What is a typical screening procedure for diabetes mellitus?

What is a typical screening procedure for diabetes mellitus?

• A. Urinalysis
• B. Fasting Glucose Test
• C. HbA1c Test
• D. Random Glucose

Answer: (A)

Screening for diabetes is best done with blood tests that reflect glucose control over time, without needing symptoms. The most common screening choices are fasting plasma glucose and the HbA1c test. The fasting glucose test measures blood sugar after an 8-hour fast and is straightforward and widely used. HbA1c shows average glucose over roughly the past two to three months and doesn’t require fasting, making it convenient for screening as well. Urinalysis isn’t used for routine screening because glucose in the urine only appears at higher blood glucose levels and it isn’t sensitive or specific enough to detect most cases. A random glucose test can raise suspicion if very high, but it’s not reliable for screening asymptomatic individuals on its own and abnormal results usually need confirmation with a fasting glucose, HbA1c, or an oral glucose tolerance test.

Screening for diabetes is best done with blood tests that reflect glucose control over time, without needing symptoms. The most common screening choices are fasting plasma glucose and the HbA1c test. The fasting glucose test measures blood sugar after an 8-hour fast and is straightforward and widely used. HbA1c shows average glucose over roughly the past two to three months and doesn’t require fasting, making it convenient for screening as well. Urinalysis isn’t used for routine screening because glucose in the urine only appears at higher blood glucose levels and it isn’t sensitive or specific enough to detect most cases. A random glucose test can raise suspicion if very high, but it’s not reliable for screening asymptomatic individuals on its own and abnormal results usually need confirmation with a fasting glucose, HbA1c, or an oral glucose tolerance test.