Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops gradually, with early symptoms like frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss.

Fatigue and blurred vision may also appear over time. However, these symptoms may be mild or even absent.

The validated diagnostic tests for diabetes mellitus include the following.

In a fasting plasma glucose test, a level of 126 milligrams per deciliter or higher measured after at least eight hours without food confirms diabetes.

In an oral glucose tolerance test, the patient consumes 75 grams of glucose, and two hours later, plasma glucose is measured. A level of 200 milligrams per deciliter or more confirms diabetes.

Similarly, a Hemoglobin A1c level of 6.5 percent or higher also confirms diabetes, as it reflects the proportion of glycated hemoglobin and represents average blood glucose over the past two to three months.

In patients with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia, a random plasma glucose level of 200 milligrams per deciliter or higher confirms a diagnosis of diabetes.