Glucose test: A medical test used to ascertain the level of glucose in the blood.

Being overweight, especially if you are age 45 or older, is the biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In particular, people who are “apple-shaped”—meaning they carry more fat around the abdomen—have a higher risk. Experts believe excess belly fat produces hormones that increase inflammation, which can lead to insulin resistance.

Because your red blood cells have a life span of about 120 days, your doctor can tell how high your glucose levels have been during the lifetime of your current red blood cells. Keep in mind that blood glucose results often trigger strong feelings. Blood glucose numbers can leave you upset, confused, frustrated, angry, or down. Remind yourself that tracking your blood glucose level is simply a way to know how well your diabetes care plan is working, and whether that plan may need to change.

Monitoring Diabetes Treatment

But if you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin produced doesn’t work properly. This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts. A blood sugar test measures the amount of a sugar called glucose in a sample of your blood. If your doctor determines you’re at risk or you have a suspicious value on the one-hour test, you may be advised to take a three-hour glucose tolerance test. For eight hours before the test, you won’t be able to eat or drink anything.

Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. There is little risk involved with having your blood taken.Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Low blood sugar episodes are common in people with Type 1 diabetes and people with Type 2 diabetes who take certain medications. They’re much less common in people who don’t have diabetes. Venous blood glucose tests are generally more accurate than capillary blood glucose tests.

• And other disorders that directly damage the pancreas can lead to diabetes.
• The doctor measures the amount of sugar in your blood after you’ve fasted for at least eight hours—usually overnight.
• Your health care provider may order a blood glucose test if you have symptoms of high glucose levels or low glucose levels.
• After that you drink a large glass of concentrated sugar solution.

Some type 1 diabetic patients opt to have a continuous glucose monitor that can continuously monitor glucose levels and alert you when your blood sugar gets too high or too low. An unhealthy blood glucose level on a fasting test is above 100 mg/dL. If you have a blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL, you may have prediabetes. If your blood glucose level is 126 mg/dL or higher, you may have diabetes.

General Treatment Of Diabetes

Doctors may measure fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1C level, or do an oral glucose tolerance test. If the test results are on the border between normal and abnormal, doctors do the screening tests more often, at least once a year. A BGM measures the amount of glucose in a drop of blood at that particular time. This tried-and-true test is performed by getting a sample of your blood, usually from your finger. The blood from your finger is put onto a test strip and read by the monitor.

Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of diabetes. More than likely, the doctor will order a fasting blood sugar test. If you’re being tested for gestational diabetes, your doctor will consider the results of each blood glucose test. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms of low blood sugar or high blood sugar, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Healthcare providers rely on more than a single blood glucose test to diagnose diabetes or another condition. In any case, your provider will carefully interpret your results and discuss them with you.

Doctors do glucose tests to check for low or high levels of glucose. Sometimes it’s done as part of a routine checkup to screen for problems, and sometimes because a child has not been feeling well. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that puts you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t have it.

• If you have questions about the glucose test or what the test results mean, talk to your doctor.
• Urination and thirst are increased, and people may lose weight even if they are not trying to.
• If left untreated, chronically elevated levels of blood sugar can lead to other serious conditions including kidney disease, blindness, and heart disease.
• Increased urination and thirst are mild at first and gradually worsen over weeks or months.
• Normal fasting blood glucose — or blood sugar — is between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL for people who do not have diabetes.
• Then you’ll drink the liquid and have your blood sugar level checked 1 hour, 2 hours, and possibly 3 hours afterward.

People already diagnosed with diabetes might use a blood glucose test to manage their condition. Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by ateam of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods. The A1C test should not be used to diagnose type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. The A1C test may give false results in people with certain conditions. Children age 10 and older who are overweight and have at least two of the risk factors listed above should be tested for type 2 diabetes every 3 years, even if they have no symptoms.

If you have high blood glucose, your doctor will work with you to develop a plan outlining how often you should check your blood sugar. He or she will take into consideration what type of diabetes you have and your treatment plan. If you are having a non-fasting blood glucose test, you can eat or drink up until the time you have the test.