Type 2 Diabetes in Children

If diabetes is suspected, your child’s health care provider will likely recommend a screening test. There are several blood tests to diagnose type 2 diabetes in children.

• Random blood sugar test. A blood sample is taken at a random time, regardless of when your child last ate. A random blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 11.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), or higher suggests diabetes.
• Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample is taken after your child hasn’t had anything to eat or drink but water for at least eight hours or overnight (fasting). A fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher suggests diabetes.
• Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This test indicates your child’s average blood sugar level for the past 3 months. An A1C level of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
• Oral glucose tolerance test. Your child will need to fast overnight and then drink a sugary liquid at the health care provider’s office or a laboratory testing site. Blood sugar levels are tested periodically for the next two hours. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher generally means your child has diabetes.

Additional tests

Your health care provider may recommend additional tests to distinguish between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, because treatment strategies for each type differ.