Blood Tests

Blood tests used to diagnose diabetes include the fasting blood glucose test, the 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, and the random blood glucose test.

The glycosylated hemoglobin test is used to monitor the effectiveness of a patient’s therapy.

Blood tests used to detect and monitor the progression of diabetic complications include a fasting lipid profile for cardiovascular disease and serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests for renal disease.

Diagnostic Tests

A physician may order diagnostic tests to diagnose diabetes, detect diabetic complications, or monitor the effectiveness of a patient’s therapy. Of course, a patient should also perform self-monitoring to check the effectiveness of her therapy.

Early detection of diabetic complications allows for early treatment, which can minimize their destructive effects. Tests that help diagnose a complication can be repeated to monitor its progress