Blood Glucose Lab Test

Your body needs glucose (also known as sugar) for energy. A blood glucose test checks how much sugar is in your bloodstream.

What is a blood glucose test?

A blood glucose test also is known as a blood sugar test. The test helps to diagnose diabetes, pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes. It indicates whether you have high blood glucose level, or hyperglycemia, or low blood glucose, also known as hypoglycemia.

Why is the test done?

Your health care provider will order a blood glucose test if they think you might have diabetes. This test can also be used to monitor people who already have a diagnosis of diabetes. Your health care provider may order this test if you have any of these symptoms:

• Frequent need to urinate

• Blurry vision

• Fainting spells

• Confusion

A blood glucose test can also be a regular way to screen for diabetes. If you are over 45, you should be tested every three years. Your health care provider may want to test you earlier if you have any of these risk factors for diabetes:

• Body mass index of 25 or above

• High blood pressure

• Family history of diabetes

• High cholesterol

What do the results mean?

Your health care provider will explain your test results. These numbers are examples of common ranges based on the type of test.

Fasting blood glucose

• Normal results: a level between 70 and 100 mg/dL.
• Prediabetes: a level of 100-125 mg/dL
• Diabetes: a level of 126 mg/d: or higher

Random blood glucose

• Normal results: a level blow 125 mg/dL
• Prediabetes: a level of 140-199 mg/dL
• Diabetes: a level of 200 mg/dL or higher