30/09/2026
How Is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed? Essential Tests Explained
Understanding your blood sugar numbers is the first step toward managing or preventing diabetes. In this guide, we break down the primary tests used to detect Type 2 Diabetes and what your results actually mean:
Urine Tests: Detects glucose (Benedict’s Test) and ketone bodies (Rothera’s Test) to identify early metabolic changes.
Fasting Blood Glucose Test (8–12 hours fasting): Normal is under 100 mg/dL, 100–125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or above suggests diabetes.
Postprandial Glucose Test (2 hours post-meal): Normal is under 140 mg/dL, 140–199 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, and 200 mg/dL or higher suggests diabetes.
HbA1c Test (3-Month Blood Sugar Average): Under 5.7% is normal, 5.7% to 6.4% reflects prediabetes, and above 6.4% indicates diabetes (note: conditions like hemoglobinopathies can influence readings).
