Do you need to fast before checking your blood sugar? Let's find out for sure! (Diabetes Blood Tests)

Has your doctor told you to take a blood sugar test to check your blood sugar levels? But are you confused about whether you should fast or not? Sometimes it's called "fasting," other times it's called "random." What exactly are these? Don't worry. Today, we'll talk about the blood tests used to diagnose and control diabetes, just like you would tell a friend.

First, let's see what fasting tests are.

Simply put, "Fasting" means not eating or drinking anything except water for a period of time (usually 8 hours) as prescribed by your doctor. This allows your body to digest all the food you ate and your blood sugar levels to stabilize. This is when you can measure exactly how your body is using sugar.

Fasting Blood Glucose Test

This is the most basic test that doctors use to diagnose diabetes.

• How to do it: You need to fast for at least 8 hours . Most of the time, the doctor will tell you not to eat anything after dinner until morning, and to come in the morning to give blood. That way, you won't have to starve for too long.
• How to read the results?:
• If your sugar level is below 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), that is a healthy level.
• A value of 126 mg/dL or higher may be a sign of diabetes.
• If it is between these two values ​​(100 - 125 mg/dL), it may be a prediabetes condition. This means that there is a chance that diabetes will develop. This can be controlled by making lifestyle changes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

This is also an important test to detect diabetes, especially prediabetes and gestational diabetes. It is a time-consuming process.

• How to do it?:

1. First, you need to fast for 8 hours before going to the lab.

2. First, a fasting blood sample will be taken from you.

3. Then you will be given a liquid with glucose (sugar) dissolved in it to drink.

4. You have to stay there for two hours after drinking it.

5. After two hours, a blood sample will be taken from you again and tested.

• How to read the results: If the blood sugar level in the sample taken two hours later is 200 mg/dL or higher , it is confirmed as diabetes. If the value is between 140-199 mg/dL, it is a prediabetes condition.

Now let's look at the tests that are done without fasting.

Not all blood sugar tests require fasting. Some tests can be done at any time of the day.

Random Blood Glucose Test

Imagine that someone has severe symptoms of diabetes (extreme fatigue, dry mouth, frequent urination, sudden weight loss). Then the doctor can do this test on the spot.

• How to do it: You don't have to fast for this. You can do it at any time of the day, no matter how long it's been since you've eaten.
• How to read the results: If your sugar level is 200 mg/dL or higher and you also have symptoms of diabetes, it is a strong sign of diabetes.

A1C Test (HbA1c Test)

This is a very important test that many people have heard of.

• How to do it: No need to fast for this either.
• How to read the results: This is not measured in mg/dL, but in percentage. It shows your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months . It's like a 'progress report'. So it doesn't matter what you ate or drank before taking this test.
• If it is less than 5.7%, it is normal.
• If it is 6.5% or higher, it could be diabetes.
• If you are being treated for diabetes, your doctor will use this test to see if your treatment is working and if your blood sugar is well controlled. In most cases, the goal is to keep your A1C below 7% .

Special tests for pregnant mothers

Some mothers may develop gestational diabetes temporarily during pregnancy. There are special tests to detect it.

• Oral Glucose Challenge Test: This is usually done between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. You don't need to fast for this. You will be asked to drink a sugary drink, wait an hour, and then give your blood. If the result is 130 mg/dL or higher, your doctor will ask you to do an OGTT test to confirm whether you have diabetes.

Home test - Blood Glucose Meter

If you have diabetes, you're probably familiar with the small device you use to check your blood sugar levels at home (called a blood glucose meter). Your doctor will tell you how many times a day you should check your blood sugar and when (for example, before and after meals). This is a very important part of managing your diabetes.