what does glucose test measure
Asked by: HealthCurious
Community Answer
Answered by Dr. SugarSense 🩺
A glucose test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It is used to:
- Diagnose Diabetes: Helps determine if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
- Monitor Blood Sugar Levels: For people with diabetes, it helps track how well their blood sugar is being managed.
- Assess Overall Health: It can also be part of routine health checkups to assess metabolic health.
There are different types of glucose tests, including:
- 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 drinking a sugary liquid.
- Hemoglobin A1C Test: Provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.
These tests are crucial for managing and preventing diabetes-related complications.