Fasting Blood Glucose Test

Dr (Brig) Kadloor Satyanand explains the importance of the fasting blood glucose test.

- Dr (Brig) Kadloor Satyanand 

Importance of the test

Impaired insulin secretion, insulin resistance, excessive glucose production from the liver and abnormal fat metabolism occur with Diabetes. Due to excessive glucose production from the liver, fasting plasma glucose levels (FPG) start increasing. FPG is a simple, cost effective, convenient and reproducible test which facilitates screening, diagnosing and optimum management of Diabetes.

Criteria for screening

Fasting blood glucose test should be done if:

Age is above 45 years and

Body Mass Index is > 25 Kg/m with one or more additional risk factors for Diabetes such as:

HbA1c is more than 5.7 per cen​t

First degree relative has Diabetes