Diabetes is defined as a group of metabolic diseases that occur when the production of insulin is inadequate in the human body or if one does not respond correctly to insulin or both.
Diabetes is primarily classified as a lifestyle disease and can cause a whole host of symptoms such as increased thirst, hunger, blurred vision and frequent urination.
Among the three types of diabetes, type 2 is said to be particularly alarming. Some people are able to reverse this chronic condition through exercise and diet. Measuring your blood glucose levels at all times is extremely important.
The stage before diabetes is known as prediabetes and it can tell if you need to make some lifestyle changes in order to prevent diabetes.
So, what kind of blood sugar test should you get?
We will cover two types of tests that can accurately predict diabetes – FBS test and RBS test.
What is the FBS test?
FBS test stands for fasting blood sugar test. Essentially you take this FBS test after a period of fasting. The FBS test measures the amount of sugar or glucose in your blood.
How should one prepare for this blood sugar test?
Before one takes the FBS test, one needs to fast for 8 hours which means you cannot eat or drink anything for the entire duration.
Can certain medication affect your FBS test result?
Yes. There are a lot of medications that can affect your FBS test result such as
- corticosteroids
- diuretics
- birth control pills
- hormone therapy
- aspirin (Bufferin)
- antipsychotics
- lithium
- epinephrine (Adrenalin)
- tricyclic antidepressants
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- phenytoin
- sulfonylurea medications
It is also possible that a temporary rise in glucose may be detected in the blood sugar test if you have recently undergone
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
Understanding your blood sugar test results –
For FBS test,
- A normal blood sugar level is 70-100 mg/dL
- Abnormal blood sugar level 100-125 mg/dL can indicate prediabetes
- Above 126 mg/dL may mean diabetes
Can you take the FBS test at home?
Yes. You can fast the night before and have the FBS test at home in the morning.
Now, let’s better acquaint you with what an RBS test is –
RBS test stands for Random blood sugar test.
Do you need to prepare for a Random blood sugar test?
No. Since a RBS test requires no fasting, you do not need to prepare for it in any way.
Is FBS test better than the RBS test?
The FBS test is suggested to be more accurate and the results are easier to interpret.
What kind of tests are the FBS test and RBS test?
Both the FBS test and RBS test are simple blood tests.
Understanding your random blood sugar test result –
For RBS test,
- The normal blood sugar level is below 125 mg/dL
- The blood sugar test result for RBS test also depends on when you last ate.
- Abnormal sugar level of 140-199 mg/dL may indicate prediabetes
- Anything above 200 mg/dL is a strong indicator of diabetes
Both these FBS test and RBS test are very important in the diagnosis of diabetes. If your blood sugar test report suggest that you have prediabetes then it is very likely that you will develop Type 2 diabetes. Without undergoing either of these blood sugar tests, you may be putting yourself at risk for irreparable damage.
If you see any symptoms of Type 2 diabetes then ensure that you take the FBS test or RBS test depending on your doctor’s recommendation.
You can also opt to take the FBS test at home anytime you want through Portea. Portea’s medical team also delivers the reports to your home.
