Glucose (blood sugar) – blood test for diabetes, fasting glucose and insulin resistance
P-Glucose is a blood test used to measure blood sugar levels in the blood. The analysis is central to the investigation of diabetes, prediabetes and insulin resistance and is used to assess the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and energy metabolism. A glucose test, also called a blood sugar test or fasting glucose, is one of the most common blood tests in healthcare and is included in many health checks. The analysis is used both to detect early signs of diabetes and to monitor blood sugar levels in people who already have a diabetes diagnosis.
Elevated glucose values, which are defined as concentrations above 6.0 mmol/L, may indicate reduced insulin sensitivity or type 2 diabetes, while low glucose levels can cause symptoms such as dizziness, sweating and fatigue. By checking your blood sugar with a glucose blood test, you can get important information about your metabolism and any risk factors linked to diabetes and metabolic health.
What is glucose?
Glucose is a form of sugar that serves as the body's main source of energy. Glucose is transported via the blood to the body's organs, muscles and tissues where it is used to produce the energy needed for the body to function normally. Blood sugar levels are primarily regulated by the hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. When we eat, the glucose level in the blood rises, and insulin then helps the body's cells absorb glucose from the blood. If the body's ability to produce insulin or respond to insulin deteriorates, blood sugar levels can rise, which can eventually lead to insulin resistance, prediabetes or diabetes.
When the body's ability to produce insulin or respond to insulin deteriorates, blood sugar levels can rise, which can eventually lead to prediabetes or diabetes. A glucose test is therefore often used together with analyses such as HbA1c-test and insulin to provide a more complete picture of the body's blood sugar regulation.
What does a glucose test show?
A glucose test shows the level of glucose, also called blood sugar, in the blood at the time of sampling. The analysis is used to assess the body's blood sugar level and ability to regulate glucose metabolism. Elevated or low glucose values can be a sign of, for example, diabetes, prediabetes, insulin resistance or other metabolic and hormonal conditions. A glucose blood test is used, among other things, to:
- investigate diabetes and prediabetes
- assess fasting glucose and blood sugar regulation
- identify insulin resistance and metabolic effects
- monitor diabetes treatment
- investigate symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, thirst or increased urine output
- assess the risk of future type 2 diabetes
Glucose tests are often taken on an empty stomach because food intake temporarily raises blood sugar. A fasting glucose therefore gives a better picture of the body's basal blood sugar regulation.
What does high glucose or high blood sugar mean?
Elevated glucose values mean that the blood sugar level is higher than normal. A high fasting glucose can be a sign of:
- prediabetes
- type 2 diabetes
- type 1 diabetes
- insulin resistance
- stress
- infection or inflammation
- hormonal disorders
- effects of certain medications
Long-term elevated blood sugar increases the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, nerve damage and vision changes. However, many people with early diabetes or prediabetes do not have clear symptoms, which makes blood tests for glucose especially important.
Common symptoms of high blood sugar can include:
- increased thirst
- fatigue and low energy
- increased urination
- blurred vision
- weight loss
- increased hunger
Is low blood sugar dangerous?
Low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, means that the glucose level in the blood is too low for the body to function normally. The condition can cause symptoms such as:
- tremors
- sweating
- dizziness
- palpitations
- confusion
- irritability
- fatigue
In severe cases, severely low blood sugar can cause unconsciousness or seizures. Hypoglycemia is most commonly seen in people being treated for diabetes, but can also occur in cases such as liver or kidney disease, hormonal disorders, or prolonged fasting.
Fasting glucose and diabetes
Fasting glucose is a glucose test that is taken after fasting and is often used as the first analysis when diabetes or insulin resistance is suspected. An elevated fasting glucose may indicate that the body is having difficulty regulating blood sugar effectively. When investigating diabetes, glucose is often combined with HbA1c because HbA1c shows the average blood sugar over the past two to three months, while glucose we blood sugar at the time of sampling.
In some cases, Insulin and C-peptide are also analyzed to provide additional information about the body's insulin production and insulin sensitivity. These analyzes may be relevant when investigating insulin resistance, metabolic effects and various forms of diabetes.
Check your blood sugar
A glucose test is a simple and relatively inexpensive blood test to measure blood sugar and detect early signs of diabetes or insulin resistance. The analysis is suitable for both those who want to check their fasting glucose and those who experience symptoms such as fatigue, thirst, low energy or fluctuating blood sugar. With us, you can order a glucose test directly and leave the sample at any clinic, which will then send the blood sample to an accredited laboratory. All test results are always reviewed by a licensed physician.