How to prepare for a diabetes blood glucose test

QUESTION: I have some questions about diabetes blood glucose test:

1- Is it include in a routine blood control?

2- How to prepare for a fasting glucose test? If my fasting numbers are high, what is the next test I should run or the diabetes is already confirmed?

3- Is it ok to run a urine test for diabetes or run both: urine and blood test? Thank you.

ANSWER: Generally, the fasting blood glucose test (FPG) is ordered to monitor blood glucose level in pre-diabetic and diabetic patients.

Usually, it is performed in a regular check-up, or your doctor might order it when you have manifestation of symptoms for diabetes in order to give the right diagnose of diabetes.

According to American Diabetes Association (ADA), the fasting blood glucose test is the easier, cheaper and faster test to diagnose diabetes.

It is recommended that you don?t eat or drink anything (except water) for eight to ten hours before your blood sample is collected.

If you are already a diabetic patient, the blood glucose level is checked when you are fasting and once again after eating your meals. Also, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) might be ordered to diagnose or follow-up diabetes.

To be sure you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association advises to measure your diabetes levels twice and at totally different hours. Recently, ADA recommended A1C test to diagnose diabetes as well.

On the other hand, the urine glucose test alone is rarely used to diagnose diabetes. It is replaced by blood glucose test which is considered to be more accurate and more sensitive.

However, the urine glucose is measured routinely during a urinalysis.

Reham

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How to prepare for a diabetes blood glucose test

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Dec 11, 2011
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fasting blood tests or non fasting blood tests for diabetics
by: Anonymous

QUESTION: What is the benefit of a fasting blood test for a knowm diabetic in routine annual checks against a non fasting blood test.

My opinion is that surley the results will be skewed and not an indication of every day living. I ask this question as at one medical practice I was with they did not perform fasting blood tests, which I think is sensible,my current medical practice insist on a fasting blood tests.

I have an inherent distrust of doctors and nurses most of them are to full of their own self importance.


ANSWER: Hi,

There are many tests to conclude how well you are controlling your diabetes, including fasting and non-fasting tests.

Although they are good, they have their own advantages and shortcomings, which make them differ.

All the best!

Dr.Alba

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