Blood test results

If your GP does a blood test they will be looking at the glucose levels in your blood. This test is commonly referred to as HbA1c and is your average blood glucose level over the previous 3 months. The results will fall into one of three categories:

• Your blood glucose levels are normal
• Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal
• You have type 2 diabetes

Normal: If your blood glucose levels are normal that’s great but you may still be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. It’s important to keep managing your weight, eating healthily and being more active.

Higher than normal: If your blood glucose levels are higher than normal it means that you don’t have type 2 diabetes yet, but you’re at very high risk of developing it. This can sometimes be referred to as prediabetes. You should have a blood test once a year to monitor your glucose levels and should follow advice to prevent yourself from developing diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes: If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you might be asked for another blood sample to confirm the result. The diagnosis can come as a bit of a shock but it’s important to remember that there is a lot of support available and that remission is possible  – which means that your blood glucose levels return to a healthy level without taking any diabetes medication.