How many diabetes tests are out there?

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a condition in which glucose is not metabolized correctly and results in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels). There are various different blood tests that can be done in Diabetes to better evaluate your condition. The common tests are simple blood work. For some blood tests you will need to go in the morning fasting and for others you may need to be in the facility for a few hours if your doctor determines he needs to test your response to a glucose load. A urine test might also be done to evaluate kidney function. You should speak to your endocrinologist to see which tests will be run. There are two types of Diabetes- Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 DM is due to destruction of the beta cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. This is most commonly autoimmune in nature and testing for blood antibodies may be helpful in diagnosis. Type 2 DM is the most common form of diabetes and is due to a combination of both insulin deficiency (pancreatic cells not making enough insulin) and insulin resistance. Other than checking for autoantibodies some of the common blood tests your physician will likely obtain are blood sugar levels, kidney function, and a hemoglobin A1C (which is a measure of blood glucose levels over the last 2-3 months.) Depending on your specific situation, other blood tests may also be done. You should follow up with your endocrinologist to discuss your condition and necessary testing.