health

The American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults over
forty-five be screened for type 2 diabetes at least every three years, and
that people with several risk factors be screened yearly.

Diabetes is diagnosed by the results of blood tests. There are several
different types of blood tests that may be used:

• Fingerstick. This type of test is often used as a screener in the doctor’s
  office. The doctor pricks the patient’s fingertip with a needle
  and touches a test strip attached to a small handheld glucometer to
  the drop of blood, which provides a blood sugar reading within a
  few seconds. This method is used by diabetic patients at home
  to monitor their blood sugar levels.
  
• Fasting blood glucose test. The patient has blood drawn first thing
  in the morning after having eaten nothing since midnight of the
  previous night. A score over 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
  indicates possible diabetes.
• Glucose tolerance tests. In this test, the patient has blood drawn
  twice, the first time after fasting for eight hours and the second
  time two hours later, after drinking a very sweet drink. A score
  over 200 mg/dL suggests diabetes.
  
• Hemoglobin A1c test. This test is used to monitor blood sugar
  control in people known to have diabetes. It measures the amount
  of blood sugar attached to the hemoglobin in red blood cells. If
  more than 7 percent of the hemoglobin has excess sugar attached
  to it, the person needs to get better control over their blood sugar
  levels.