In short
- HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, so you do not need to time it around a meal.
- A fasting glucose test checks your blood sugar at one moment, after at least eight hours without food.
- Doctors often repeat a test or use a second one before they confirm diabetes.
- People with type 2 diabetes usually have HbA1c checked every 3 to 6 months, and their cholesterol and kidneys at least once a year.
Diabetes tests you can book
- Lab tests58% off
Diabetics Profile
The Diabetics Profile is a comprehensive blood and urine test panel designed to screen, diagnose, and monitor diabetes and related metabolic disorders. It evaluates key biomarkers such as fasting blood glucose, HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin), postprandial glucose
AED 82.95
View detailsUsual price AED 198.45 - Lab tests55% off
Lipid & Cholesterol Profile
The Lipid/Cholesterol Profile is a comprehensive blood test that evaluates heart health, cholesterol balance and cardiovascular risk by measuring the full spectrum of lipid markers. This advanced profile provides detailed insights into the quality and distribu
AED 93.45
View detailsUsual price AED 208.95 - Lab tests55% off
Kidney Profile
The Kidney Profile is a comprehensive blood and urine-based assessment that evaluates overall kidney function, filtration efficiency, electrolyte balance, and early signs of kidney damage or metabolic imbalance. A DHA-licensed nurse collects your sample at you
AED 93.45
View detailsUsual price AED 208.95
Who might think about a diabetes check
The NHS lists the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes as feeling very tired, peeing more than usual, feeling thirsty all the time and losing weight without trying. Blurred vision, cuts that are slow to heal and itching or repeated thrush around the genitals can also happen. Not everyone gets symptoms.
- You are over 40, or over 25 and from a South Asian, Chinese, Black African or Black Caribbean background.
- A parent, brother or sister has type 2 diabetes.
- You are overweight and not very active, or you have high blood pressure.
- You have had diabetes in pregnancy, or you have PCOS. MedlinePlus lists both as reasons to test.
What each test measures
| Test | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| HbA1c | The share of your haemoglobin coated with glucose. Because red blood cells live about three months, it reflects your average blood sugar over that time. |
| Fasting glucose | Your blood sugar at the moment the sample is taken, after a fast. |
| Kidney profile | Waste products such as creatinine, and an estimate of how well your kidneys filter. Diabetes can damage the kidneys over time. |
| Lipid profile | Cholesterol and triglycerides. People with diabetes have their cholesterol checked at least once a year. |
Each listing shows exactly what it includes before you pay.
How to prepare
MedlinePlus says a fasting glucose test needs at least eight hours without food, while HbA1c does not need fasting. Follow your listing: the Diabetics Profile listing says 8 to 10 hours of fasting may be needed, and the Lipid & Cholesterol Profile listing asks for 8 to 12 hours.
Tell the doctor or lab about your medicines, and if you are pregnant, because both can affect HbA1c. Do not stop a medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Having the sample taken at home
You choose a test, add your address, pick a time and pay online. Staff from a licensed partner laboratory collect the sample and results come back to the medicAI app. Availability depends on your address, and the app shows it when you enter it. Read what to expect from a home lab test or see lab tests at home.
What the results mean
MedlinePlus gives the HbA1c percentages commonly used for diagnosis: below 5.7% is normal, 5.7% to 6.4% suggests prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher suggests diabetes. These are a guide only, and a high result is usually confirmed with a second test.
HbA1c can also be misleading. Anaemia and other blood disorders, kidney failure and liver disease can all affect it, and it is not used to diagnose diabetes in pregnancy. So a doctor should read your result with your symptoms and history.
When to see a doctor, and when to call 998
See a doctor if your result is outside the range or you have symptoms. A GP or internal medicine doctor can explain it by video.
Call 998 or go to an emergency department if someone with diabetes feels very thirsty, pees a lot, is sleepy or confused and has breath that smells fruity, as these can be signs of diabetic ketoacidosis. Call 998 too if someone with diabetes may have very low blood sugar and is not responding normally or is unconscious.
Doctors you can book for diabetes tests
Dr Anju Begum, General Practitioner, uniCare Medical CenterGeneral Practitioner · 10 years · Hindi, Urdu, English
Dr. Leena KapoorGeneral Practitioner · 28 years · AED 25 · Hindi, Urdu, English
Dr. Tarun ShuklaGeneral Practitioner · 35 years
Dr. Dany RajakumarGeneral Practitioner · 5 years
Dr. Shilpa Surian, General Practitioner, WeCARE Medical Center LLCGeneral Practitioner · 3 years · AED 45 · English, Malayalam
Dr. Ekramulla Mohamed Ali, General Practitioner, Wecare Medical CenterGeneral PractitionerDoctors are independent. A listing is not a recommendation. Before you book, you can check a doctor's licence in the health authority's public register. See all doctors.
Questions people ask
Do I need to fast for an HbA1c test?
No, because it reflects your average blood sugar over two to three months. If the package also measures fasting glucose or cholesterol, follow the listing’s fasting instructions.
What HbA1c level means diabetes?
MedlinePlus lists 6.5% or higher as the level commonly used to diagnose diabetes, and 5.7% to 6.4% as prediabetes. Doctors usually confirm a high result with another test before making a diagnosis.
Can a home blood test diagnose diabetes?
The test gives a result, but the diagnosis comes from a doctor, who looks at your symptoms and often a second test.
How often should someone with type 2 diabetes have tests?
The NHS says HbA1c is usually checked every 3 to 6 months, and cholesterol and kidney function at least once a year. Your own doctor may advise a different schedule.
Sources and further reading
- Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test (MedlinePlus)
- Blood Glucose Test (MedlinePlus)
- Symptoms of type 2 diabetes and how it’s diagnosed (NHS)
- Treatment for type 2 diabetes (NHS)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (NHS)
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) (NHS)
Read next
medicAI is not for emergencies. If someone is seriously ill or injured, call 998 or go to the nearest hospital.
This page is general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor who knows your situation. medicAI is a technology platform. Care is given by independent licensed facilities, who are responsible for it and for its outcome.
