In diabetes how do you calculate Glucose Readings and Glucose Screening?

Blood glucose readings and glucose screening tests are done to diagnose diabetes.

The four types of blood glucose tests that are done to include;

• Fasting blood glucose test,
• Post-prandial blood glucose test,
• Oral glucose tolerance test and
• HbA1C test.

Diabetes screening tests are done to diagnose diabetes in the early stage. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent or delay complications due to diabetes. The diabetes screening tests that are done include;

• Urine glucose test (sugar in urine)
• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
• 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

These tests measure the levels of glucose in your blood. Based on the glucose readings of the tests the following diagnoses may be made:

• Normal response
• Impaired glucose tolerance
• Diabetes

If your blood sugar levels are abnormal your doctor will recommend repeat testing on a different day to confirm the diagnosis. The commonest cause of elevated blood sugar reading is diabetes.

Dr Poonam Sachdeva, our in-house medical expert talks about the why what and how in diabetes.

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