Diabetes screening tests

Most people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms in the early stages of the condition. This means that the diagnosis is often delayed.

By the time a diagnosis is made, you may already have some diabetes complications. For this reason, people at high risk of type 2 diabetes should have diabetes screening tests.

Screening tests help with the early detection of type 2 diabetes. An early diagnosis means you can start treatment to help prevent diabetes complications.

Screening tests for type 2 diabetes include blood tests to check your glucose (sugar) levels.

There are different types of blood glucose tests. You may have a:

• fasting blood glucose test — where you don't eat for several hours before the test
• oral glucose tolerance test — where you have blood glucose tests after drinking a sugary drink
• HbA1C test — which indicates how much sugar has been in your blood over the past few months

For all blood glucose tests, a blood sample is taken from one of your veins. It's then sent to a pathology lab for analysis.

Type 2 diabetes screening tests are recommended for people who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes but have no symptoms.

Diabetes screening blood tests are recommended once a year for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years and older.

If you are non-Indigenous, your doctor should check your risk of type 2 diabetes every 3 years from 40 years of age.

They will use the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK) (Opens in new tab). You can also use this risk test yourself — it's a short list of questions.

This risk test considers your:

• age, sex and ethnicity
• family history of diabetes
• blood pressure
• whether you smoke
• your usual diet
• how much physical activity you get
• your waist measurement

If you have an AUSDRISK score of 12 or more, you are considered to be at high risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

You are also considered to be at high risk of diabetes, regardless of your AUDRISK score, if you:

• are aged 40 years or older and are overweight
• have had a heart attack or stroke
• are from certain ethnic or cultural backgrounds — including people who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander, those with a Chinese cultural backgrounds and people from the Indian subcontinent
• have had gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy)
• have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• take medicines to treat psychosis

If you have a Medicare card and your doctor orders diabetes screening tests, the test is usually bulk billed. That means there are no additional costs to you (out-of-pocket costs).

It's always a good idea to ask the pathology lab about any additional costs before you have a blood test.

You will usually need to make an appointment to see your doctor to get your blood test results. Your results may show that your blood sugar levels are normal or high.

If you blood sugar levels are high, you may be asked to have more blood tests.

The results may show you have type 2 diabetes. Sometimes your blood glucose level can be raised, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes — this is known as pre-diabetes.

What if my diabetes screening test results are normal?

If your results are normal, ask your doctor when you should return for your next diabetes screening test.

Your doctor will ask you to repeat the screening tests every 12 months if:

• you are at high risk for type 2 diabetes
• you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes
• you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

If you are at risk of developing diabetes or have pre-diabetes, you can make lifestyle adjustments to help delay or stop you getting type 2 diabetes. These include changes to your diet, physical activity and weight management.

Structured, intensive lifestyle programs can be more effective than general lifestyle changes. Ask your doctor about programs and lifestyle advice. They may also refer you to a dietitian.

You can call Diabetes Australia (Opens in new tab) on 1800 177 055. Visit Diabetes Australia (Opens in new tab) for information and resources, and:

• find resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (Opens in new tab)
• get multicultural resources (Opens in new tab)
• use the Diabetes Australia risk calculator (Opens in new tab)

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (Opens in new tab) (NDSS) has resources, support services and subsidised diabetes products. The NDSS website also has diabetes information (Opens in new tab) in languages other than English.

To check if you're in the healthy weight range, visit healthdirect's page on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

Find out more about health and wellbeing programs offered in your area:

• New South Wales: Get Healthy (Opens in new tab) Service
• Northern Territory: Healthy Territory Kids (Opens in new tab)
• Queensland: Create healthier habits (Opens in new tab)
• South Australia: Better Health and other resources (Opens in new tab)
• Tasmania: Healthy Tasmania (Opens in new tab)
• Victoria: Life! (Opens in new tab) Program — Life! is run in English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Arabic
• Western Australia: Healthy Lifestyle (Opens in new tab) Program (Opens in new tab)

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.