Blood sugar refers to the sugar found in the human body. It goes by the name Glycaemia. This sugar is produced from the food that we consume on a day-to-day basis. Sugar is also considered the body’s main energy resource and is called glucose.
What is a fasting blood sugar test?
A fasting blood sugar test is done to measure the levels of glucose in the body. The body produces a hormone called insulin which is responsible for moving glucose into our bloodstream. Having too much glucose or too little glucose is dangerous and can lead to serious health conditions.
Why is it done?
A fasting blood sugar test is done to typically screen for diabetes, signs of prediabetes, or diabetes found during pregnancy called gestational diabetes. It is done at a doctor’s office or a lab or in some hospitals for the following reasons:
- For patients coming in for annual health checkups, it is used to measure glucose levels over time.
- For pregnant women, this test is performed to check and ensure that no hormones are causing diabetes.
- If a person shows symptoms of diabetes or has a family which has observed diabetes over generations, this test is prescribed.
- Whenever the blood glucose levels are more than the normal standards prescribed, then this test is conducted.
How do I prepare for the test?
To appear for a fasting blood sugar test, you are expected to consume nothing for 8 to 12 hours before the test. The obvious exception is water. You can consume water, but you are recommended not to consume any solid food before the test. This process is called fasting. The duration is dependent on your doctor. In the case of pregnant women, the duration and conditions may vary. It is best to consult your doctors to get more information regarding the same.
What happens during the test?
During the fasting blood sugar test, a health care provider will perform the following steps:
- They will clean the inside of the elbow using an alcoholic swab to eliminate any germs present in the area.
- A band is then tied around the upper arm so that there is sufficient blood in the veins, making it easier to draw blood.
- They insert a thin needle into the area cleaned using the alcoholic swab.
- They then draw blood into a syringe which is then transferred into a vial that is attached to the syringe.
- They remove the band tied around your arm then they remove the needle.
- They add pressure at the site of the injection to prevent bleeding.
- Finally, they bandage the area where the blood was drawn.
Interpreting the results:
The results of this test appear as numbers. Here is what they mean:
- <= 99mg/dL: This refers to a normal blood sugar level.
- 100mg/dL – 125mg/dL: Indicative of prediabetes but it cannot be classified as diabetes.
- >= 125mg/dL: This is indicative of high blood sugar levels which means that diabetes is most likely in such readings.
Can a fasting blood sugar test be done at home?
There are several kits available in the market so that you can test your blood sugar levels in the comfort of your home. The readings obtained from such kits may not be accurate as the readings are affected by the following:
- Surrounding environmental conditions may influence the readings shown.
- The skin has not been cleaned properly, particularly the area that needs to be pricked.
- Damaged test strips or in some extreme cases, expired strips are being used.
- Insufficient blood was drawn onto the strip leading to inaccurate readings.
Another type of test conducted by health professionals is random blood sugar tests. These tests do not require any fasting.
Why do doctors prescribe this kind of test?
Your doctor may prescribe this test if you have any of the following symptoms:
- If you are urinating more than how much you normally do in a day, your doctor might prescribe this test.
- If you feel extreme thirst at certain points of the day even after consuming proper amounts of water, this test may be required.
- If you feel extremely hungry even after eating a proper meal, this test is recommended.
- If you are facing blurry vision, this test is commonly prescribed.
The results of a random blood sugar test are numerical and if you get a test result of about 200mg/dL or above, it indicates that you have diabetes.
Conclusion:
Diabetes is common among a lot of adults due to family history, extreme stress, and hormonal imbalances among a lot of other reasons. It is important to detect diabetes in its initial stages so that medicines can be prescribed to help with maintaining the blood sugar levels in the body. Having excess glucose is harmful to the body. A person who has diabetes needs to be cautious of what they consume and ensure their blood sugar levels are at the right levels to ensure their immunity system is intact.
