Type-2 diabetes is the most widespread kind. Its onset may be delayed or avoided by adopting a healthy lifestyle (healthy nutrition, physical exercise and weight watching). Type-1 diabetes, on the other hand, cannot be prevented.
Measurement of blood glucose
Diabetes is diagnosed by measuring the glycaemia (level of glucose in the blood) or glycated haemoglobin (average blood glucose levels over a longer period) in a (fasting) blood sample.
Type-1 diabetes generally occurs suddenly and the diagnosis is made rapidly.
Type-2 diabetes appears progressively and the diagnosis is often made by chance when a blood test is being done for a different problem or when complications begin to appear.