Which analyte is generally increased in patients with diabetes mellitus and is used to diagnose this condition?
What is a Blood Glucose Test?A blood glucose test measures the glucose levels in your blood. Glucose is a type of sugar. It is your body's main source of energy. A hormone called insulin helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells. Show
Too much or too little glucose in the blood can be a sign of a serious medical condition. High blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) may be a sign of diabetes, a disorder that can cause serious, long-term health conditions. High blood sugar may also be caused by other conditions that can affect insulin or glucose levels in your blood, such as problems with your pancreas or adrenal glands. Low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) are common among people with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes who take certain diabetes medicines. Certain conditions, such as liver disease, may cause low levels of blood glucose in people without diabetes, but this is uncommon. Without treatment, severe low blood sugar can lead to major health problems, including seizures and brain damage. Other names: blood sugar, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting blood glucose (FBG), random blood sugar, glucose challenge test, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) What is it used for?A blood glucose test is used to find out if your blood sugar levels are in a healthy range. It is often used to help diagnose and monitor diabetes. Why do I need a blood glucose test?Your health care provider may order a blood glucose test if you have symptoms of high glucose levels or low glucose levels. Symptoms of high blood glucose levels include:
Symptoms of low blood glucose levels include:
You may also need a blood glucose test if you have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. You're more likely to develop diabetes if you:
If you are pregnant, you will likely get a blood glucose test between the 24th and 28th week of your pregnancy to check for gestational diabetes. What happens during a blood glucose test?A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. For some types of glucose blood tests, you will drink a sugary liquid and wait for an hour before your blood sample is taken:
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?If your provider orders a fasting blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test, you will need to fast (not eat or drink) for at least eight hours before the test. Other blood glucose tests don't require any special preparations. Ask your provider whether you need to fast before your glucose test. Are there any risks to the test?There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. After an oral glucose tolerance test, you may feel light-headed. Your provider may suggest that you plan to have someone take you home. What do the results mean?If your results show higher than normal glucose levels, it may mean you have or are at risk for getting diabetes. High glucose levels may also be a sign of:
If you have diabetes, lower than normal glucose levels may be caused by:
If you don't have diabetes, low blood glucose levels may be a sign of:
If your glucose results are not normal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Certain medicines and stress can affect glucose levels. To learn what your test results mean, talk with your health care provider. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Is there anything else I should know about a blood glucose test?If you have diabetes, you may need to do blood sugar testing at home every day to help manage your blood glucose levels. There are two ways to do this:
References
What test is used as a definitive diagnosis for diabetes mellitus?Fasting plasma glucose test
The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test measures your blood glucose level at a single point in time. For the most reliable results, your doctor will give you the test in the morning after you have fasted for at least 8 hours.
What diagnostic tests are used to diagnose diabetes?Your doctor will have you take one or more of the following blood tests to confirm the diagnosis:. A1C Test. The A1C test measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2 or 3 months. ... . Fasting Blood Sugar Test. ... . Glucose Tolerance Test. ... . Random Blood Sugar Test. ... . Glucose Screening Test. ... . Glucose Tolerance Test.. What are the clinical laboratory assays that are used to diagnose and confirm diabetes mellitus?Laboratory evaluations used to screen for, diagnose, and monitor DM include a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, a hemoglobin A1c (A1c) test, and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
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Diagnostic Criteria.. What are the three methods used to diagnose diabetes mellitus?Diabetes is diagnosed and managed by checking your glucose level in a blood test. There are three tests that can measure your blood glucose level: fasting glucose test, random glucose test and A1c test.
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