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Type 2 diabetes makes up 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, according to the CDC. This type is also called adult-onset diabetes.

Although it can occur at any age, type 2 diabetes is more common in people older than If you think you might have diabetes, talk to your doctor. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can cause severe complications, such as:. Many of the severe side effects of diabetes can be avoided with treatment.

Some people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes because they have noticeable symptoms. Early symptoms can include:. Most often, people are diagnosed through routine screening tests. Routine screening for diabetes typically starts at age You may need to be screened sooner if you:.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop gradually. Because you may or may not have symptoms, your doctor will use blood tests to confirm your diagnosis. These tests, listed here, measure the amount of sugar glucose in your blood:. The glycated hemoglobin A1C test is a long-term measure of blood sugar control. It allows your doctor to figure out what your average blood sugar level has been for the past two to three months. This test measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells. The higher your A1C is, the higher your recent blood sugar levels have been. This means that it identifies fewer cases of diabetes. Your doctor will send your sample to a certified laboratory for diagnosis. An advantage of the A1C test is convenience. The blood sample can be collected at any time of day. If you have diabetes, your A1C levels should be checked several times a year.

The fasting blood sugar testing may be used instead. Unlike the A1C test, the fasting plasma glucose test measures the amount of sugar in your blood at a single point in time. Random blood sugar testing is used in people who have symptoms of diabetes.

A random blood sugar test can be done at any time of day. The test looks at blood sugar without considering your last meal. This is particularly true if you already have symptoms of diabetes. Like the fasting plasma glucose test, the oral glucose tolerance test also requires you to fast overnight. Blood sugar levels change throughout the day.

Typically, blood sugar levels are at their lowest first thing in the morning or after a period of fasting. Blood sugar levels increase during and after meals, as the body digests food. The following chart outlines normal blood sugar ranges for people with and without diabetes, depending on the time of day:.

Abnormal blood sugar levels occur when there is either too much or little sugar in the blood. The blood sugar ranges for each are:. People can measure their blood sugar levels with either a blood sugar meter or a continuous glucose monitor.

A continuous glucose monitor uses a sensor to measure blood sugar levels. A doctor inserts the sensor under the skin, usually in the abdomen or arm. The sensor transmits information to a monitor that displays glucose levels every few minutes. Follow these steps when using a blood sugar meter:.

Abnormal A1C test results do not necessarily mean a person has diabetes. A doctor will confirm these findings with another blood glucose test. The doctor may recommend running more tests, such as blood work, to rule out other conditions that can affect blood sugar levels.

Doctors use A1C results to monitor how well a person responds to a certain glucose management regime. They can also use A1C tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes.

As mentioned by the NIH , a doctor may recommend an A1C test if a person shows signs of poor glucose control, diabetes, or prediabetes. Warning signs can include :. Doctors may also recommend an A1C test for people who have the following risk factors for prediabetes :. Most people can take an A1C test at any time without preparing beforehand.

However, a doctor may sometimes request that a person avoids eating or drinking for 8 hours before the test. Women who are pregnant may need to drink a sugary beverage 1 hour before the test.

A doctor or nurse will collect a blood sample, usually from a vein in the arm or hand. They will send the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Type 2 diabetes can often develop slowly, which might make symptoms difficult to detect at first.

People with diabetes may also experience a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, or diabetic neuropathy. This is more likely to occur if a person does not control blood glucose for extended periods. A random glucose test is a quick test that a doctor or nurse can carry out at short notice in their office or clinic. The person does not need to fast beforehand. The test requires a small sample of blood that the doctor or nurse will take using a needle, often from the finger.

However, for a more reliable diagnosis, the doctor will usually repeat the test on another day. To help confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also order a different type of test, such as a fasting glucose test or an OGTT. For a fasting glucose test :. For an OGTT :. People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing diabetes. Lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss and exercise, and certain medications can help reduce this risk.

However, the blood glucose levels of people without diabetes tends to stay within the normal range. Diagnosis with any chronic condition can be distressing, and, without treatment, diabetes can lead to serious health problems and complications, including:. However, with effective treatment and management, people with diabetes can enjoy a long and active life. Doctors usually diagnose type 1 diabetes in children and young adults.

People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin daily and regularly monitor their blood sugar levels for the rest of their lives.

Type 2 diabetes often develops later in life. A person can sometimes manage type 2 diabetes using only diet and exercise. Other people may need medication or even insulin so that they can keep their blood sugar levels within healthy levels. Dietary glucose is the body's main source of energy. People with diabetes are unable to absorb it correctly, so it stays in the bloodstream.

Diabetes is a condition that can dominate what a person eats and how they live their life.