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 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...
Many conditions affect the utilization of glucose in the body including, drugs, stress, illness, infection, insulin resistance and diabetes. Doctors employ blood glucose tests for screening and diagnosis of problems with glucose homeostasis, or...
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...
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...
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 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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Glucose, which is the main source of energy for your brain and muscles, circulates throughout your body in your blood. In healthy individuals, a number of physiological processes work together to control the levels of glucose in your blood and...
When you eat carbohydrates your body turns them into glucose, which is used for energy. Glucose is a natural substance and if your body is working properly, your glucose levels will stay in an ideal range because the body releases a hormone called...
You might need to fast after 6:00 p.m. for a variety of reasons, including a doctor-ordered fasting blood sugar test. Fasting ensures that your blood sugar is at the lowest possible level for the most accurate read. You might also wish to fast to...
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...
An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, according to 2007 statistics, the most recent published by the American Diabetes Association. If you have a family history...
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...
A fasting blood glucose test is a blood test performed after eight hours of fasting. This test is often performed as part of a diabetes management plan or as a diagnostic test when diabetes is suspected. Blood glucose, the body's main source of...
Digestion breaks down some of the food you eat into sugars that enter your blood. These sugars, called glucose, provide the energy and fuel for the cells of your body, explains the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. In order for the...
Glucose is a simple sugar that is important to living organisms, including the human body. It is used as a source of energy and can lead to serious illness when levels in the blood go unregulated. Diabetes is one example of the serious conditions...
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.
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.