The Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) test assesses blood glucose levels following an 8-hour fast. This test is crucial for diagnosing and managing prediabetes and diabetes. Diabetes is marked by ongoing high blood sugar due to inadequate insulin production or utilisation. Prediabetes, an early stage before diabetes, is characterised by slightly elevated blood sugar levels (not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis). The FBS test also checks for gestational diabetes, a condition affecting pregnant women due to hormonal effects.

The FBS test provides a precise evaluation of how effectively the body regulates blood glucose levels after fasting, crucial for diagnosing and managing diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism.

For disease management, it is critical to have the FBS test completed as soon as possible if your doctor in Gurgaon feels you may have diabetes. Arrange an FBS test in Gurgaon now so you can get timely treatment and care.

For getting reliable results, there are specific guidelines that must be followed when preparing for an FBS test. They are outlined below:

Prerequisites

For accurate blood sugar results, it is important to abstain from all food and drink, except water, for 8-12 hours before the FBS test. Since food influences sugar levels, fasting provides a more accurate measurement.

Best Time to Get Tested

The FBS test is usually scheduled in the morning before breakfast. This timing ensures that the individual has fasted overnight to obtain accurate test results.

Who Should Get an FBS Test

The FBS test is appropriate for individuals experiencing symptoms of diabetes (such as increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, and increased hunger) or those with risk factors like obesity or a family history of diabetes. It functions as a diabetes screening tool and, alongside the Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test, helps track treatment effectiveness in diabetics. The FBS test is also part of regular health assessments to monitor blood glucose levels and identify gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

Cautions Before Taking the FBS Test

Before the FBS test, make sure to inform your doctor about any medications you are taking. Some medications can affect blood sugar levels and may compromise the accuracy of the test results.

An FBS test is recommended in the following instances:

• Routine Monitoring

The FBS test is used for routine monitoring of blood glucose levels, typically as part of annual physical exams, to monitor blood sugar changes over time.

• Screening During Pregnancy

FBS testing is conducted between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy to screen for gestational diabetes as part of a Glucose Tolerance test, ensuring that pregnancy hormones do not have a negative impact over the blood sugar levels.

• Symptom Assessment and Risk Factor Evaluation

Your doctor may order an FBS test if you have symptoms of diabetes such as frequent urination, increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, sores that will not heal, blurred vision, fatigue, or numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. This test may also be recommended if you have risk factors for diabetes, including high blood pressure, obesity, age 45 years or older, a sedentary lifestyle, a previous history of gestational diabetes, or a history of stroke or heart disease.

• Monitoring in Individuals with Diabetes

Regular FBS testing is critical for patients with diabetes to monitor blood sugar levels, assess treatment efficacy, and make any required modifications to medication dosages.

• Monitoring of Prediabetes

An FBS test may be administered to monitor sugar levels in individuals who have previously had elevated glucose levels or are prediabetic. Testing often is a useful way to find out if a change in lifestyle is successfully treating prediabetes and preventing diabetes.

• Diagnosing Conditions Other Than Diabetes That Can Cause High Blood Glucose Levels

The FBS test can be used to diagnose non-diabetic conditions that cause elevated blood glucose levels, such as hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, pancreatic disorders, and Cushing syndrome.

• Diagnosing Conditions Other Than Diabetes That Cause Low Glucose Levels

The FBS test aids in diagnosing non-diabetic conditions causing hypoglycaemia, such as liver diseases (like viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer), chronic kidney disease, and hormonal disorders (like reduced hormone production by the adrenal and pituitary glands). Low glucose levels can also result from prolonged fasting and diabetes medications.

The findings of the FBS test can be understood using the table provided below:

Interpretation of Abnormal Results

Low blood glucose levels, occurring when blood sugar levels drop below 70 mg/dL, can be caused by a variety of reasons, including an overdose of insulin, severed infections, insulinomas (tumours in the pancreas that produce insulin), starvation, adrenal insufficiency (underactive adrenal glands), drinking excessive alcohol, severe liver disease, hypopituitarism (underactive pituitary function), and hypothyroidism (low thyroid function).

High blood glucose levels most frequently indicate diabetes, but many other diseases and conditions can also cause elevated blood glucose, such as hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid function), acromegaly (excess growth hormone), acute stress (response to trauma, heart attack, and stroke for instance), Cushing syndrome (excess cortisol hormone), pancreatic cancer, and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).