Joslin Diabetes Center

About Diabetes

Diagnosis Protocol for Diabetes

Protocol for Diagnosing Diabetes:

According to the NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases):

People over age 45 should be tested for diabetes. If the first blood glucose test is normal, they should be re-tested every three years.
People under age 45 should be tested for diabetes if they are at high-risk for diabetes based on these factors:
- Being more than 20 percent over ideal body weight, or having a body mass index (BMI) of greater than or equal to 27 kgm/m².
- Having a first-degree relative with diabetes (mother, father, or sibling).
- Being a member of a high-risk ethnic group (African-American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American).
- Delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, or having diabetes during pregnancy.
- Having blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm/Hg.
- Having abnormal blood fat levels, such as high density lipoproteins (HDL) less than or equal to 35 mg/dl, or triglycerides greater than or equal to 250 mg/dl (mg/dl = milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood).
- Having impaired glucose tolerance when previously tested for diabetes.

Diagnosis of Diabetes:

A diagnosis of diabetes is made when any three of these tests is positive, followed by a second positive test on a different day:

Fasting plasma glucose of greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl with symptoms of diabetes.
Casual plasma glucose (taken at any time of the day) of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl with the symptoms of diabetes.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl measured at a two-hour interval. The OGTT is given over a three-hour timespan.

Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes:

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed with a glucose screening test, which involves drinking a glucose drink followed by measurement of glucose levels after a one-hour interval.

Talk with your physician about your wish to be screened for gestational diabetes.

Our Services:

Learn more about the services offered at The Joslin Diabetes Center at University of Maryland:

This page was last updated on: August 20, 2007.

For appointments or information, call 1-888-JOSLIN8 (1-888-567-5468).

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