Diagnosing diabetes

Early diagnosis

Information required for diagnosis

Signs & symptoms

Blood tests

Urine tests

Understanding what the results show

Some important questions

Getting support

Telling others about your diagnosis

Early diagnosis

The earlier a diagnosis can be made the better the outcome for you as a patient. It will mean that treatment can be started earlier and the risks of serious complications of the disease can be minimised.

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Information required for diagnosis

The doctor uses a variety of blood tests along with a thorough account of what has been happening to you within the past few weeks/months in order to diagnose diabetes. Blood tests generally measure the level of blood glucose. When this is higher than expected it may point towards diabetes although further tests may have to be done.

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Signs & symptoms

These are outlined within the section entitled Warning signs. The main things that the doctor will be looking for are signs of increased appetite and increased urination. Patients often also complain of general weakness and tiredness. More urgent warning signs include chest pain, pain on walking and changes in vision.

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Blood tests

Not many patients will confess to liking having a blood test, but they are necessary for an accurate diagnosis. There are different types of blood tests.

1. Random blood sugar (glucose). This is not very accurate but is most convenient for the patient. Diabetes can only be diagnosed if the blood sugar is very high (above 15 mmol/L is diagnostic)

2. Fasting glucose. This is where the patient will not have eaten for at least 8 hours before the blood test. This test is reasonably accurate (above 7.0 mmol/L is diagnostic).

3. Oral Glucose tolerance test. This is the most accurate method of diagnosis, but is usually only required for a minority of patients. The patient is fed a carbohydrate diet (including mainly starchy dishes) for three days leading up to the test, and is then fasted for 8 hours before the test. At the test, the patient is given 200g of glucose and the blood sugar is monitored every 15 minutes (above 11.1 mmol/L is diagnostic).

When we eat the body changes the food into sugar so that energy can be stored or used easily. If you have a blood test a few hours after eating, your blood sugar level will be high. This is why you must fast for at least 8 hours before the more accurate tests. 

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Urine tests

These are favoured more by the patients since they don't require any needles! However, it must be said that this test is extremely inaccurate, and so can not be used alone in the diagnosis.

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Understanding what the results show

Diabetes affecting the more senior population will mainly be type 2 diabetes, although type 1 diabetes is not uncommon within this age group. From the blood tests the doctor can give the possible diagnoses:

1. Type 2 diabetes - this is when the level of sugar in the blood is too high and is probably due to type 2 diabetes. Click here to find out more about this disease.

2. Impaired glucose tolerance - this is when you have slightly high glucose levels after a meal (because your body can not lower it as rapidly as normal) but you do not have diabetes. But this is important because you have an increased risk of developing diabetes. This risk can be minimised by acting now and following our simple plan. Click here for advice on what you can do.

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Some important questions

When we are told something as important as this by our doctor, it is easy to become overwhelmed. In this period we find it hard to think of any questions to ask and so we have written a list of possible questions you can ask your doctor next time you visit them. Remember to write them down!

Also it may be worth asking if clinical trials are being done within your area for which you would be suited. These are where new drugs are being developed which may be better at controlling your symptoms.

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Getting support

You are not expected to cope with this alone and there have been many community groups set up to help cope with the disease. At these places you will be able to share your concerns, motivate each other to change your lifestyle, make new friends, and even learn tips to help you cope! The best people to ask about these services are your GP (general practitioner) and your community nurse. Above all it is important that you get involved.

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Telling others about your diagnosis

You may find it difficult to tell you friends of family about this disease. You might think this will make people uncomfortable around you. However, you will find it much easier to cope if you have a good support network within your family and friends. You may even find it helpful to take them along to your community groups. Young children may find it difficult to understand, but it is important that you explain what is happening to your body and that they can not 'catch' the disease.

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