This test can be conducted anywhere, even at home. There are devices available in the market that provide with the reading of the blood sugar level. The patient has to just prick the finger tip for a drop of blood and place it on the strip. The strip then enters the machine that gives the reading. The accuracy of these machines depends on 8-10% of the lab results. The values of this method is only a preliminary process wherein a patient can monitor his sugar level at home. It is easy to use and also gives the results right away. The finger stick method needs a follow up with the doctor if there is any variation in the blood sugar level. It is not at all invasive and just needs a drop of blood. 

The patient has to go to the pathology lab to get the test done and has to fast for 8 hours prior to the appointment. This is usually done in the morning. According to this test, if the level of the blood sugar is above 126 mh/dL, then it is a case of diabetes. Some times, the level of the blood sugar is 100 mh/dL. In these kinds of cases, the patients do not have diabetes but are at high risk and can develop the disorder if care is avoided. It is termed as prediabetes. Sometimes, the test result can be abnormal and then the patient will be advised to other tests to confirm the disorder. Usually, patients who have already this disorder are advised by their doctors to have this test done on a regular basis like yearly, half-yearly or quarterly. The amount of blood drawn is a little high and is little invasive as well.

This test involves drawing two sets of blood. The first one is the fasting plasma glucose test and then, the patient is made to drink high sugar drink that has to the extent of 80 grams of sugar and then the blood is drawn again. This test is conducted when the results from plasma glucose test is abnormal and the doctor is unable to decide on the diagnosis. If the blood sugar level after the oral glucose tolerance test is above 200mg/dL, then the patient has diabetes. But if the glucose level is between 140-199, then the patient has a condition called impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or in simple words, known as prediabetes. This test is conducted mainly to determine if the patient has diabetes or not. So, it is not an occurring test, but is invasive as blood is drawn like the other tests.

This test in medical terms is known as Hemoglobin A1c. It is conducted in order to know the blood sugar level over the span of 120 days, which is approximately the life span of a red blood cell (RBC) within the body. The glycosylated hemoglobin test is the best measure for the control of blood sugar in people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. This is possible as the excess glucose in the blood hooks itself with the RBCs and stays with it through its life span. So, the test determines the percentage of blood glucose levels attached to the blood. If the result is within 7%, then the person has good control over the glucose levels. But if the percentage goes to 8 or higher, then it indicates that the blood sugar is high for that period. The frequency of this test is 3-6 months. It is conducted for those who have very high blood sugar levels. The blood drawn for the test is not very high.

A person suffering from diabetes can go blind if the blood sugar level is too high. The doctors advice regular checks, almost yearly so that they can screen the patient for diabetic retinopathy and also to know to what extent the diabetes has effected the patient. This is a non-invasive test and has to be checked as per the doctors advice.

This test involves testing the patients’ urine for protein (microalbumin). The presence of this protein in the urine is a strong indicator of diabetic nephropathy that can lead to kidney failure. This test is conducted mainly twice a year under the doctor’s guidance. It is non-invasive and only the patients’ urine sample is collected.

The test for this is to continuously check the sensation of the feet using a monofilament device or a tuning fork. This condition in diabetic patients lead to ulcers in the lower extremities of the body and can lead to amputation of feet or sometimes even entire legs.