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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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....
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
Fasting glucose tests measure the amount of glucose in the blood when the patient hasn't eaten for several hours (usually a minimum of eight hours without eating or drinking anything except water). The National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and...
Your blood naturally contains a certain amount of a sugar known as glucose. Glucose is the predominant fuel for cells within the body. High blood glucose levels can be a sign of diabetes, a condition caused by problems with how your body produces...
Doctors order blood glucose tests to screen for diabetes, pre-diabetes and hypoglycemia. Your doctor may order a blood glucose test as part of a general physical examination or if you have symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Pregnant women...
Type one diabetes occurs when the body does not make any insulin, such as with juvenile diabetes. More than 90 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes have type two diabetes, which is a form of the disease where the body does not make enough...
There are four types of blood glucose tests: a fasting blood glucose test, a post-prandial blood glucose test, an oral glucose tolerance test and an A1C test. These tests calculate the concentration of glucose in the blood. Glucose levels are...
According to Lab Tests Online, for a fasting blood glucose test, the patient is required to not eat for eight to ten hours before the blood sample is obtained and tested. For this reason, fasting blood glucose is often monitored in the morning....
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 tests are commonly used to measure various components in the blood that can detect disease or disease risk. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, blood tests can be used to measure blood components such as hemoglobin,...
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...
Having too high or low of a level of blood sugar or blood glucose can lead to various symptoms and health problems. This can include mild symptoms if your levels are off just a small amount occasionally. You can also develop chronic diseases if...
Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, provides all of the energy human cells need and use. When the systems regulating blood glucose levels don't work correctly, disease can occur and health may suffer. Blood glucose is easily monitored with...
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.