Health Education Note: Blood Glucose
- Bonheur Dounebaine
- Feb 15
- 3 min read
What is Blood Glucose?
Glucose is the body’s main source of energy and is needed for various functions. High or low levels can affect how your body functions. Levels in the body are monitored through the blood glucose test which assists in the diagnosis of Diabetes. A proper diabetes diagnosis is made when the blood glucose also called blood sugar is too high. Blood sugar in the body is regulated by the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas. The disease occurs when either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Diabetes presents itself in several forms but the most known are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is characterized by the body’s immune system attacking and destroying the cells that produce insulin, hence causing deficient insulin production while in Type 2 diabetes the body’s cells do not respond to insulin properly or do not produce enough insulin.
Recommendations on testing
Depending on your age, weight, and risk factors (high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, family history of diabetes, etc) it is recommended that adults check their blood sugar often. The level of blood sugar is used to categorize into normal, prediabetes and diabetes. Adults and children diagnosed with prediabetes should be tested even more often as advised by their attending physician. After an abnormal blood sugar level, a complete diabetic panel test is recommended to follow up and control the progression of the disease. The Diabetic panel at Dounebaine Diagnostics Ltd consist of glucose fasting, HbA1C, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), Electrolytes, Urea, Creatinine, Urine analysis, and lipid profile.
How to prepare for the Test?
In most cases, it is recommended for individuals doing the test to fast (not eat or drink) 9 to 12 hours prior. After a venous blood sample is collected in a fluoride (grey-top) tube, plasma is then separated from the blood through centrifugation. The plasma is then used to quantify levels of blood glucose in mmol/L using our automated analyzer. The sample can be collected at our offices in Trance Tower, on Tsavo Rd in South B, or at a place of your convenience such as your home or office.
How to Interpret your results?
Results are interpreted according to the table below. At Dounebaine Diagnostics, we strive to give our clients the best services by linking them to experienced Medical practitioners within our networks in case of abnormal results. The practitioner can then advise on the best management strategies in relation to the laboratory results.
Fasting Blood sugar or Glucose-Fasting | Meaning |
Below 5.5 mmol/L | Normal |
5.6 mmol/L to 6.9 mmol/L | Pre-Diabetic |
7.0 mmol/L | Diabetic |
Random Blood sugar or Random Glucose | Meaning |
< 7.8 mmol/L | Normal |
7.8 to < 11.1 mmol/L | Pre-Diabetic |
11.1 mmol/L or above | Diabetic |
HbA1C | Meaning |
Below 5.7. % | Normal |
5.7 - 6.4 % | Pre-Diabetic |
6.5 % or above | Diabetic |
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) | Meaning |
Below 7.8 mmol/L | Normal |
7.8 mmol/L to 11.1 mmol/L | Pre-Diabetic |
11.1 mmol/L or above | Diabetic |
Prevention Measures
For those with normal blood sugar or who are Pre-Diabetic, your physician can advise you on the measures to take to prevent diabetes, which largely entails adopting a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, a healthy diet, reducing stress, maintaining a healthy weight, sleeping well, etc.
About Dounebaine Diagnostics (https://www.dounebainedx.com/)
We are an ISO 15189:2022 Accredited private referral laboratory, our head office is located at the Trance Tower, upper ground floor, on Tsavo road, in South B, open 7 days a week and we do sample collection at home and anywhere at the patient’s request. We offer high-quality medical tests at affordable costs. Our technical team members include experts in microbiology, clinical chemistry, and hematology, certified consultant pathologists, Endocrinologists, epidemiologists etc. In addition, we collaborate with excellent Network Doctors to follow up with our patients.
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