what does a blood glucose test measure

A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Glucose is a primary source of energy for your body's cells, and its levels are tightly regulated by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.

Types of Blood Glucose Tests:

• Fasting Blood Glucose Test: Measures blood sugar after an overnight fast.
• Random Blood Glucose Test: Measures blood sugar at any time, regardless of when you last ate.
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): Measures blood sugar before and after consuming a sugary drink to assess how your body processes glucose.
• Hemoglobin A1C Test: Provides an average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months.

Why It's Important:

• Diagnosis: Helps diagnose prediabetes, diabetes, or gestational diabetes.
• Monitoring: Tracks how well diabetes is being managed.
• Prevention: Identifies risk factors for developing diabetes.

For accurate results, follow your healthcare provider's instructions before testing.