How Is Fasting Plasma Glucose Used To Diagnose Diabetes?

Diagnosing Diabetes

How much do you know? Self assessment quizzes are available for topics covered in this website. Find out how much you have learned about Diabetes. Random or casual plasma glucose test A plasma glucose test is a measure of how much sugar/glucose you have circulating in your blood. “Random” or “Casual” simply means that you have blood drawn at a laboratory at any time. Whether you have fasted or recently eaten will not affect the test. A plasma glucose test measurement equal to or greater than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) indicates that you may have diabetes. To be sure, you will need to have the test results confirmed on another day through another random test, or by taking a fasting plasma glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting plasma glucose test This simple blood test is taken after you have abstained from food and drink (except water) for at least 8 hours. A normal plasma glucose level after fasting is between 60 and 99 mg/dl. Diabetes is not confirmed until 2 separate fasting plasma glucose tests each measure 126 or greater. Oral glucose tolerance test It’s possible for people with diabetes – even those with symptoms – to have a normal fasting plasma glucose test. If you fall into this category, you will again be asked to abstain from food and drink (except water) for 8 hours and then drink a liquid containing a known amount of glucose, usually 75 grams.Your blood is drawn before drinking the glucose mixture and 2 hours later. You will be asked to refrain from eating until the test is completed. This test is called an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Your fasting plasma glucose normally is less than 100 mg/dl. Values from 100mg/dl to 126 mg/dl are diagnostic of pre-diabetes. Fasting plasma glucose levels equal or above 126 m Continue reading >>

How Is Glucose Tolerance Testing Used To Diagnose Diabetes?

How Is Glucose Tolerance Testing Used to Diagnose Diabetes? My specialist recently diagnosed me with type II diabetes . I want to be proactive and learn all I can about the disease. She used something called a glucose tolerance test to confirm her diagnosis. How does that test work? The glucose tolerance test is just one of several common measures to diagnose diabetes , both type I and type II. The health-care professional will take a history including information about the patient's symptoms, risk factors for diabetes , past medical problems, current medications, allergies to medications, family history of diabetes, or other medical problems such as high cholesterol or heart disease , and personal habits and lifestyle. Laboratory tests that can confirm the diagnosis of diabetes are the following: Finger stick blood glucose: This rapid screening test may be performed anywhere, including community-based screening programs. Although not as accurate as testing blood in a hospital laboratory, a finger stick blood glucose test is easy to perform, and the result is available quickly. The test involves sticking the patient's finger for a blood sample, which is then placed on a strip that has been inserted into a machine that reads the blood sugar level. These machines are only accurate to within about 10%-20% of true laboratory values. Finger stick blood glucose values tend to be most inaccurate at very high or very low levels, so abnormally low or high results should be confirmed by repeat testing. Finger stick is the way most people with diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels at home. Fasting plasma glucose: The patient will be asked to eat or drink nothing for eight hours before having blood drawn (usually first thing in the morning). If the blood glucose level is great Continue reading >>

Blood Glucose Testing

The term “blood glucose” generally refers to the amount of glucose in your blood. Blood glucose testing is done when a healthcare provider needs to see if a person has diabetes, or how well they are managing their diabetes. People who are diagnosed with diabetes need to check their blood glucose often to make sure their diabetes is in control. To diagnose and monitor diabetes, healthcare providers test plasma glucose levels or the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in your bloodstream with a laboratory test. People who have diabetes test their plasma glucose with a portable meter at home. Both the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c tests are used to diagnose diabetes in non‑pregnant adults. For an accurate diagnosis, all results must be confirmed by a second test on a different day. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test A plasma glucose (PG) test measures the amount of glucose in the liquid part of your blood — called the blood plasma — rather than the amount of glucose in your whole blood. In the United States, plasma or whole blood glucose are measured in milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL. For the FPG test, you will need to fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for at least 8 hours before your test. A sample of your blood is taken at your healthcare provider’s office and analyzed in a lab. The FPG test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) that stays in the blood even after going without food for at least 8 hours. A high number is a signal that your body isn’t making enough insulin to remove glucose from your blood stream. HbA1c Test This test can be done any time during the day and you do not need to fast. Like the FPG, a sample of blood is taken at your healthcare provider’s office an analyzed in a lab. An HbA1c test measures the Continue reading >>

Normal Fasting Plasma Glucose And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and the risk for type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data concerning 13,845 subjects, aged 40–69 years, who had their FPG measured at least three times between 1992 and 2008 were extracted from a database. Three FPG groups were defined (51–82, 83–90, and 91–99 mg/dL). A Cox proportional hazards analysis was applied to estimate the risk of incident diabetes adjusted for other risk factors. RESULTS During 108,061 person-years of follow-up (8,110 women and 5,735 men), 307 incident cases of type 2 diabetes were found. The final model demonstrated a hazard ratio of 2.03 (95% CI 1.18–3.50) for 91–99 mg/dL and 1.42 (0.42–4.74) for 83–90 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that FPG between 91 and 99 mg/dL is a strong independent predictor of type 2 diabetes and should be used to identify people to be further investigated and aided with preventive measures. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The Italian National Health Service facilitates health controls; on average, northern Italian individuals have one annual blood drawing with eight laboratory tests, including FPG. This induced us to use retrospective outpatient data of the Desio Hospital Laboratory to model an experimental population. Selection criteria were basal FPG <100 mg/dL at inclusion; at least three additional FPG measurements between 1992 and 2008; and total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride measurements. Furthermore, they did not have any requests for glycated hemoglobin, a limit set to avoid inclusion of those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A total of 13,845 people, aged 40–69 years (9), were considered. These subjects represented 17% of the corresponding stratum (82,000), which is 41% (equivalen Continue reading >>

Accuracy Of Fasting Plasma Glucose And Hemoglobin A1c Testing For The Early Detection Of Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Abstract Diabetes, often referred as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism because of the defects in insulin releasing, insulin action, or both. The most common form of diabetes mellitus is type 2 diabetes which is a worldwide chronic disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing for the early detection of diabetes and to evaluate the correlation between FPG and HbA1c as a biomarker for diabetes in the general population in Hong Kong. This study also observed and assessed the risk of diabetes by comparing different genders and ages in Hong Kong. A retrospective study was undertaken and the data was collected in the database of a HOKLAS (The Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme) clinical laboratory from 200 diabetic and non-diabetic patients (83 females and 117 males, age ranged from 20 to 90) who attended the laboratory during January 2016 to February 2016 for both FPG and HbA1c measurements. A significant correlation between HbA1c and FPG (r2 = 0.713, p < 0.05) was observed in this study. Moreover, patients detected as diabetes in age groups 45–64, 65–74 and ≥75 years old were 2.5, 3 and 6 times respectively higher than that of the diabetic individuals under 45 years old. In conclusion, FPG was significantly correlated with HbA1c and a significant increase in FPG and HbA1c in male was observed by comparing with female. Furthermore, the incidence rate of diabetes mellitus in male was 3 times higher than that in female in Hong Kong and it progressed with increasing age. Further longer term and large scale research in each age group is warranted. Fig. Continue reading >>

Diabetes & Prediabetes Tests

This fact sheet compares the following tests: A1C test fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) random plasma glucose (RPG) test Confirming Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes Diagnosis must be confirmed unless symptoms are present. Repeat the test using one of the following methods: Repeat the same test on a different day—preferred. If two different tests are used—e.g., FPG and A1C—and both indicate diabetes, consider the diagnosis confirmed. If the two different tests are discordant, repeat the test that is above the diagnostic cut point. If diagnosis cannot be confirmed using the results of two tests, but at least one test indicates high risk, health care providers may wish to follow the patient closely and retest in 3 to 6 months.1 Interpreting Laboratory Results When interpreting laboratory results health care providers should consider that all laboratory test results represent a range, rather than an exact number2 be informed about the A1C assay methods used by their laboratory2 send blood samples for diagnosis to a laboratory that uses an NGSP-certified method for A1C analysis to ensure the results are standardized3 consider the possibility of interference in the A1C test when a result is above 15% or is at odds with other diabetes test results1 consider each patient’s profile, including risk factors and history, and individualize diagnosis and treatment decisions in discussion with the patient1 Comparing Diabetes Blood Tests‡ View the content below as a table in the PDF Version (460 KB) . A1C Test Uses: Screening and diagnosis of prediabetes 5.7–6.4%† Screening and diagnosis of type 2 diabetes ≥ 6.5%† repeat for confirmation of diagnosis Monitoring of diabetes Technical Features: Diagnosis requires a laborat Continue reading >>

Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis

Your health care professional can diagnose diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes through blood tests. The blood tests show if your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Do not try to diagnose yourself if you think you might have diabetes. Testing equipment that you can buy over the counter, such as a blood glucose meter, cannot diagnose diabetes. Who should be tested for diabetes? Anyone who has symptoms of diabetes should be tested for the disease. Some people will not have any symptoms but may have risk factors for diabetes and need to be tested. Testing allows health care professionals to find diabetes sooner and work with their patients to manage diabetes and prevent complications. Testing also allows health care professionals to find prediabetes. Making lifestyle changes to lose a modest amount of weight if you are overweight may help you delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes Most often, testing for occurs in people with diabetes symptoms. Doctors usually diagnose type 1 diabetes in children and young adults. Because type 1 diabetes can run in families, a study called TrialNet offers free testing to family members of people with the disease, even if they don’t have symptoms. Type 2 diabetes Experts recommend routine testing for type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older are between the ages of 19 and 44, are overweight or obese, and have one or more other diabetes risk factors are a woman who had gestational diabetes1 Medicare covers the cost of diabetes tests for people with certain risk factors for diabetes. If you have Medicare, find out if you qualify for coverage . If you have different insurance, ask your insurance company if it covers diabetes tests. Though type 2 diabetes most often develops in adults, children also ca Continue reading >>

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

Tweet A fasting plasma glucose test, also known as a fasting glucose test (FGT), is a test that can be used to help diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. The test is a simple blood test taken after several hours of fasting. How a fasting glucose test is performed A fasting glucose test will be performed in the morning as this provides the body with adequate time to fast. The NHS advises people who are having a fasting glucose test not to eat or drink anything except water for 8 to 10 hours before the test is performed. The test requires a blood sample to be taken from the patients arm. Fasting glucose test results The World Health Organisations defines the following fasting glucose test results: Normal: Below 6.1 mmol/l (110 mg/dl) Impaired fasting glucose: Between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/l (between 111 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl) Diabetic: 7.0 mmol/l and above (126 mg/dl and above) Impaired fasting glucose is a form of pre-diabetes. Read more on impaired fasting glucose. Tweet Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) due to the body: Being ineffective at using the insulin it has produced; also known as insulin resistance and/or Being unable to produce enough insulin Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the body being unable to metabolise glucose (a simple sugar). This leads to high levels of blood glucose which over time may damage the organs of the body. From this, it can be understood that for someone with diabetes something that is food for ordinary people can become a sort of metabolic poison. This is why people with diabetes are advised to avoid sources of dietary sugar. The good news is for very many people with type 2 diabetes this is all they have to do to stay well. If you can keep your blood sugar lower by avoid Continue reading >>

Diagnosing Diabetes

In diagnosing diabetes, physicians primarily depend upon the results of specific glucose tests. However, test results are just part of the information that goes into the diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Doctors also take into account your physical exam, presence or absence of symptoms, and medical history. Some people who are significantly ill will have transient problems with elevated blood sugars, which will then return to normal after the illness has resolved. Also, some medications may alter your blood glucose levels (most commonly steroids and certain diuretics, such as water pills). The 2 main tests used to measure the presence of blood sugar problems are the direct measurement of glucose levels in the blood during an overnight fast and measurement of the body's ability to appropriately handle the excess sugar presented after drinking a high glucose drink. Fasting Blood Glucose (Blood Sugar) Level A value above 126 mg/dL on at least 2 occasions typically means a person has diabetes. The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test An oral glucose tolerance test is one that can be performed in a doctor's office or a lab. The person being tested starts the test in a fasting state (having no food or drink except water for at least 10 hours but not greater than 16 hours). An initial blood sugar is drawn and then the person is given a "glucola" bottle with a high amount of sugar in it (75 grams of glucose or 100 grams for pregnant women). The person then has their blood tested again 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after drinking the high glucose drink. For the test to give reliable results, you must be in good health (not have any other illnesses, not even a cold). Also, you should be normally active (for example, not lying down or confined to a bed like a patient in a Continue reading >>

Slideshow: A Visual Guide To Type 2 Diabetes

If you experience symptoms of severe increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, tingling of your hands or feet -- your doctor may run a test for diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 29 million children and adults in the U.S., or over 9% of the population, have diabetes today. Yet, millions of Americans are unaware that they have diabetes, because there may be no warning signs. To confirm the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, your doctor will order a fasting plasma glucose test or a casual plasma glucose. The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) is the preferred method for diagnosing diabetes, because it is easy to do, convenient, and less expensive than other tests, according to the American Diabetes Association. Before taking the blood glucose test, you will not be allowed to eat anything for at least eight hours. During a blood glucose test, blood will be drawn and sent to a lab for analysis. Normal fasting blood glucose -- or blood sugar -- is between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL for people who do not have diabetes. The standard diagnosis of diabetes is made when two separate blood tests show that your fasting blood glucose level is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL. However, if you have normal fasting blood sugar, but you have risk factors for diabetes or symptoms of diabetes, your doctor may decide to do a glucose tolerance test (see below) to be sure that you do not have diabetes. Some people have a normal fasting blood sugar reading, but their blood sugar rapidly rises as they eat. These people may have impaired glucose tolerance. If their blood sugar levels are high enough, they may be diagnosed with diabetes. Continue reading >>

Fasting Plasma Glucose And Hemoglobin A1c In Identifying And Predicting Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To compare fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c in identifying and predicting type 2 diabetes in a population with high rates of diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Diabetes was defined as an FPG level ≥126 mg/dL or an HbA1c level ≥6.5%. Data collected from the baseline and second exams (1989–1995) of the Strong Heart Study were used. RESULTS For cases of diabetes identified by FPG ≥126 mg/dL, using HbA1c ≥6.5% at the initial and 4-year follow-up diabetes screenings (or in identifying incident cases in 4 years) among undiagnosed participants left 46% and 59% of cases of diabetes undetected, respectively, whereas for cases identified by HbA1c ≥6.5%, using FPG ≥126 mg/dL left 11% and 59% unidentified, respectively. Age, waist circumference, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and baseline FPG and HbA1c levels were common significant risk factors for incident diabetes defined by either FPG or HbA1c; triglyceride levels were significant for diabetes defined by HbA1c alone, and blood pressure and sibling history of diabetes were significant for diabetes defined by FPG alone. Using both the baseline FPG and HbA1c in diabetes prediction identified more people at risk than using either measure alone. CONCLUSIONS Among undiagnosed participants, using HbA1c alone in initial diabetes screening identifies fewer cases of diabetes than FPG, and using either FPG or HbA1c alone cannot effectively identify diabetes in a 4-year periodic successive diabetes screening or incident cases of diabetes in 4 years. Using both criteria may identify more people at risk. The proposed models using the commonly available clinical measures can be applied to assessing the risk of incident diabetes using either criterion. Type 2 diabetes has emerged as an important public he Continue reading >>

Diagnosis Of Diabetes

A diabetes diagnosis often follows a person seeking medical advice after experiencing symptoms of diabetes, such as feeling thirsty, frequent urination, fatigue and unexpected weight loss. A doctor may arrange blood and urine tests to check for high glucose levels which indicate diabetes. How are diabetes and pre-diabetes diagnosed? The following tests are used for the diagnosis of diabetes: HbA1c blood test. An HbA1c reading of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) is the recommended cut off point for diagnosing diabetes. A value below this does not exclude diabetes diagnosed using glucose tests. A fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least eight hours without eating or drinking anything but plain water. This test is used to detect diabetes or pre-diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test measures your blood sugar after you have gone at least eight hours without eating and drinking and two hours after you drink a glucose-containing beverage. This test can be used to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. In a random plasma glucose test, your doctor checks your blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not pre-diabetes. Positive test results should be confirmed by repeating the fasting plasma glucose test or the oral glucose tolerance test on a different day. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test The FPG is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes and is most reliable when done in the morning. Results and their meaning are shown in table 1. If your fasting glucose level is more than 6 but less than 7mmol/l you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG), meaning that you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes but do not have it yet. A level of 7mmol/l or abov Continue reading >>

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

A test that screens for diabetes by measuring the level of glucose in a person’s blood plasma after a period of fasting (not eating). The fasting plasma glucose test is given to nonpregnant adults who are at high risk for diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, these “high-risk” candidates for testing include everyone age 45 or older, obese individuals (people who are 120% of their recommended body weight or above), individuals with first-degree relatives (parents, children, or siblings) with diabetes, members of high-risk ethnic groups (Native Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, and African-Americans), women who’ve had gestational diabetes or given birth to big babies (9 pounds or more), people with high blood pressure, people with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels at or below 35 mg/dl or triglyceride levels at or above 250 mg/dl, and individuals who have impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. The fasting plasma glucose test is performed after a person has fasted for at least 8 hours. A sample of blood is taken from a vein in the arm. If the blood glucose level is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl, the person is retested and, if the results are consistent, diagnosed with diabetes. (Until a few years ago, the diagnostic cut-off point was 140 mg/dl, but the ADA lowered it because research has shown that even people with fasting plasma glucose levels between 126 mg/dl and 140 mg/dl tend to develop the medical complications of diabetes.) Individuals with a fasting plasma glucose level less than 126 mg/dl but greater than or equal to 100 mg/dl are classified as having impaired fasting glucose. Though they do not have diabetes, these individuals do not metabolize glucose normally, and they have an increased risk of developing Continue reading >>

Blood Tests For Diabetes: Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

By the dLife editors Also known as: FPG; fasting blood glucose test; fasting blood sugar test What is it? The fasting blood sugar test is a carbohydrate metabolism test that measures plasma (or blood) glucose levels after a fast. Fasting (no food for at least 8 hours) stimulates the release of the hormone glucagon, which in turn raises plasma glucose levels. In people without diabetes, the body will produce and process adequate amounts of insulin to counteract the rise in glucose levels. In people with diabetes, this does not happen, and the tested glucose levels will remain high. Why is the fasting blood sugar test performed? Generally, as a screening test for diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that everyone over age 45 take this test every three years. People with symptoms of diabetes or multiple risk factors should also have the test. The fasting blood sugar test is also used to evaluate the efficacy of medication or dietary therapy in those already diagnosed with diabetes. How is the fasting blood sugar test performed? The fasting blood sugar test consists of a simple blood draw, which is sent to your doctor’s lab for analysis. The ADA recommends that the test be administered in the morning, because afternoon tests tend to give lower readings. It is also usually more convenient to take the test in the morning, because you must fast for at least 8 hours beforehand. How frequently should the fasting blood sugar test be performed? Up to two times for diagnostic purposes, or as required while monitoring a treatment regime. What is the “normal” range for results? These can vary from lab to lab, and according to the lab procedures used. When using the glucose oxidase and hexokinase methods, normal values are typically 70 to 99 mg/dl (3.9 to Continue reading >>

Understanding The Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, also known as the fasting blood glucose test (FBG) or fasting blood sugar test, measures blood sugar levels and is used to diagnose diabetes. It is a relatively simple and inexpensive test that exposes problems with insulin functioning. The fasting glucose test is recommended as a screening test for people over age 45, tested every three years. It is also done if you have had symptoms of diabetes or multiple risk factors for diabetes. Prolonged fasting triggers a hormone called glucagon, which is produced by the pancreas. It causes the liver to release glucose (blood sugar) into the bloodstream. If you don’t have diabetes, your body reacts by producing insulin, which prevents hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). However, if your body cannot generate enough insulin or cannot appropriately respond to insulin, fasting blood sugar levels will stay high. How the Fasting Plasma Glucose Test Is Done The test consists of a simple, noninvasive blood test. Prior to being tested, you must avoid eating or drinking for at least eight hours. This is known as fasting. Because of this fast, the test is usually done in the morning. Understanding the Results of the Fasting Plasma Glucose Test Doctors interpret test results by looking at glucose levels in the blood. Diagnosis categories include the following, measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL): If the fasting plasma glucose test is 70 mg/dL to 99 mg/dL, this is considered within the normal range. A reading of 100 mg/dL to126 mg/dL suggests prediabetes, indicating an increased risk in developing full-blown diabetes. A reading above 126 mg/dL is the threshold at which diabetes is diagnosed. Blood glucose levels lower than 70 mg/dL imply an episode of hypoglycemia, in which blood sugar is dange Continue reading >>