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Fasting blood glucose (FPG) measures blood sugar levels after a period of not eating, used to monitor diabetes control. Type 1 diabetics have an autoimmune disease, while type 2 diabetics have high blood sugar due to insulin resistance. FPG tests are important for pre-diabetics and should be monitored frequently. Ideal levels range from 80-100 mg/dL, while levels above 230 mg/dL require medical attention. Hypoglycemia can occur with low FPG levels and should be treated immediately. The hemoglobin A1c test provides a more reliable estimate of blood sugar levels over three months.
Fasting blood glucose (FPG) is the blood sugar level after someone hasn’t eaten for an extended period of time, usually at night. It is often used as a measure of how well people with diabetes control their blood sugar. These levels may be too high, a possible indication that the person has pre-diabetes or diabetes. They can also be too low, which is known as hypoglycemia and is often a side effect of insulin use.
Diabetes is a syndrome of diseases sharing abnormalities in carbohydrate processing. Type I diabetics have an autoimmune disease that affects the pancreas. They produce little or no insulin. These patients have an automatic pump that delivers insulin as needed, or they have to inject themselves before eating. Such individuals need to take a fasting blood glucose test several times a day, with a home blood glucose meter, to know how much insulin to give.
Type 2 diabetes is a different disorder, in which sugar builds up in the blood because cells lose their ability to react to insulin. There is a strong genetic component to this disease, but it is also often associated with obesity. Lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise and losing excess weight, can often help lower fasting plasma glucose levels.
It is generally not necessary for type 2 diabetics to check blood sugar levels daily. However, an FGP test is often the first thing many patients do when they get up for the day. Careful monitoring of fasting plasma glucose levels can help determine whether exercise or medications are working properly. Healthcare providers generally want to see FGP test records during appointments.
Fasting blood glucose tests are also important for people with pre-diabetes. This is because they are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They usually need to monitor their blood sugar levels frequently to make sure they have not developed the disorder.
The ideal fasting plasma glucose levels range from 80-100 mg/dL (4.5-5.7 mmol/L). Levels that persist above 230 mg/dL (13 mmol/L) indicate that a physician should be consulted. Typically, blood sugar levels of 126 mg/dL (7.1 mmol/L) or higher are used as part of a diabetes diagnosis. Levels ranging from 100 to 126 mg/dL (4.5 to 7.1 mmol/L) suggest that an individual has pre-diabetes.
Alternatively, fasting plasma glucose levels below 70 mg/dL indicate that a person has hypoglycemia. This condition can be life threatening and can lead to coma and even death. It should be treated immediately with glucose tablets or foods that have a high sugar level. Hypoglycemia is more frequently a problem for type 1 diabetics, because it can be a frequent side effect of insulin injection.
Blood sugar levels can fluctuate throughout the day. A more reliable test is the hemoglobin A1c test. It measures the amount of the blood protein hemoglobin with the sugar bound to it. This measurement provides an estimate of your blood sugar levels over the past three months. This test must be done by a laboratory and cannot be done at home.
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