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What is Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) Test: Meaining, Purpose & Procedure

A fasting blood sugar test is one of the tests that measure the glucose level in one's blood. This is a very common procedure healthcare providers suggest to determine whether one has diabetes or its tendency.

In this article, we will talk more about its process, risks, and purposes and touch on other related topics. Continue reading to find out more about the FBS test.

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What Is a Fasting Blood Sugar Test?

Just like any other glucose test, an FBS test also determines whether an individual has diabetes. However, only differing at one point, it requires fasting prior to the test. Hence, if your doctor asks for an FBS test, you must not eat or drink anything except for water 8 to 12 hours before the test.

What Is the Purpose of a Fasting Blood Sugar Test?

The main purpose of the Fasting Blood Sugar test is to diagnose diabetes, pre-diabetes or gestational diabetes, which may happen during pregnancy. These conditions may not have any significant symptoms at first. Thus, it is necessary to maintain an annual vitals check-up to be aware of the risks of any chronic ailments.

When Does a Person Need a Fasting Blood Glucose Test?

Most healthcare providers ask for an FBS test in the following situations:

While running a standard physical examination to monitor an individual's sugar levels over time
During pregnancy, to reconfirm if the hormones are causing diabetes
A person had a history of higher blood sugar levels

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of a Fasting Blood Sugar Test?

There are some minor risks and side effects of taking a fasting sugar test. For example:

Experiencing a prick when a technician inserts a needle
Slight bruising or infections at the site of injection
Difficulty finding a vein causing bleeding

Nevertheless, these conditions do not persist.

When to Do a Fasting Blood Sugar Test?

By monitoring the sugar levels between meals, one can understand the process of managing sugar. In addition, fasting glucose levels depends on these factors:

What a person ate in their last meal
How many portions did they intake in their last meal
How a body produces and responds to insulin

In order to get accurate results in fasting glucose tests, doctors recommend nothing to eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours. Hence the appropriate time can be after waking up in the morning.

What Is the Procedure for Fasting Blood Sugar Test?

A certified physician administers a fasting blood sugar test after drawing a blood sample. Here are some steps you can expect in this procedure:

Step 1: A phlebotomist will first start by cleaning the area for injection.

Step 2: Then, they will tie a band on your upper arm to keep the veins in your arm filling with blood.

You may feel a small pinch when they insert a clean needle to get blood samples.

Step 3: Next, store that blood sample in a vial or test tube.

After the test, they will take this sample for further analysis in a lab and provide you with the results within a few hours.

Sometimes a healthcare provider may use a blood glucose monitor and test strip. In such cases, they test blood sugar levels with a prick on the finger instead of a needle injection.

What Is Normal Fasting Blood Sugar?

To understand the normal fasting blood sugar levels, you can check the following table, outlining the levels and their results

Blood Sugar Levels	Results
99 mg/dL or lower	Normal
100–125 mg/dL	Indicates pre-diabetes
126 mg/dL or above	High blood sugar, indicating diabetes

Is it Possible to Do Fasting Blood Sugar Tests At Home?

There are kits and metres available in the market which you can use to check your blood sugar levels. In order to use such devices, you need to prick your finger or ask someone to do it for you, put a drop of blood in the strip and insert it in the metre.

Although this is handy, it may not always give appropriate results. Thus, it is better to rely on the FBS lab test.

To conclude this article, let us get a quick recap on fasting blood sugar tests. This procedure is done to check the glucose levels after a person has fasted overnight. Most often, there are no prominent symptoms of type 1 diabetes and pre-diabetes, and it may only get diagnosed when a person monitors their glucose level regularly. In addition, you can check glucose levels at home but may not get accurate results. So, it is better to get it done in a lab by a certified professional.

FAQs About Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) Test

All

Which test is used for assessing fasting glucose levels?

Physicians can use glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) tests, continuous glucose monitoring or conventional blood sugar tests for checking fasting blood sugar levels.

What are the common symptoms of lower blood sugar levels?

Excess sweating, fatigue, light-headedness, nausea, cognitive confusion, anxiety, blurry vision, palpitations, etc., are some common symptoms of lower blood sugar levels.

What is the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)?

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is a glucose sensor that helps in tracking blood glucose levels. It is inserted under the skin, which helps to read the sugar level in the body tissue and alerts one whenever there is a drop or hike in sugar level.

How can I determine if I need a full-body check-up?

A full-body checkup is recommended for individuals experiencing persistent fatigue, sudden weight fluctuations, or a family history of chronic diseases. Even in the absence of symptoms, conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, liver disorders, or metabolic imbalances can progress silently.

Undergoing a comprehensive health screening provides a thorough evaluation of your overall well-being. The good news is that many health insurance plans include annual health check-ups as a built-in benefit, making early detection and preventive care both accessible and cost-effective.

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