Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Resource.

The criteria indicating the diagnosis of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), include specific thresholds for blood glucose levels. The correct answer involves the 2-hour plasma glucose level during an oral glucose tolerance test. A result greater than 200 mg/dl signifies that the body's ability to process glucose is impaired, thus leading to the diagnosis of diabetes.

This criterion is significant because it reflects how effectively the body utilizes glucose after a specified period following the intake of a glucose load. Such testing is essential to determine the presence of diabetes, particularly for individuals who may not exhibit clear symptoms but have glucose metabolism issues.

Other options present thresholds that do not meet the diagnostic criteria for diabetes. For instance, an A1C greater than 6.0% is indeed a diagnostic criterion, but it needs to be above 6.5% to confirm a diabetes diagnosis. Similarly, a fasting plasma glucose level greater than 100 mg/dl may indicate prediabetes but is not diagnostic for diabetes unless it exceeds 126 mg/dl following the established ADA guidelines. Lastly, while a random plasma glucose level greater than 180 mg/dl could suggest hyperglycemia, the diagnostic indicator is typically a value greater than 200 mg/dl when correl