what is blood glucose test

A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It is a key tool for diagnosing and managing diabetes and prediabetes. Here’s what you need to know:

• Purpose: It helps determine if your blood sugar levels are within a healthy range or if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
• Types of Tests:
  • Fasting Blood Sugar Test: Measures blood sugar after an overnight fast.
  • Random Blood Sugar 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 drink.
  • A1C Test: Provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.
• Normal Ranges:
  • Fasting: 70–99 mg/dL
  • Random: Below 140 mg/dL
  • A1C: Below 5.7%

If your results are outside the normal range, your healthcare provider may recommend further testing or lifestyle changes.