what does glucose test for

A glucose test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It is primarily 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 evaluate your metabolic health.

There are different types of glucose tests, including:

• 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.

These tests are crucial for managing and preventing diabetes-related complications.