What is Glucose (Pre Lunch) (Blood) Test?

Glucose is an important energy source that is needed by all the cells and organs of our bodies. Blood glucose testing is one part of managing your diabetes successfully. Testing your blood glucose both before and after a meal allows you to see how that meal affects your blood glucose levels and helps you to understand which meals may be best for your blood glucose control. The most powerful influence on blood glucose levels comes from food. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The peak blood glucose levels are often likely to occur around two hours after meals.

Preparation

Blood Glucose can either be fasting or a random test. For the fasting test, you can’t eat or drink anything for eight hours. This test is preferable over random tests as it gives accurate results and is easier to interpret. In the random test, you can eat or drink anything. Before the test, you need to tell your doctor about ant medications you are taking including prescriptions and drugs as certain medicines can affect your blood glucose level and misinterpret the result. Your doctor will ask you to stop taking the dosage of some medicines for a temporary period.

Uses

The implications of your results will depend on the type of blood glucose test used. If it is a fasting blood test, then: - 70-100 mg/dl means you have normal blood glucose.

A blood glucose level of 100–125 mg/dL indicates that you have prediabetes. A blood glucose level of 126 mg/dL and higher indicates that you have diabetes. If it is a Random blood test, then: - 125 mg/dl is a normal level A blood glucose level of 140–199 mg/dL indicates that you may have prediabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL and higher indicates that you likely have diabetes.

Procedure

The test procedure is very simple as it just requires a small sample of blood which is collected with a very small prick of finger or vein. Before drawing blood, the laboratory technician performing the draw cleans the area with an antiseptic to kill any germs. Then they may find your vein to insert a sterile needle into it. You may feel slight to moderate pain when the needle goes in, but you can reduce the pain by relaxing your arm. When they’re finished drawing blood, the doctor removes the needle and places a bandage over the puncture site, and applies pressure.