Frequently Asked Questions About Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes

List of all Pre-Diabetes FAQs

What tests are for diagnosing pre-diabetes?

There are two blood tests that can help your doctor diagnose whether or not you have pre-diabetes:

1. Morning fasting glucose test;
2. 2-Hour Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

If you are pregnant, please read our information for pregnant women and the OGTT as the test numbers are different for women who are pregnant.

Another test given to pregnant women to determine if she has gestational diabetes is called the glucose challenge test.

You should also be tested for insulin resistance!

The fasting blood glucose test and OGTT do not check insulin levels - they only check your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.

It is possible to have normal blood glucose levels but abnormally high insulin levels (insulin resistance).

To rule out insulin resistance you should also have your fasting insulin levels checked and tested again any time blood is drawn from the vein to check glucose levels.

If blood tests show that you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) your doctor may suggest changes in diet and exercise or prescribe mediations to help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Insulin Resistance is Just as Serious as Pre-Diabetes

If you are insulin resistant, you may not register as pre-diabetes based on your blood sugars, but insulin resistance is a serious disorder and should be considered and treated as seriously as diagnosable pre-diabetes.