Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed: Exams And Tests

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Exams and Tests

Your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was based on the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) criteria for diagnosing diabetes. Your doctor used a medical history, a physical examination, and the results of blood sugar (glucose) tests to help make the diagnosis. For more information on these tests, see the Exams and Tests section of the topic Type 2 Diabetes.

Other tests

If you are diagnosed as having diabetes but it is not clear whether it is type 2 or type 1 diabetes, your doctor may do a C-peptide test. The C-peptide level results may be normal or increased if you have type 2 diabetes.

Because one or more diabetes complications may be present at diagnosis, it is recommended that you have:

• A complete eye exam (ophthalmoscopy) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist soon after being diagnosed.³ People with diabetes are at increased risk for eye disease.
• A urinalysis, to check for protein in your urine. If protein is present, additional testing will be done to help determine appropriate treatment. If protein is not present, a test will be done to see whether you have very small amounts of protein in your urine (microalbuminuria), which cannot be detected with a routine urinalysis. Protein in the urine can be a sign of kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy).
• An electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG), to check your heart function. This test is usually done even if you have not had a heart attack or do not have heart disease, because people with diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease.
• An exercise electrocardiogram (treadmill EKG test) before you begin a vigorous exercise program.
• A physical examination, including a foot exam, to see whether you have diabetic neuropathy. In some cases, you also may have an electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study.
• A cholesterol test. High cholesterol can increase your risk for developing complications of diabetes, so it is important to know whether your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are healthy or need treatment.

Last updated:	June 16, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC