Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies (GAD 65) Test

Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies test is used to discover whether the patient has Type 1 Diabetes or Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood. This test is favoured for which type of diabetes from C- peptide test which measures how much insulin is produced by the body. This test is particularly of use to the patients above the age of 30 and suffer from diabetes and type 2 diabetes is in doubt for example if the patient is not overweight. This test also determines whether diabetes within pregnancy known as gestational diabetes is type 1 diabetes or not.

The GAD test is a simple blood drawing test from the patient’s body. Therefore it does not require any kind of preparation. The patient has to inform the practitioner regarding any kind of medications he is taking be it prescribed or non- prescribed. The test needs to be done before the insulin therapy starts.

Diabetes related auto antibody testing is primarily used to differentiate between type 1 diabetes from diabetes due to some causes. The test is ordered when a person is newly diagnosed with diabetes to know the type of diabetes in the body. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by lack of insulin and type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance. These tests may also be used when the diagnose is unclear in diabetics who have been diagnosed as Type 2 but have a great difficulty in controlling their glucose levels with standard treatments.

GAD test like any other blood test takes a blood sample from the patient’s body. Sample is taken by inserting a needle by exerting pressure on the vein. The results usually arrive after 2-3 days. After taking the sample the area from where blood was taken out is bandaged by the health professional.