Diabetes often develops quietly. You might feel fine, yet your body could already be showing early signs of imbalance in your blood sugar. That’s why screening for diabetes – through simple blood sugar checks – is such an important part of your annual health care.
A quick note, though: When we talk about diabetes in this article, we’re focusing on prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. These are the most common forms of diabetes in the news these days, and they tend to develop over time.
Type 1 diabetes is different. It usually appears earlier in life and isn’t linked to lifestyle or preventable factors.
And if you’re pregnant, your gynecologist will be careful to monitor you for gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that develops during the second or third trimesters.
But for adults, especially those with busy routines, it’s good to know your risk for Type 2 diabetes and learn how regular screenings can keep you well.
Why Screening for Diabetes Matters
Many people discover high blood sugar levels only after a routine test.
That’s the benefit of diabetic screening. It helps detect changes before symptoms appear, such as thirst, extreme tiredness, the need to pee frequently, or unexplained weight loss.
However, you don’t need to have symptoms to be checked.
Adults over 35, anyone who is overweight, and people with a family history of diabetes are all encouraged to get regular screenings.
During a screening for diabetes, your clinician may take any of these tests:
- a fasting plasma glucose test,
- an oral glucose tolerance test,
- A1C test that measures your average levels over the previous 2–3 months, or
- a simple finger-stick check.
The numbers tell your healthcare team how your body processes sugar.
Why is this important?
Because early results give you the chance to take action! Complications from long-term high blood sugar can be serious, which is why early screening matters.
And while you can’t always stop diabetes from developing, you can take preventive action by adjusting your diet, increasing movement and exercise, and managing your weight and stress levels.
The goal of regular diabetes screening is prevention through awareness.
Even a yearly diabetic screening can help you avoid many of the complications high blood sugar often causes.
But can you do checks at home?
Understanding Blood Sugar Checks and Timing
Routine blood sugar checks are a simple way to see how your body handles glucose throughout the day. They’re quick, painless, and give a snapshot of how food, sleep, and activity affect you.
You may have seen in the press how some people have started wearing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices.
However, there are much simpler finger-stick tests available, and your healthcare provider can advise on what will work best for you.
In addition, if you already monitor your glucose at home or have been advised to test regularly, timing matters.
The best time to check blood sugar after eating is typically about one to two hours after a meal. That’s when levels usually peak, giving the clearest picture of how your body is managing sugar from food.
You can also often use these home tests to monitor how certain foods affect you – and think about swapping them out for others that don’t spike your blood sugar as much.
Your doctor may also recommend fasting tests – usually first thing in the morning before breakfast – to understand your baseline levels. Both fasting and post-meal results are useful, and together they help your care team track patterns.
Remember, these checks don’t diagnose diabetes on their own. They simply guide the conversation about what comes next and how you can protect your long-term health.
The Best Way to Prevent Diabetes and Protect Your Health
Is there a single “best way to prevent diabetes”? Not exactly! But there are several small, effective habits that work together.
The following are the ones we know work well for many patients, although everyone’s metabolism works slightly differently.
Balanced meals rich in vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins help your body use insulin more efficiently.
Regular activity – like brisk walking for 30 minutes most days – can lower your blood sugar naturally.
Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight also supports a healthy metabolism that will allow your insulin to do its work properly.
Add to this your regular screening for diabetes and blood sugar checks and you will spot changes before they turn into problems.
And if your results ever show prediabetes (higher blood sugar than normal but not yet in the diabetic range), your healthcare provider will help you turn things round.
They can show you the best way to prevent diabetes that fits your lifestyle, schedule, and family routine. Nutritional guidance is available at most of our locations.
When to Talk to Your Family Doctor About Screening for Diabetes
If you haven’t had a diabetic screening in the past year – or you’ve noticed changes in weight, thirst, or fatigue, as mentioned – it’s time to talk to your family doctor.
Whether you live near our Carrollton location or closer to another clinic, your local team can guide you through testing, explain your results, and create a simple plan for next steps.
If you’ve experienced worrying symptoms, book a screening for diabetes and take a list with you. Jot down details of your usual activity levels and eating and sleep habits. Your care team will use that information to guide you – not to judge you!
The US has a diabetes epidemic and we’re all keen to help you stay free of it via early diabetes screening. And you can often start to put it into reverse (remission) even if you receive a diagnosis.
Stella Mattina Has Screening for Diabetes Available at All Locations
Whether you’re managing prediabetes, living with Type 2 diabetes, or simply staying proactive, regular screening for diabetes empowers you to make informed choices.
At Stella Mattina, our clinicians take pride in helping you with compassion and clarity. If you’ve ever wondered, “Can you prevent diabetes?”, the answer is that you can have a screening test and take real steps to reduce your risk.
We’re here to help you – with same-day appointments available to fit your lifestyle. Choose your location and book today!
Dr. Gonzalo Venegas
Gonzalo Venegas, MD is the Medical Director of Stella Mattina Health and a respected obstetrician-gynecologist with over four decades of service in the Dallas medical community. He has led the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Methodist Dallas Medical Center and contributed to community health through his role on the Parkland Health & Hospital System Board. A dedicated mentor at UT Southwestern, Dr. Venegas is known for his leadership, compassion, and commitment to advancing women’s health and medical education.