Where Can You Get a Diabetes Test Done Privately?

First, a safety point. If you have symptoms such as extreme thirst, needing to pee a lot, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness or blurred vision, contact your GP or NHS 111 the same day. Don’t wait for a private appointment.

If you have no symptoms but want to check your risk, you have several options. Swift’s Diabetes Health Check blood test costs £65. It combines an HbA1c test with a glucose test, and samples can be taken at clinics across Essex or at home.

Who should think about testing

Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly and without obvious symptoms. You may want to check your blood sugar if you:

• are overweight, especially around the waist;
• have a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes;
• are of South Asian, Black African or African-Caribbean heritage, as risk starts at a younger age;
• had diabetes in a previous pregnancy;
• have high blood pressure or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);
• have been told in the past that your blood sugar was borderline.

Your options compared

Route	What you get	Things to know
Your GP	HbA1c or glucose if clinically needed	Free, but there may be a wait
NHS Health Check (ages 40 to 74)	A risk assessment that may include a blood sugar test	You’re usually invited every five years
Pharmacy	Often a finger-prick glucose check	A screening snapshot only
Swift clinic or home visit	Venous HbA1c and glucose	£65, with no referral needed

HbA1c, fasting glucose or both?

The tests answer slightly different questions:

• HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. You don’t need to fast for it. If this is all you need, Swift also offers an HbA1c-only test.
• Fasting glucose is a snapshot of your blood sugar at the time of the test. You’ll need to fast beforehand, and the booking instructions explain how long.
• The Diabetes Health Check combines both markers, which gives a fuller picture from one appointment.

HbA1c normal range in the UK

The NHS uses these HbA1c thresholds for adults:

• below 42 mmol/mol: normal;
• 42 to 47 mmol/mol: higher than normal, sometimes called prediabetes;
• 48 mmol/mol or above: in the diabetes range.

The same diagnostic thresholds apply to adults of all ages. If you already have diabetes, your GP may set a personal target, which can be different for older adults.

If you have no symptoms, a result in the diabetes range needs a repeat test to confirm it. A prediabetes result is a useful warning. Changes to diet, activity and weight can often lower the risk of it progressing to type 2 diabetes.

HbA1c can be less reliable in pregnancy, in some types of anaemia and with some haemoglobin variants. Your GP may use a different test in these situations. Take any abnormal result to your GP so they can confirm it and plan next steps.

What happens after your result

Your next step depends on the number:

• A normal result is reassuring. If you have risk factors, consider retesting every year or two.
• A prediabetes result is a good moment to talk to your GP about the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme and lifestyle support.
• A result in the diabetes range needs a GP appointment to confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatment.

Clinic or home collection

Swift takes venous samples at clinics in Billericay, Basildon, Thurrock, Maldon, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Bromley and Sunbury, and on home visits across Essex, Bromley and Surrey. Use the clinic finder to choose where to go.

How booking works

1. Choose the Diabetes Health Check online.
2. Pick a clinic or home appointment.
3. Have a quick venous blood draw.
4. Receive your results and share them with your GP.

You can book a diabetes health check online in a few minutes.

Preparing for your test

• For HbA1c alone, you can eat and drink normally.
• If your test includes fasting glucose, have only water beforehand and follow the fasting time in your booking instructions.
• Keep taking any prescribed medicines unless your doctor has told you otherwise.
• Bring a list of medicines and any past blood sugar results so your GP can compare them later.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get a diabetes test done?

At your GP, through an NHS Health Check, at some pharmacies, or privately at a clinic such as Swift’s.

Do I need to fast for a diabetes blood test?

Not for HbA1c. Fasting glucose requires a fast before the test.

What HbA1c level means diabetes?

48 mmol/mol or above, confirmed with a repeat test if you have no symptoms.

What is prediabetes?

An HbA1c of 42 to 47 mmol/mol. It means a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Can a private test diagnose diabetes?

It can show a result in the diabetes range, but diagnosis and treatment go through your GP.

I only want HbA1c. Which test should I book?

Choose Swift’s HbA1c test rather than the full health check.

Book your diabetes test

If you’d like a private diabetes test near you, book Swift’s Diabetes Health Check at a clinic or at home.