Diabetes Test (Type 2)

It measures your blood sugar levels to check for insulin resistance or diabetes. The most common tests are HbA1c (average blood sugar over 2–3 months) and fasting glucose.

Anyone over age 40, or younger adults with risk factors like being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, or living a sedentary lifestyle, should get tested.

Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing wounds, and unexplained weight loss. Some people have no symptoms at all.

It involves a blood sample, either from a finger prick or via venous blood draw. Some tests require fasting, while others like HbA1c do not.

For fasting glucose tests, you should avoid food and drink (except water) for 8–12 hours before the test. HbA1c tests do not require fasting.

A normal fasting blood sugar is under 5.5 mmol/L. An HbA1c result under 42 mmol/mol (6.0%) is generally considered normal.

Elevated results may suggest prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. A healthcare provider can interpret your results and recommend next steps.

Yes. Many people successfully manage or even reverse early Type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, and medication if needed.

If you’re at risk, you should test every 1–3 years. If you’ve been diagnosed, testing may be more frequent depending on your treatment plan.

Yes. HealthTest.co.uk and similar services ensure your health data is kept private and secure at all times.