Many types of glucose tests exist and they can be used to estimate blood sugar levels at a given time or, over a longer period of time, to obtain average levels or to see how fast the body is able to normalize changed glucose levels. Eating food for example leads to elevated blood sugar levels. In healthy people, these levels quickly return to normal via increased cellular glucose uptake which is primarily mediated by increase in blood insulin levels.[citation needed]
| Glucose test | |
|---|---|
| Purpose | estimate blood sugar levels |
Glucose tests can reveal temporary/long-term hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. These conditions may not have obvious symptoms and can damage organs in the long-term. Abnormally high/low levels, slow return to normal levels from either of these conditions and/or inability to normalize blood sugar levels means that the person being tested probably has some kind of medical condition like type 2 diabetes which is caused by cellular insensitivity to insulin. Glucose tests are thus often used to diagnose such conditions.
Testing methods
Tests that can be performed at home are used in blood glucose monitoring for illnesses that have already been diagnosed medically so that these illnesses can be maintained via medication and meal timing. Some of the home testing methods include[citation needed]
- fingerprick type of glucose meter - need to prick self finger 8-12 times a day.
- continuous glucose monitor - the CGM monitors the glucose levels every 5 minutes approximately.
Laboratory tests are often used to diagnose illnesses and such methods include
- fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting plasma glucose (FPG): 10–16 hours after eating
- glucose tolerance test: continuous testing
- postprandial glucose test (PC): 2 hours after eating
- random glucose test
Some laboratory tests don't measure glucose levels directly from body fluids or tissues but still indicate elevated blood sugar levels. Such tests measure the levels of glycated hemoglobin, other glycated proteins, 1,5-anhydroglucitol etc. from blood.
Use in medical diagnosis
Glucose testing can be used to diagnose or indicate certain medical conditions.[citation needed]
High blood sugar may indicate
- gestational diabetes. This temporary form of diabetes appears during pregnancy, and with glucose-controlling medication or insulin symptoms can be improved.
- type 1 and type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. If diagnosed with diabetes, regular glucose tests can help manage or maintain conditions. Type 1, is commonly seen in children or teenagers whose bodies are not producing enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes, is typically seen in adults who are overweight. The insulin in their bodies are either not working normally, or there is not being enough produced.
Low blood sugar may indicate
- insulin overuse
- starvation
- underactive thyroid
- Addison's disease
- insulinoma
- kidney disease
Preparing for testing
Fasting prior to glucose testing may be required with some test types. Fasting blood sugar test, for example, requires 10–16 hour-long period of not eating before the test.
Blood sugar levels can be affected by some drugs and prior to some glucose tests these medications should be temporarily given up or their dosages should be decreased. Such drugs may include salicylates (Aspirin), birth control pills, corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, diuretics and phenytoin.[medical citation needed]
Some foods contain caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, energy drinks etc.). Blood sugar levels of healthy people are generally not significantly changed by caffeine, but in diabetics caffeine intake may elevate these levels via its ability to stimulate the adrenergic nervous system.
Reference ranges
Fasting blood sugar
A level below 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) 10–16 hours without eating is normal. 5.6–6 mmol/L (100–109 mg/dL) may indicate prediabetes and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) should be offered to high-risk individuals (old people, those with high blood pressure etc.). 6.1–6.9 mmol/L (110–125 mg/dL) means OGTT should be offered even if other indicators of diabetes are not present. 7 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) and above indicates diabetes and the fasting test should be repeated.
Glucose tolerance test
Postprandial glucose test
Random glucose test
See also
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypoglycemia
References
- Khatib, Oussama MN (2006). Guidelines for the prevention, management and care of diabetes mellitus. World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. pp. 30, 37. ISBN 9789290214045. OCLC 76821700.
- MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Glucose tolerance test
- "Is the glucose test during pregnancy optional? - Today's Parent". Today's Parent. 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- "How Does Coffee Affect Your Blood Sugar?". WebMD. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
- "Diabetes – tests and diagnosis". Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
Many types of glucose tests exist and they can be used to estimate blood sugar levels at a given time or over a longer period of time to obtain average levels or to see how fast the body is able to normalize changed glucose levels Eating food for example leads to elevated blood sugar levels In healthy people these levels quickly return to normal via increased cellular glucose uptake which is primarily mediated by increase in blood insulin levels citation needed Glucose testPurposeestimate blood sugar levels Glucose tests can reveal temporary long term hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia These conditions may not have obvious symptoms and can damage organs in the long term Abnormally high low levels slow return to normal levels from either of these conditions and or inability to normalize blood sugar levels means that the person being tested probably has some kind of medical condition like type 2 diabetes which is caused by cellular insensitivity to insulin Glucose tests are thus often used to diagnose such conditions Testing methodsTests that can be performed at home are used in blood glucose monitoring for illnesses that have already been diagnosed medically so that these illnesses can be maintained via medication and meal timing Some of the home testing methods include citation needed fingerprick type of glucose meter need to prick self finger 8 12 times a day continuous glucose monitor the CGM monitors the glucose levels every 5 minutes approximately Laboratory tests are often used to diagnose illnesses and such methods include fasting blood sugar FBS fasting plasma glucose FPG 10 16 hours after eating glucose tolerance test continuous testing postprandial glucose test PC 2 hours after eating random glucose test Some laboratory tests don t measure glucose levels directly from body fluids or tissues but still indicate elevated blood sugar levels Such tests measure the levels of glycated hemoglobin other glycated proteins 1 5 anhydroglucitol etc from blood Use in medical diagnosisGlucose testing can be used to diagnose or indicate certain medical conditions citation needed High blood sugar may indicate gestational diabetes This temporary form of diabetes appears during pregnancy and with glucose controlling medication or insulin symptoms can be improved type 1 and type 2 diabetes or prediabetes If diagnosed with diabetes regular glucose tests can help manage or maintain conditions Type 1 is commonly seen in children or teenagers whose bodies are not producing enough insulin Type 2 diabetes is typically seen in adults who are overweight The insulin in their bodies are either not working normally or there is not being enough produced Low blood sugar may indicate insulin overuse starvation underactive thyroid Addison s disease insulinoma kidney diseasePreparing for testingFasting prior to glucose testing may be required with some test types Fasting blood sugar test for example requires 10 16 hour long period of not eating before the test Blood sugar levels can be affected by some drugs and prior to some glucose tests these medications should be temporarily given up or their dosages should be decreased Such drugs may include salicylates Aspirin birth control pills corticosteroids tricyclic antidepressants lithium diuretics and phenytoin medical citation needed Some foods contain caffeine coffee tea colas energy drinks etc Blood sugar levels of healthy people are generally not significantly changed by caffeine but in diabetics caffeine intake may elevate these levels via its ability to stimulate the adrenergic nervous system Reference rangesFasting blood sugar A level below 5 6 mmol L 100 mg dL 10 16 hours without eating is normal 5 6 6 mmol L 100 109 mg dL may indicate prediabetes and oral glucose tolerance test OGTT should be offered to high risk individuals old people those with high blood pressure etc 6 1 6 9 mmol L 110 125 mg dL means OGTT should be offered even if other indicators of diabetes are not present 7 mmol L 126 mg dL and above indicates diabetes and the fasting test should be repeated Glucose tolerance test Postprandial glucose test Random glucose testSee alsoHyperglycemia HypoglycemiaReferencesKhatib Oussama MN 2006 Guidelines for the prevention management and care of diabetes mellitus World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean pp 30 37 ISBN 9789290214045 OCLC 76821700 MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Glucose tolerance test Is the glucose test during pregnancy optional Today s Parent Today s Parent 2017 08 30 Retrieved 2018 05 05 How Does Coffee Affect Your Blood Sugar WebMD Retrieved 2018 08 30 Diabetes tests and diagnosis Archived from the original on 2013 11 14 Retrieved 2013 12 21
