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Type 1 Diagnosis

Because the onset of type 1 diabetes is usually fast and severe, diagnosis is often made in a hospital or emergency room. However, the blood tests for diabetes diagnosis can also be given in a doctor's office or lab.

These tests, and the values for diabetes diagnosis, are as follows:

  • An A1C value of 6.5% or more.
  • A random plasma glucose value of 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) or more (in the presence of diabetes symptoms).
  • A fasting plasma glucose value of 126 mg/dl (7 mmol/l) or more.
  • An oral glucose plasma glucose value of 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) or higher at 2 hours post-glucose load.

If your blood sugar is not significantly elevated, a second follow-up test may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, your doctor may also prescribe additional blood tests to differentiate between a type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosis. These include a c-peptide test (which measures levels of this protein associated with insulin production) or tests for islet cell antibodies (ICA), insulin auto-antibodies (IAA), and/or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD).

Sources
A1C
The A1C test is a three month average of blood sugar levels. It's used to assess treatment and to diagnose diabetes. Find out more.
Random Plasma Glucose
The random plasma glucose test requires a small blood draw taken at any time of the day. Find out what the results mean.
Fasting Plasma Glucose
The fasting plasma glucose test is a carbohydrate metabolism test used to diagnose diabetes. Find out more about this test.
Oral Glucose Tolerance
The OGTT involves measuring blood glucose levels two hours after drinking a sugary solution. Learn what the results mean.
C-Peptide
The C-peptide test is used to measure how much insulin is produced by the pancreas.
Antibodies
Antibody tests can determine if your body has produced antibodies against insulin. Learn more.
What is LADA?
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, sometimes called type 1.5, is a form of diabetes that is often misdiagnosed. Get the facts.
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My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 5 and at the time her blood sugar was 200 and her C-peptide was 1. Could she have type 2?

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Sources


1 - Standards of medical care in diabetes--2010. Diabetes Care. 2010 Jan;33 Suppl 1:S11-61. (Accessed 10/23/10).

Reviewed by Francine Kaufman, MD. 4/08

Last Modified Date: 07/27/2010
All content on dLife.com is created and reviewed in compliance with our editorial policy.

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