How is diabetes primarily diagnosed?

Diabetes is primarily diagnosed through blood tests that measure glucose levels because these tests provide concrete evidence of how well the body is managing sugar in the bloodstream. The key tests used in diagnosing diabetes include fasting plasma glucose tests, oral glucose tolerance tests, and hemoglobin A1c tests.

Fasting plasma glucose measures blood sugar levels after fasting for at least 8 hours, while the oral glucose tolerance test involves measuring blood sugar levels before and at intervals after consuming a sugary drink. The hemoglobin A1c test provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. These methods directly assess how the body handles glucose, which is essential for determining whether a person has diabetes or is at risk of developing it.

Other methods, such as physical examinations, urine tests, and dietary assessments, do not provide the same level of accuracy regarding glucose metabolism and are therefore not primary diagnostic tools for diabetes.