Screening check
Diabetes screening: when should I get tested?
Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes often cause no symptoms for years. A simple blood test finds them. Your age, weight and a few risk factors decide when testing should start. Check where you stand in under a minute.
About you
For adults without diabetes symptoms. Nothing you enter leaves this page.
What you will see
Whether a blood sugar test is due for you under the USPSTF and the American Diabetes Association, whether it is due earlier than 35, and how often to repeat it.
Educational only, not medical advice. Screening decisions are made with your doctor.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, August 2021 recommendation. American Diabetes Association Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, section 2.
Validated in
Adults 18 and older without known diabetes and without symptoms.
Limits
It does not estimate your chance of having diabetes (the diabetes risk test does that) and does not read a test result. It does not cover type 1 diabetes, pregnancy testing or children.
What the guidelines say
| Who | USPSTF 2021 | American Diabetes Association |
|---|---|---|
| Adults 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity (BMI 25 or more) | Screen (grade B) | Test |
| Adults 35 and older at any weight | Not covered unless overweight | Test all adults from 35 |
| Adults under 35 with overweight and a risk factor | Consider earlier for groups with higher diabetes rates | Test earlier |
| Asian American adults | Use a BMI of 23 or more | Use a BMI of 23 or more |
| After a prediabetes result | Offer or refer to a prevention program | Retest at least once a year |
Sources: USPSTF (USPSTF 2021), American Diabetes Association (ADA Standards 2026).
Who is at higher risk
Overweight and obesity are the strongest risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Others are older age, a family history of diabetes, a past pregnancy with gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and diet and lifestyle (USPSTF 2021).
Diabetes is also more common in some groups. The USPSTF cites rates of 14.7% in American Indian and Alaska Native adults, 12.5% in Hispanic or Latino adults, 11.7% in non-Hispanic Black adults and 9.2% in Asian adults, against 7.5% in non-Hispanic White adults. It suggests considering screening earlier for these groups, and at a lower BMI of 23 for Asian American adults (USPSTF 2021).
Which test, and how often
Screening uses one of three blood tests: an A1C, a fasting blood sugar, or an oral glucose tolerance test (USPSTF 2021). See prediabetes ranges by test for what each result means.
The best interval after a normal result is not known. The USPSTF says testing every 3 years may be reasonable (USPSTF 2021). After a result in the prediabetes range, the American Diabetes Association recommends testing at least once a year (ADA Standards 2026).
Common questions
At what age should you get tested for diabetes?
At 35 for most adults. The USPSTF recommends screening adults 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity, and the American Diabetes Association recommends testing all adults from 35 (USPSTF 2021) (ADA Standards 2026).
Why did the screening age change from 40 to 35?
In its 2021 update, the USPSTF lowered the starting age for screening from 40 to 35 (USPSTF 2021).
Should I get tested if I am not overweight?
The USPSTF recommendation is for adults with overweight or obesity. The American Diabetes Association recommends testing all adults from 35 regardless of weight (ADA Standards 2026). Your doctor can help you decide.
How is this different from the diabetes risk test?
The diabetes risk test scores your chance of having undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. This check tells you when guidelines say to get a blood test. Only the blood test can show whether you have prediabetes or diabetes.
Also see the A1C to average glucose converter, the BMI calculator, the metabolic syndrome check and the child diabetes screening check.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;326(8):736-743. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1):S27-S49. doi.org/10.2337/dc26-S002
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.