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The diagnosis of secondary diabetes is similar to that of other forms of diabetes. Patients with conditions known to cause diabetes may undergo occasional glucose tests to screen for the disease before symptoms and complications start. These blood tests may include:

• Random plasma glucose test
• Fasting blood glucose test
• Oral glucose tolerance test

After confirmation of diabetes, the physician may review the patient’s medical history to look for possible causes, such as medications or inherited conditions. To try to identify the cause, the physician may order additional tests, such as:

• Blood tests for pancreatic enzymes to diagnose pancreatitis
  
  
• Genetic tests for mutations to the genes involved in insulin production
  
  
• Thyroid blood tests to identify hyperthyroidism
  
  
• C peptide test to assess levels of insulin in the blood

Patients may also have a blood pressure reading and cholesterol test because many people with diabetes have high blood pressure and unhealthy levels of cholesterol and other blood fats.