Blood Sugar Monitoring: When To Check And Why
Managing diabetes is one part investigation and two parts action. Unlike some other diseases that rely primarily on professional medical treatment, diabetes treatment requires active participation by the person who has it. Monitoring your blood sugar level on a regular basis and analyzing the results is believed by many to be a crucial part of the treatment equation. When someone is first diagnosed with diabetes, he is usually given a blood sugar meter (or told to go buy one) and told how and when to use it, as well as what numbers to shoot for. However, the advice a person receives on when to monitor and what the results should be generally depend on his type of diabetes, age, and state of overall health. It can also depend on a health-care provider’s philosophy of care and which set of diabetes care guidelines he follows. At least three major health organizations have published slightly different recommendations regarding goals for blood sugar levels. There is some common ground when it comes to blood sugar monitoring practices. For example, most people take a fasting reading before breakfast every morning. Some people also monitor before lunch, dinner, and bedtime; some monitor after each meal; and some monitor both before and after all meals. However, when monitoring after meals, some people do it two hours after the first bite of the meal, while others prefer to check one hour after the start of a meal. To help sort out the whys and when of monitoring, three diabetes experts weigh in with their opinions. While they don’t agree on all the details, they do agree on one thing: Regular monitoring is critical in diabetes care. Why monitor? Self-monitoring is an integral part of diabetes management because it puts you in charge. Regardless of how you manage your diab Continue reading >>
Glucose Test
Testing blood sugar levels A glucose test is a type of blood test used to determine the amount of glucose in the blood. It is mainly used in screening for prediabetes or diabetes.[1] Patients are instructed not to consume anything but water during the fasting period. Caffeine will also distort the results. If the person eats during the period in which he or she is supposed to have been fasting then they may show blood sugar levels that may cause his or her doctor to think the person has or is at increased risk of having diabetes. In people already having diabetes, blood glucose monitoring is used with frequent intervals in the management of the condition.[1] There are several different kinds of glucose tests: Fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting plasma glucose (FPG): 8 or 12 or 14 hours after eating Glucose tolerance test:[2] continuous testing Postprandial glucose test (PC): 2 hours after eating Random glucose test Reference ranges[edit] Fasting blood sugar[edit] A range of 4 to 5.5 mmol/l (70 to 99 mg/dl) before a meal is normal. Continual fasting levels of 5.5 to 7 mmol/l (101–125 mg/dl) causes concern of possible prediabetes and may be worth monitoring. 7 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) and above means a risk of diabetes.[3] After a 12‑hour fast, a range of 3.9 to under 5.5 mmol/l (70.2 to 100 mg/dl) is normal; a level of 5.6 to under 7 mmol/l (100 to 126 mg/dl) is considered a sign of prediabetes.[3] Postprandial glucose[edit] Main article: Postprandial glucose test A level of < 7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl) 90 minutes after a meal is normal.[4] See also[edit] Glucose meter Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia [edit] Continue reading >>
Blood Sugar Tests
A test that measures blood sugar levels. Elevated levels are associated with diabetes and insulin resistance, in which the body cannot properly handle sugar (e.g. obesity). Goal values: Less than 100 mg/dL = normal Between 110–125 mg/dL = impaired fasting glucose (i.e., prediabetes) Greater than 126 mg/dL on two or more samples = diabetes Preparation This test requires a 12-hour fast. You should wait to eat and/or take a hypoglycemic agent (insulin or oral medication) until after test has been drawn, unless told otherwise. Eating and digesting foods called carbohydrates forms glucose (blood sugar). Glucose is needed by your body to provide energy to carry out your normal activities. Insulin is needed by the body to allow glucose to go into the cells and be used as energy. Without insulin, the levels of glucose in the blood will rise. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when either the pancreas (an organ in your body) is not able to produce insulin or the pancreas makes insulin, but it does not work as it should. Fasting blood sugar is a part of diabetic evaluation and management. An FBS greater than 126 mg/dL on more than one occasion usually indicates diabetes. Glycosylated Hemoglobin or Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) Reflects average blood sugar levels over the preceding 90-day period. Elevated levels are associated with prediabetes and diabetes. Individuals with diabetes have an increased risk of a cardiac event. A diabetic person's risk for heart attack is the same as a non-diabetic person, who has experienced one heart attack, having a second heart attack. Aggressive global preventive risk reduction efforts, such as lower LDL targets, diet, exercise and blood pressure control, are recommended. Goal values (per American Diabetes Association guidelines): A range of 5.7-6.4 p Continue reading >>
Fasting Blood Sugar: Normal Levels And Testing
Fasting blood sugar provides vital clues about how the body is managing blood sugar levels. Blood sugar tends to peak about an hour after eating, and declines after that. High fasting blood sugar levels point to insulin resistance or diabetes. Abnormally low fasting blood sugar could be due to diabetes medications. Knowing when to test and what to look for can help keep people with, or at risk of, diabetes healthy. What are fasting blood sugar levels? Following a meal, blood sugar levels rise, usually peaking about an hour after eating. How much blood sugar rises by and the precise timing of the peak depends on diet. Large meals tend to trigger larger blood sugar rises. High-sugar carbohydrates, such as bread and sweetened snacks, also cause more significant blood sugar swings. Normally, as blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar, breaking it down so that the body can use it for energy or store it for later. However, people who have diabetes have difficulties with insulin in the following ways: People with type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin because the body attacks insulin-producing cells. People with type 2 diabetes do not respond well to insulin and, later, may not make enough insulin. In both cases, the result is the same: elevated blood sugar levels and difficulties using sugar. This means that fasting blood sugar depends on three factors: the contents of the last meal the size of the last meal the body's ability to produce and respond to insulin Blood sugar levels in between meals offer a window into how the body manages sugar. High levels of fasting blood sugar suggest that the body has been unable to lower the levels of sugar in the blood. This points to either insulin resistance or inadequate insulin production, an Continue reading >>
Fasting Before A Blood Test: What You Need To Know
By Lana Burgess Fasting before a blood test is when people are asked not to eat or drink anything other than water before some blood tests. But which blood tests require fasting and how can people fast safely? Fasting is not always necessary before a blood test, but when it is, it is only for a short time. Even so, the idea of not eating or drinking, even for a small amount of time, can seem daunting. Understanding when and how to fast before a blood test can help to reduce unnecessary worry. This article explores the types of blood tests that require fasting, why fasting is needed, and how a person can do it safely. Contents of this article: When should you fast before a blood test? Whether someone needs to fast or not before a blood test depends on the type of blood test they are having. Some blood tests require fasting to be effective, while others do not. The types of blood test that require fasting are as follows: Fasting blood glucose test Diabetes is a condition that can lead to there being too much sugar in the blood. A fasting blood glucose test measures levels of sugar in the blood to see if they are healthy. It is important that a person has not had anything to eat or drink other than water for 8 to 10 hours before a fasting blood glucose test. Fasting helps ensure that the blood test records an accurate measure of fasting blood sugar levels. The results help a doctor to diagnose or rule out diabetes. Blood cholesterol tests Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood. High cholesterol can lead to an increased risk of certain health conditions. Blood cholesterol tests, also known as lipid profiles, assess the quantities of fats in the blood. The different fats tested for include: HDL cholesterol, also known as "good cholesterol" LDL cholesterol, also known Continue reading >>
Impact Of Time Since Last Caloric Intake On Blood Glucose Levels
Go to: Introduction The measurement of blood glucose is a well established procedure routinely used for many clinical and research purposes. In epidemiological studies blood glucose is an often measured parameter be it as a risk factor, mediator or confounder. Measuring blood glucose requires standardized procedures to minimize variability and bias, both in terms of required analytical methods and biological variability. Blood glucose levels are influenced by external factors, like caloric intake resulting in an increase of blood glucose or metabolic demands like muscle activity resulting in a decline of blood glucose. In an attempt to obtain unbiased blood glucose measurements one of the routinely requested basic requirements for pre-analytical blood sampling is the fasting state. However the fasting state is not well defined, i.e. the WHO recommends an 8–14 h (h) fast [1], the American Diabetes Association (ADA) defines fasting as “no caloric intake for at least 8 h” [2] or “an overnight 8- to 10-h fast” [3]. Moreover, evidence-based recommendations for the definition of the duration of the fasting status are missing—perhaps one reason, why blood glucose measurements in epidemiological and clinical studies are carried out inconsistently with regard to fasting duration. Pre-analytical blood sampling schemes range from overnight fast, fasting duration between 8 h and >12 h, ≥12 h, random sampling to even no information at all. In the clinical as well as in the research environment, the required fasting status—however defined—is a challenging task. For clinicians and patients it would be much simpler if a blood sample could be taken at any time of the day, irrespective of the fasting duration. In studies, especially epidemiological studies, fasting requ Continue reading >>
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Fasting For Blood Tests
It's the morning of your bloodwork and your doctor said to fast before the test. But your stomach is growling and you have serious caffeine withdrawal hours before you roll up your sleeve. A bite of toast and a few gulps of coffee won't really make a difference, right? Not so fast. Your results could come back wrong if you give in to temptation. Fasting means you don't eat or drink anything but water usually for 8 to 12 hours beforehand. So, if your appointment is at 8 a.m. and you're told to fast for 8 hours, only water is okay after midnight. If it's a 12-hour fast, avoid food and drink after 8 p.m. the night before. You also shouldn't smoke, chew gum (even sugarless), or exercise. These things can rev up your digestion, and that can affect your results. Take your prescription medications unless your doctor tells you to skip them. But ask your doctor before you take any over-the-counter drugs. Blood tests help doctors check for certain health problems and find out how well your body is working. Doctors also use them to figure out how well treatments are working. You don't need to fast before all blood tests. Your doctor will tell you if you need to. These tests typically require fasting: Fasting blood glucose measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood to test for diabetes or prediabetes. Typical fasting time: At least 8 hours Lipid profile is used to check the level of cholesterol and other blood fats. High levels put you at risk for developing heart disease or having a stroke. Typical fasting time: 9-12 hours Basic or comprehensive metabolic panel is often part of a routine physical. The tests check your blood sugar, electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney function. The comprehensive test checks your liver function, too. Typical fasting time: 10-12 hours Continue reading >>
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Diagnosis
Print Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often appear suddenly and are often the reason for checking blood sugar levels. Because symptoms of other types of diabetes and prediabetes come on more gradually or may not be evident, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has recommended screening guidelines. The ADA recommends that the following people be screened for diabetes: Anyone with a body mass index higher than 25, regardless of age, who has additional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, having delivered a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds, a history of diabetes in pregnancy, high cholesterol levels, a history of heart disease, and having a close relative with diabetes. Anyone older than age 45 is advised to receive an initial blood sugar screening, and then, if the results are normal, to be screened every three years thereafter. Tests for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and prediabetes Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. It measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you'll have with sugar attached. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates that you have diabetes. An A1C between 5.7 and 6.4 percent indicates prediabetes. Below 5.7 is considered normal. If the A1C test results aren't consistent, the test isn't available, or if you have certain conditions that can make the A1C test inaccurate — such as if you're pregnant or have an uncommon form of hemoglobin (known as a hemoglobin variant) — your doctor may use the following tests to diagnose diabetes: Random blood sugar Continue reading >>
Why Do You Fast Before A Blood Test
If you have had blood testing done, chances are that you have been instructed to avoid eating or drinking anything but water for several hours – generally 8 to 12 – before your blood is drawn. These are called fasting blood tests, and many patients who have had them or are about to wonder if it is really necessary to fast before these tests. While it may seem like an unnecessary hassle, the fact is, there are concrete medical reasons for fasting before certain blood tests, and following those instructions to the letter can help ensure that the results of your tests are accurate. How Fasting Affects the Blood As you digest and metabolize foods and beverages, nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream, which is how they travel throughout the body to fuel its various organs, systems and functions. For several hours after you eat, those nutrients float about in the blood, waiting to be utilized by the body. During that period, the composition of your blood is somewhat altered from its baseline state, with higher than normal concentrations of certain substances – especially glucose, lipids and iron – that can influence the results of blood tests. Fasting before a blood test allows nutrients from your last meal to be cleared from the bloodstream, restoring your blood to its baseline state, eliminating the potential of skewed results from your last meal. Fasting Blood Tests Tests that can be significantly affected by food intake include two main groups of tests; blood glucose testing and lipid level testing. The issue is that levels of both glucose and lipids – including LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides – fluctuate during the day according to what foods and beverages are ingested. Should these levels be tested at a high point, soon after a sugary Continue reading >>
How Long To Fast Before A Blood Test
Fasting before a blood test is important to obtain accurate readings. When you consume food, your body has to process the food's components as they travel through your bloodstream. Blood tests examine a variety of blood and sugar levels that can be compromised if foreign entities, such as food, contaminate blood, painting an inaccurate picture. Fasting beforehand allows the physician to obtain a clear picture of your bodily functions for an accurate diagnosis. Fasting before a blood test is typically required for fasting glucose, fasting lipid panel, fasting metabolic panel, fasting cholesterol, HDL or triglyceride tests. These tests look for cholesterol and glucose levels in your blood, and any food consumed before the test will provide an inaccurate reading. Your doctor may recommend a certain time period for fasting; however, the standard amount of time is about eight to 12 hours of no food before having blood drawn. Schedule your blood test for early in the morning so you'll only need to fast overnight to meet requirements. Fast for eight hours before a glucose test. The test is typically conducted in the morning while your body is still in a resting place for a more accurate reading. You must fast at least 12 hours before taking a cholesterol blood test to get an accurate reading on triglycerides. The American Heart Association warns against quick cholesterol tests you find in malls and health fairs because fasting is imperative to obtaining an accurate result. Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. Take any medication that your doctor prescribed to you except for corticosteroids, estrogen or androgens, oral contraceptives, some diuretics, anti-psychotic medications including haloperidol, some antibiotics and niacin. Do not smoke, drink any other liquid than wate Continue reading >>
Everything You Need To Know About Fasting Before A Blood Test
How do you prepare for a blood test? Some blood tests will require you to fast beforehand. In these cases, your doctor will instruct you not to eat or drink anything, except water, in the hours leading up to the test. Fasting before certain blood tests is important to help make sure that your test results are accurate. The vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins that make up all food and beverages can impact blood-level readings, clouding the results of your test. Not all blood tests will require you to fast beforehand. Blood tests that you will likely need to fast for include: renal function panel lipoprotein panel If your doctor has prescribed a new blood test for you, or doesn’t mention whether or not you should fast or for how long, ask them if fasting is required. Some tests, such as a fecal occult blood test, don’t require fasting but do limit certain foods. Red meats, broccoli, and even some medications may cause a false positive test. Always follow your doctor’s advice when preparing for a test. The amount of time you need to fast for will vary depending on the test. For most tests, you will be told not to consume anything but water for eight hours leading up to the test. For a few tests, a 12-hour fast may be needed. Schedule your test as early in the day as possible. The hours you spend sleeping are considered part of the fasting period, as long as you don’t break your fast with coffee or food once you’re awake. Even if you drink it black, coffee can interfere with blood test results. That’s because it contains caffeine and soluble plant matter, which might skew your test results. Coffee is also a diuretic, which means that it will increase how much you pee. This can have a dehydrating effect. The less hydrated you are, the harder it Continue reading >>
Fasting Blood Sugar Levels
Tweet Fasting, as the name suggests, means refraining from eating of drinking any liquids other than water for eight hours. It is used as a test for diabetes. After fasting, a carbohydrate metabolism test is conducted which measures blood glucose levels. Glucagon during fasting When fasting the hormone glucagon is stimulated and this increases plasma glucose levels in the body. If a patient doesn’t have diabetes, their body will produce insulin to rebalance the increased glucose levels. However people with diabetes either don’t produce enough insulin to rebalance their blood sugar (typically in type 1 diabetes) or their body is not able to use the insulin effectively enough (typical of type 2 diabetes). Consequently when blood glucose levels are tested, people with diabetes will have blood sugar levels significantly higher than people who do not have diabetes. What is the fasting blood sugar test used for? The fasting blood sugar test is also used to test the effectiveness of different medication or dietary changes on people already diagnosed as diabetic. Fasting tests The fasting test should be conducted on two separate occasions to ensure consistent results and in order to avoid a false diagnosis. This is the case as increased blood glucose levels may be as a result of Cushing’s syndrome liver or kidney disease, eclampsia and pancreatitis. However many of these conditions are often picked up in lab diagnostic tests. Fasting test results The results of a fasting test with respect to glucose levels in the body are as follows: Normal: 3.9 to 5.5 mmols/l (70 to 100 mg/dl) Prediabetes or Impaired Glucose Tolerance: 5.6 to 7.0 mmol/l (101 to 126 mg/dl) Diagnosis of diabetes: more than 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) The American Diabetes Association reduced the level of diagno Continue reading >>
Blood Glucose Test
What is a blood glucose test? A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose, a type of simple sugar, is your body’s main source of energy. Your body converts the carbohydrates you eat into glucose. Glucose testing is primarily done to check for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood glucose level to rise. The amount of sugar in your blood is usually controlled by a hormone called insulin. However, if you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin produced doesn’t work properly. This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Increased levels of blood sugar can lead to severe organ damage if left untreated. In some cases, blood glucose testing may also be used to test for hypoglycemia. This condition occurs when the levels of glucose in your blood are too low. Watch a great review of the iHealth blood glucose meter » Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and teenagers whose bodies aren’t able to produce enough insulin. It’s a chronic, or long-term, condition that requires continuous treatment. Late-onset type 1 diabetes has been shown to affect people between the ages of 30 and 40. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in overweight and obese adults, but it can develop in younger people as well. This condition occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or when the insulin you produce doesn’t work properly. The impact of type 2 diabetes may be reduced through weight loss and healthy eating. Gestational diabetes occurs if you develop diabetes while you’re pregnant. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you give birth. After receiving a diagnosis of diabetes, you may have to get blood glucose tests to determin Continue reading >>
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How Long To Fast For Lab Test...
My lab instructions state I should fast for 12-14 hours before my blood A1C/fasting test. This seems a bit much to me. Is this too long to fast in anyones opinion? I've found it's best to follow the instructions set out by the lab itself. They have a reason for doing this, and it will possibly be different for different tests. The HbA1c doesn't require fasting at all, so if they say you have to fast, it will be for one or more of the other tests they will be doing. So it's not a matter of anyone's opinion. 8 - 10 hours of fasting my BG is usually 5.6-6.0 in the morning but anything more than 10 hours it goes up and down from 6.0 to 6.4. Are these liver dumps you think? they affect my results and i was wondering if I should keep my fasting hours to no more than 10 hours. If you don't follow those instructions, you could be told by the techs at the collection centre to go away and come back when you've followed the instructions correctly. I've seen that happen to non-compliant people on more than one occasion while sitting in the waiting room. And telling lies about the length of your fast could cause false results My advice again - just follow the instructions. 8 - 10 hours of fasting my BG is usually 5.6-6.0 in the morning but anything more than 10 hours it goes up and down from 6.0 to 6.4. Are these liver dumps you think? they affect my results and i was wondering if I should keep my fasting hours to no more than 10 hours. Well, do you want numbers that make you feel better, or ones that accurately reflect the levels your doctor wanted to measure? Type 2 diagnosed 1/9/2018 A1C 10.0. On Metformin 2 x 500 mg and Tradjenta. Test Using Freestyle Lite ~5x daily. Sunday 7-day avg. 86 mg/dL (incl. post-meal). D.D. Family Getting much harder to control Ok they must be running Continue reading >>
Preparing For A Test
What to know about fasting before your lab test With certain blood tests, you may be instructed to fast for up to eight hours before your appointment. Fasting before a blood draw means you don’t eat or drink anything except water. Don’t wait until the day of your blood draw to ask if you should fast. That could cause your appointment to be rescheduled. If at any point you’re unsure if fasting is required, contact your doctor. Why do I have to fast before certain lab tests? Nutrients and ingredients in the food and beverages you consume are absorbed into your bloodstream and could impact factors measured by certain tests. Fasting improves the accuracy of those tests. Why is water okay to drink while I’m fasting? Water hydrates your veins. Hydrated veins are easier to find. And that means easier to draw from. Drink plenty of water before having any blood test. How long do I have to fast for a blood test? It depends on the test. Fasting for a lab test typically lasts eight hours. Your doctor should give you any special instructions related to your tests, including fasting requirements. Always follow her or his instructions. What types of blood tests require fasting? Glucose testing that checks blood-sugar levels and tests that determine your cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels usually require fasting. Other lab tests may require fasting, which is why you should ask your doctor. If you think fasting might be a problem, schedule your appointment for the early morning and bring a snack for after the appointment. Can I eat before other types of blood tests? If it’s a test that does not require fasting then, yes, please eat something before having your blood drawn. Can I continue taking medications before a blood test? Unless your doc Continue reading >>
