A finger stick <\/strong>test is another type of glucose test and only uses a small drop of blood. Finger stick glucose tests are what you do if you check your blood sugar using a glucometer at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In many cases, venous blood draws are preferred when performing glucose tests because they can run other lab tests on the same sample. Hemoglobin A1c tests<\/a> (a 3-6 month blood sugar average) are also done with venous blood draws, not finger stick tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your healthcare provider will likely order a glucose test to screen you for blood sugar problems, such as type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and prediabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A glucose test is standard during pregnancy to screen for gestational diabetes<\/a>. Gestational diabetes is when you develop diabetes during pregnancy. It usually goes away after you deliver your baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gestational diabetes screenings typically occur at the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third trimester (24-28 weeks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also have a glucose test if you\u2019ve been experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)<\/a>, such as fainting and dizziness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several different types of glucose tests. Each glucose test provides unique information and is useful in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019re trying to figure out how much insulin you need to inject before a meal, checking your blood sugar after eating can help assess how effective your current dose is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your healthcare provider wants to determine if your prediabetes is progressing into diabetes, you\u2019ll likely have a hemoglobin A1c test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the most common blood glucose tests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your blood glucose levels are measured when you haven\u2019t eaten or drank anything besides water for at least 8-12 hours. Fasting glucose tests<\/a> are ideal for identifying insulin resistance and\/or diagnosing diabetes<\/a> since your diet doesn\u2019t have as much of an impact on the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your blood glucose is checked randomly or when you haven\u2019t been fasting. If your blood glucose is above 200 mg\/dL at any given time, it is indicative of diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Checking your blood sugar within 1-2 hours of eating a meal helps identify how your diet impacts your blood glucose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After drinking a specific sugary drink (Glucola, etc.), your blood sugar levels are measured one- to three hours afterward to assess your glucose tolerance, or how well your body can lower your blood sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This test measures the average percentage of your red blood cells that had a sugar molecule attached to them over the past 60-90 days. If you have diabetes, you should have an A1c test at least every six months, and more often if your blood sugar is uncontrolled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A glucose test measures the amount of glucose in your bloodstream at a given time. There is always glucose present in your blood, but it becomes problematic if they are consistently too high or too low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A normal fasting blood sugar level for people without diabetes is less than 100 mg\/dL and less than 140 mg\/dL within two hours of starting a meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For people with diabetes, fasting blood glucose should be within 80-130 mg\/dL and less than 180 mg\/dL within two hours of eating a meal, though many people might have stricter post-meal blood sugar goals than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your healthcare provider has ordered a fasting blood sugar test, you shouldn\u2019t eat or drink anything besides water for at least eight hours before the test. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, you might consider eating some of the following foods before a glucose test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protein is a type of macronutrient along with carbohydrates and fat. Unlike carbohydrates, protein doesn\u2019t significantly impact blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of protein-rich foods are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Non-starchy vegetables are very low in carbohydrates, so they don\u2019t raise your blood sugar levels very much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A few examples of non-starchy vegetables include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whole grains contain more fiber than refined grains (more on those in the next section). Fiber-rich foods can help prevent blood sugar spikes<\/a> because fiber takes longer to digest, which means fiber-rich foods are converted to glucose more slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bear in mind that whole grains can still raise your blood glucose levels because they are a carbohydrate. They are a better choice than refined carbs, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of whole grains are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not going to have a fasting blood glucose test, it\u2019s fine if you eat beforehand. However, eating certain foods can cause a blood sugar spike<\/a> and might alter the accuracy of your results. Try to stay away from the following foods before a glucose test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, sweetened tea, flavored coffee, and fruit-flavored drinks are one of the worst things to have before a blood glucose test. Sugary drinks are quickly emptied from your stomach and are converted into glucose in your bloodstream, which can lead to your blood sugar skyrocketing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking sugar-free or \u201cdiet\u201d drinks is a safer alternative, though water is the ideal choice to have before a glucose test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Refined carbohydrates are lower in fiber and protein than whole grains, which makes them raise your blood sugar more quickly and significantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Try to stay away from refined carbs like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike non-starchy vegetables, starchy vegetables contain significantly more carbohydrates that can raise your blood glucose. Avoid starchy veggies like potatoes<\/a> and corn before a glucose test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sugary treats are among the foods to avoid in your diet before a glucose test. Added sugar is found in many processed foods, which contribute the majority of the added sugar in a typical American diet<\/a> (1<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll need to look at the nutrition facts and ingredient labels of processed foods to determine if it\u2019s high in sugar\/carbohydrates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the more obvious sources of added sugar are in foods such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though the sugar in fruit juice is considered natural (as long as it\u2019s 100% fruit juice), it can still raise your blood sugar quickly. Avoid fruit juices before a glucose test, or at least drink them several hours before your scheduled test to allow your body time to process the glucose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All types of popular fruit juices fall into this category, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many institutions recommend eating at least 150 grams of carbohydrates per day for the three days preceding a blood glucose test and 50 grams of carbs with the last meal before a fasting test (2). If you temporarily eat a very low-carbohydrate diet<\/a>, the results might not indicate your true glucose tolerance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The important thing to remember is that a glucose test is often meant to detect chronic health issues like type 2 diabetes. If you work hard to get a normal result (such as not eating even when the test is meant to be non-fasting, restricting carbs for the few days before the test, etc.), you might have a false negative result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"blood-glucose-test\"](\"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/large-Blood-Glucose-Test-For-Diabetes.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWho might get a glucose test?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Types of glucose tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fasting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Random\/non-fasting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Post-prandial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Glucose tolerance test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hemoglobin A1c test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How a glucose test works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What to eat before a glucose test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Protein-rich foods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Non-starchy vegetables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Whole grains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What you shouldn\u2019t eat before a glucose test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sugary drinks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Refined carbohydrates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Starchy vegetables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sweetened foods\/desserts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Fruit juice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Other things to know before a glucose test <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How can I pass a glucose test?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n