Guidelines for Diabetes Detection and Diagnosis
This article outlines the essential criteria and risk factors for diagnosing diabetes. It covers testing guidelines, including blood sugar measurements like A1c, fasting glucose, and oral tolerance tests. Recognizing symptoms such as frequent urination and excessive thirst is crucial for early detection. The comprehensive overview assists healthcare providers and patients in understanding when and how to confirm diabetes, ensuring timely intervention and management.

Diabetes diagnosis is often prompted by various signs or risk assessments. Screening is recommended for several groups, including individuals with excess weight and additional risks, those exhibiting high blood sugar symptoms, individuals with multiple risk factors, and pregnant women. Diagnosis confirmation relies on specific blood test results, such as an A1c of 6.5% or higher, fasting plasma glucose over 126 mg/dL, or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test level exceeding 200 mg/dL. Symptoms like frequent urination, excessive thirst, and hunger, along with elevated random blood sugar levels, also indicate diabetes.