare providers will consider a woman’s risk factors and current health before testing for gestational diabetes. If a woman is at high risk for gestational diabetes, her healthcare provider will test her as soon as she knows she is pregnant. If a woman is at low risk for gestational diabetes, her healthcare provider might not test her at all, or will test her between 24 weeks and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
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