The amount of glucose, or sugar, in your blood is measured through a fasting blood glucose test. Foods containing carbohydrates create glucose in the body and provide energy. Glucose is used by the body with the help of a hormone called insulin. The pancreas creates insulin and released it into the blood as blood glucose levels rise. Fasting blood glucose is the level of glucose in the blood after not eating for 8 hours or more.

Reasons for Fasting Blood Glucose Tests

The reason a fasting blood glucose test is conducted is to determine whether or not the individual is affected by diabetes. This is usually the first test doctors will order to determine if diabetes is present because it checks how much glucose is in the body after not eating so high glucose levels would not be a result of eating but rather because the body wasn’t producing enough insulin to regulate the glucose levels.

Fasting Blood Glucose Results

Depending on the results of a fasting blood glucose test will affect the doctor’s decision on whether or not to order additional tests. In many cases individuals who appear to have a problem with their blood glucose levels may need to have other blood tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Fasting Blood Glucose and Other Tests

One test that frequently follows a fasting blood glucose test is the 2 hour postprandial blood sugar test. It measures blood sugar levels exactly two hours after last eating. This gives doctors an idea how your body is reacting to increased glucose levels after eating.

Fasting Blood Glucose and Random Blood Sugar

While the fasting blood glucose test is important to measure the body’s blood sugar after a long stretch of not eating the random blood sugar test is taken randomly. It does not take into consideration when the individual last ate. The reason why is because healthy individuals usually have fairly stable blood sugar levels all day and several random blood sugar samples should reveal stable levels. Otherwise, it could indicate a potential problem.

Fasting Blood Glucose and Oral Glucose Tolerance

Determining how pregnant women handle glucose in their blood is important for both mother and fetus. As a result, pregnant women usually have the oral glucose tolerance test rather than a fasting blood glucose test. This test is used to determine if pre-diabetes or diabetes is present. This test is performed at various intervals after drinking glucose.