ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the current recommendations for screening and diagnosing diabetes. Three diagnostic criteria are currently being used for establishing a diagnosis of diabetes: fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c. The chapter highlights the need for the reader to understand that, while all the diagnostic tests are relatively specific, none are particularly sensitive. Furthermore, as each diagnostic test reflects a different pathophysiologic mechanism of abnormal glucose homeostasis, a person can simultaneously test positive in one test and negative in another.
