OVERVIEW
What is sugar (fluid) lab test?
The sugar test or glucose lab tests are indicated for measuring levels of glucose in blood, urine, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) etc. Glucose (blood sugar) serves as a primary and essential source of energy for body cells, and short-term energy source for nervous system & brain. Therefore, its level determination in body is essential.
What sugar/glucose lab tests are available?
Glucose levels can be measured by tests like fasting blood sugar (FBS; check sugar levels after fast of 8 hours), random blood glucose (sugar levels at random time), glucose tolerance test (sugar levels after drinking liquid containing glucose), gestational diabetes glucose test (sugar levels in pregnant females) & urinalysis (glucose in urine).
Why is sugar (fluid) lab test done?
The test is performed as:
- It screens & diagnose prediabetes (sugar levels too high but not high for diabetes) and diabetes
- It detects hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) & hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- It helps detect infection & possible malignancy as low body fluid glucose acts as an indicator.
- It helps in heart disease, kidney failure, blindness & other complications which are caused by diabetes
- Indicated in individuals showing symptoms of high or low glucose levels
- It helps in monitoring of blood glucose levels
- It helps evaluate whether the treatment given is effectively controlling diabetes
- Which foods should be avoided overnight before going for sugar test?
You must avoid food items like cereals, bread, fruit juices, & fried foods.
- How often should a person be checking their blood sugar levels in a day?
It all depends upon severity of your condition. If type 2 diabetic, then you must take at least one reading in a day or in some cases taking readings seven times in a day is also indicated.
- Is fasting required in glucose tolerance test?
Here no preparation is required prior to the test. You will simply be given sweet liquid before the test and must drink it. Then after 1 hour, blood is drawn, and sugar levels are checked.
- If checking at home, at what times should blood sugar be checked?
You should check before taking a meal, 2 hours after eating a meal, if diabetes medication changes, if you start/stop/change medicine, when you wake up, before/after exercise, before going for bed, or when you sick.
- Before FBS test, can I drink water?
Yes, you can drink water but nothing else for about 8 hours before the test
INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS:
Different sugar/glucose lab test ranges include:
- HbA1C (checks blood sugar levels over past 2/3 months): 1) Below 5.7% is “normal”, 2) Between 5.7% - 6.4% indicates “prediabetes”, 3) Higher or equal to 6.5% indicates “diabetes”
- FBS: 1) 99 mg/dl or lower is “normal”, 2) 100mg/dl or 125 mg/dl indicates “prediabetes”, 3) Higher or equal to 126 mg/dl indicates “diabetes”
- Random Blood Sugar Test: 200 mg/dl or high than this indicates “diabetes”
- Glucose Tolerance Test: 1) 140 mg/dl or lower is “normal”, 2) 140 mg/dl – 199mg/dl is “prediabetic”, 3) Higher or equal to 200mg/dl indicates “diabetes”
- For gestational diabetes, the test is done between 24 & 28 weeks of pregnancy
You get tested for diagnosing/screening hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia states in individuals.