Signs and Tests

• Analysis of urine (urinalysis) showing glucose and ketones (products of the breakdown of fat)
• Blood glucose level
• Glucose tolerance test (blood glucose is measured after drinking 75 grams of glucose)
• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level

Patients with Type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time, and the condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting. In addition to having high glucose levels, acutely ill Type 1 diabetics have high levels of ketones. Ketones are produced by the breakdown of fat and muscle, and they are toxic at high levels. Ketones in the blood cause a condition called "acidosis" (low blood pH). Urine testing detects both glucose and ketones in the urine. Blood glucose levels are also high.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when:

• The blood glucose is 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or higher on two occasions after fasting (abstaining from food) for 8 or more hours; or
• The blood glucose level is 200 milligrams per deciliter or higher at any time between meals with symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, urination, and fatigue; or
• A blood glucose level drawn two hours after drinking a 75-gram glucose solution is 200 milligrams per deciliter or higher.

The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level is a measure of average blood glucose during the previous two to three months. It is used to monitor a patient's response to diabetes treatment.

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