Screening & Diagnosis

Clinical practice screening recommendations exist for Prediabetes, Type 2, and Gestational diabetes. There is no screening for Type 1 diabetes. The recommendations are based on age, gestational age if pregnant, and risk factors such as obesity, family history and ethnic group.

Diagnosis is based on laboratory test results and symptoms, if present. A hemoglobin A1c is the most convenient and commonly used test, but it is the least sensitive when diagnosing diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test is the most time consuming, but is the most sensitive in diagnosis.