ATTENTION HOPES Patients: Northern Nevada HOPES clinics and pharmacies will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in observance of Veterans Day.  

ATENCIÓN Pacientes de HOPES: Las clínicas y farmacias de HOPES cerrarán todo el día Lunes, 11 de Noviembre, 2024, en observancia del día de Veterans. 

Getting Tested for Diabetes

It’s National Diabetes Prevention Month, and in this blog post, we are talking about getting tested for type 2 diabetes.

You’ll need to get your blood sugar tested to find out for sure if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Testing is simple, and results are usually available quickly.  Your medical providers will have you take one or more of the following blood tests to confirm the diagnosis:

A1C Test

This measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2 or 3 months. An A1C below 5.7% is normal, between 5.7 and 6.4% indicates you have prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher indicates you have diabetes.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test

This measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast (not eating). A fasting blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or lower is normal, 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.

Glucose Tolerance Test

A Glucose Tolerance Test measures your body’s response to sugar (glucose) and tests how well your body moves sugar from the blood into tissues like muscle and fat. Having a blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or lower is normal, 140 to 199 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes, and 200 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.

Here is a handy chart that summarizes normal, prediabetic and diabetic test results:

Road to Type 2 Diabetes graphic.

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November is Diabetes Awareness Month! Awareness months like this help to shed light on the challenges faced by those living with diabetes and the importance of proactive healthcare. Northern Nevada HOPES is dedicated to providing a holistic care system for individuals managing diabetes and prediabetes with personalized care and education.
Our very own Chief Behavioral Officer, Kristen Davis-Coelho, was interviewed by KOLO 8’s Emily Benito for tips on how to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is also known as “Seasonal Depression”.