Diabetes is primarily diagnosed through specific blood tests that measure your blood sugar (glucose) levels. One of the most common and crucial diagnostic tools is the Fasting Blood Sugar Test.
The Fasting Blood Sugar Test
The Fasting Blood Sugar Test measures your blood glucose level after you haven't eaten or drunk anything (except water) for at least eight hours, typically overnight. This test helps determine how well your body is managing blood sugar without the influence of recent food intake.
The results of a fasting blood sugar test are interpreted based on specific ranges, which indicate whether your blood sugar levels are healthy, suggest prediabetes, or confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.
Understanding Your Fasting Blood Sugar Results
Your fasting blood sugar levels provide key insights into your metabolic health. Here's how the results are typically categorized:
| Category | Fasting Blood Sugar Level (mg/dL) | Fasting Blood Sugar Level (mmol/L) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy | Less than 100 | Less than 5.6 | Your blood sugar levels are within a healthy range. |
| Prediabetes | 100 to 125 | 5.6 to 6.9 | Your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. This indicates an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. |
| Diabetes | 126 or higher | 7.0 or higher | This level, when confirmed on two separate tests, indicates a diagnosis of diabetes. Your body is not effectively managing blood sugar. |
Important Note: A diagnosis of diabetes based on the Fasting Blood Sugar Test requires a result of 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests to confirm the condition. This ensures accuracy and helps differentiate from temporary elevations in blood sugar.
Understanding these results is the first step towards managing your health, whether it involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle, implementing preventive measures for prediabetes, or starting treatment for diabetes.
