Several tests exist to check blood sugar levels. According to the National Institutes of Health, the standard fasting glucose test measures blood glucose levels after a fasting period of at least eight hours. The oral glucose tolerance test...
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that can affect every organ system in the body. Diabetes affects the way the body utilizes glucose, the main source of energy for muscle and other tissues. The pancreas produces insulin to transfer glucose into the...
Dr. Robert C. Atkins developed the Atkins Diet in the 1970s as a weight-loss tool. The most recent version of the diet, published in "The New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great" is by three researchers in...
Blood Glucose Test Strips are used to monitor blood sugar in diabetics. Handheld monitors offer the convenience of tracking blood sugar anywhere and at any time. Many different brands are available and with the help of your doctor you can select...
Diabetes interferes with the production of insulin and use of glucose. Blood glucose levels become elevated, wreaking havoc with the other organ systems in the body. In order to diagnose diabetes or its precursor, pre-diabetes, a fasting plasma...
Monitoring your glucose level may be the most important tool you have for controlling your diabetes. The food you eat, any medication you take, your stress level and the amount of energy you use exercising will all affect your blood sugar. Staying...
If you think you have diabetes, testing your blood glucose will be an essential component of an overall management plan. Your blood glucose levels change based on your eating habits and activity level. You need to test regularly to prevent your...
Blood glucose (also known as blood sugar) is one of the body's primary sources of fuel. It is the preferred source of fuel by the brain and muscles and is important for producing energy. Glucose comes from carbohydrates in the diet and is...
Health practitioners will often order a fasting blood glucose test in order to determine if you have a condition such as diabetes. Diabetes results when your body does not produce enough insulin to transfer your blood glucose into the cells....
A fasting blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose -- or sugar -- in the blood at the exact time the sample is taken, without the interference of outside factors such as food or beverages that may affect the results. Your doctor may order...
Blood glucose levels are used to diagnose or monitor diabetes. Several forms of diabetes exist: Type 1 diabetes, generally diagnosed in children and young adults, is characterized by the body's inability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the...
A blood glucose test measures the amount of sugar in the blood. According to MedlinePlus, glucose is the major energy source for the body. Carbohydrates breakdown into glucose during the digestion process. A doctor may order a blood glucose test...
Blood glucose tests are a common, but accurate, method of evaluating your body's ability to process carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose is an important source of fuel for your brain, muscles and other organs. Blood glucose starts out as...
A fasting blood sugar level is usually ordered by a physician either to check for a new diagnosis of diabetes or to monitor a person who is known to have diabetes. Ideally fasting blood sugar is tested shortly after the person gets up in the...
Blood glucose testing is a standard component of routine blood tests ordered by a physician as part of an annual physical or prior to a surgical procedure. The physician may also order this test if a patient has symptoms related to diabetes such...
A glucometer is a medical tool available for home use that determines the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucometers play an important part in the daily lives of diabetics, allowing them to monitor their glucose levels from home. Daily testing...
Knowing when to test blood glucose levels is an important part of keeping your diabetes stable. Most diabetics should test their blood glucose levels every morning before eating. People who are newly diagnosed diabetics should test their blood...
Getting your blood drawn requires a trip to the lab, so health care providers often request that several tests be performed on one blood specimen. Common blood work for multiple issues includes glucose tolerance tests to check for diabetes and...
Diabetes is a disease that causes increased levels of sugar or glucose to remain in the blood. A fasting blood glucose test is a reliable method to diagnose and maintain this common condition, as well as related disorders. This test is also called...
If you're diabetic, the most important part of your day should be monitoring your blood glucose. Unmanaged diabetes can lead to a number of other complications, including kidney failure, coronary artery disease, blindness and even loss of limbs....
Should your doctor feel that you might have diabetes, she will order a fasting blood glucose test for you in order to get a better idea of how your body deals with glucose. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you have the test done...
Diabetes is a disease that prevents the body from making or using insulin well enough to prevent high blood glucose levels. The three types of diabetes -- type 1, type 2 and gestational -- can cause serious conditions and life-threatening...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) site Medline Plus, a fasting glucose test is conducted to determine the amount of sugar, or glucose, that is in your blood after refraining from eating or drinking for a set time prior to the...
Glucose is the simple sugar in your blood that provides your body with energy. In healthy individuals, the body is able to keep blood glucose levels within healthy ranges with the help of the hormone insulin. The American Diabetes Association...
Diabetes is a metabolic disease where blood glucose (sugar) levels are high because the body cannot make enough insulin and/or is insulin resistant. Insulin helps the body use blood glucose for energy and helps lower blood glucose levels. A...
The sugar in your blood, referred to as blood glucose, serves as the chief energy source for your body. In a healthy individual, the hormone insulin, which is released by the pancreas, allows your cells to use glucose, which controls the amount of...
Blood glucose control is the single most important piece of treating diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications like eye damage, kidney disease and limb amputation. Healthy glucose levels are determined by testing fasting...
High blood sugar, medically known as hyperglycemia, happens when the body cannot make insulin or does not respond to insulin properly, according to KidsHealth.org. If left untreated, damage to the blood vessels can occur, increasing the risks of...
Blood glucose is a term that describes your body's circulating levels of glucose, an energy source derived from foods that contain carbohydrates. Under normal circumstances, your body tries to keep your blood glucose within a relatively narrow...
There are two primary ways to diagnose diabetes. Learn how doctors use fasting blood sugar and glucose tolerance test to diagnose diabetes in this free video from a nutritionist specializing in diabetic diets.
Juvenile diabetes is abnormally high blood sugar and a form of disordered metabolism in young adults. Get expert tips and advice on preventing, diagnosing, and treating juvenile diabetes in this video.