Sugar Test (Blood Glucose Measurement)

A sugar test, or blood glucose test, measures the concentration of glucose in the blood. It is essential for diagnosing and managing diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, and metabolic disorders. Accurate, quantitative measurement is critical for monitoring long-term health and preventing complications such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and kidney damage.

• Fasting blood glucose test: Requires 8–12 hours of fasting.
• Random or postprandial glucose test: Can be performed without fasting.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): Involves fasting, followed by drinking a glucose solution, with timed blood draws afterward.
• Tell your provider about current medications, recent illness, or stress, as these factors can affect glucose levels.

Blood glucose can be measured in different ways:

• Laboratory chemical methods (quantitative):
  - Glucose oxidase-peroxidase reaction or hexokinase enzymatic assays measure glucose precisely in blood samples.
  - Performed using automated analyzers in clinical labs.
• Point-of-care equipment (glucometer): A fingerstick blood drop is applied to a test strip; enzymes react with glucose, producing an electrical signal that the device converts into a digital reading.
• The blood draw or fingerstick takes only a few minutes, and results range from immediate (glucometer) to a few hours (lab).

• Fingerstick: slight discomfort or minor bleeding.
• Venipuncture: mild bruising or soreness at the puncture site.
• Very rare risk of infection.

Results are interpreted alongside other tests such as HbA1c for long-term glucose control. Based on results, your doctor may recommend dietary adjustments, medications, insulin therapy, or further testing