There are three clinical assessments used to identify diabetes and/or risk level. A single abnormal test result is not reliable; the same test must be confirmed by repeating it on a subsequent day:
- Diabetic symptoms including polyuria, polydipsia and unexplained weight loss + plus a casual (any time of day without regard to time since last meal) plasma glucose test that is (=) or (>) 200 mg/dl.5
- Fasting (no caloric intake for at least 8 hrs) plasma glucose test that is (=) or (>) 126 mg/dl. Normal fasting plasma glucose level is (<) 100 mg/dl. Impaired fasting glucose is defined by levels appearing between 100 and 125 mg/dl.5
- Two-hour postload glucose (=) or (>) 200 mg/dl during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) of 75 grams of anhydrous glucose dissolved in water. Normal levels are (<) 140 mg/dl. Impaired glucose tolerance is defined by levels appearing between 140 and 199 mg/dl.5
- The use of a standardized A1C test for diagnosis is under consideration.54
