Blood Glucose Test

 A blood glucose test is a blood test that screens for diabetes by measuring the level of glucose (sugar) in a person’s blood. Normal blood glucose level (while fasting) range within 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L). Higher ranges could indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes.

OVERVIEW

What is a blood glucose test?

A blood glucose test is a blood test that screens for diabetes by measuring the level of glucose (sugar) in a person’s blood.

Who is most at risk for developing diabetes?

The following categories of people are considered "high-risk" candidates for developing diabetes:

• Individuals who are overweight or obese
• Individuals who are 45 years of age or older
• Individuals with first-degree relatives with diabetes (such as parents, children, or siblings)
• Individuals who are African-American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asia American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders,
• Women who developed diabetes while they were pregnant or gave birth to large babies (9 pounds or more)
• Individuals with high blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
• Individuals with high-density lipoprotein (HDL, the "good cholesterol level") below 25 mg/dl or triglyceride levels at or above 250 mg/dl
• Individuals who have impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance
• Individuals who are physically inactive; engaging in exercise less than three times a week
• Individuals who have polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS
• Individuals who have acanthosis nigricans -- dark, thick and velvety skin around your neck or armpits

In addition to testing the above individuals at high risk, the American Diabetes Association also recommends screening all individuals age 45 and older.

TEST DETAILS

How can one tell if I have diabetes by examining my blood?

Your body converts sugar, also called glucose, into energy so your body can function. The sugar comes from the foods you eat and is released from storage from your body’s own tissues.

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Its job is to move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of tissues. After you eat, the level of glucose in the blood rises sharply. The pancreas responds by releasing enough insulin to handle the increased level of glucose — moving the glucose out of the blood and into cells. This helps return the blood glucose level to its former, lower level.

If a person has diabetes, two situations may cause the blood sugar to increase:

• The pancreas does not make enough insulin
• The insulin does not work properly

As a result of either of these situations, the blood sugar level remains high, a condition called hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels and other organs can be damaged. Measuring your blood glucose levels allows you and your doctor to know if you have, or are at risk for, developing diabetes.

Much less commonly, the opposite can happen too. Too low a level of blood sugar, a condition called hypoglycemia, can be caused by the presence of too much insulin or by other hormone disorders or liver disease.

How do I prepare for the plasma glucose level test and how are the results interpreted?

To get an accurate plasma glucose level, you must have fasted (not eaten or had anything to drink except water) for at least 8 hours prior to the test. When you report to the clinic or laboratory, a small sample of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm. According to the practice recommendations of the American Diabetes Association, the results of the blood test are interpreted as follows:

Fasting blood glucose level

• If your blood glucose level is 70 to 99* mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L). . .
  • What it means: Your glucose level is within the normal range
• If your blood glucose level is 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L). . .
  • What it means: You have an impaired fasting glucose level (pre-diabetes**) . . .
• If your blood glucose level is 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/L ) or higher on more than one testing occasion
  • What it means: You have diabetes

*Values between 50 and 70 are often seen in healthy people

**The condition of "prediabetes" puts you at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood lipid disorders.

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