How is it assessed?

Blood tests

Blood sugar levels are normally controlled within strict limits by the body’s production of insulin. Abnormally high blood glucose levels are the hallmark of diabetes. Blood sugar can be measured using a pin prick of blood and a glucose meter or via a routine lab blood test for blood glucose.

Urinalysis

Glucose is not present in the urine under normal conditions, the presence of glucose in the urine usually indicates diabetes – this can be confirmed by blood glucose monitoring.

Glucose tolerance test

In cases of type 2 diabetes where there is doubt over the diagnosis of diabetes, a glucose tolerance test can be performed. This test measures blood glucose after a test dose of glucose solution. In a normal person insulin will be produced to limit the rise in blood glucose. In someone with diabetes the ‘glucose tolerance curve’ (a graph produced of blood sugar levels after a test dose of glucose) will be abnormal. If there is evidence of poor blood sugar control that is not abnormal enough to be diabetes this may be called ‘impaired glucose tolerance’ or pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.