Fasting Blood Sugar Test: Everything you need to know

Do you know what fasting blood sugar is? You've probably heard of it and wondered: "why do they even bother with blood sugar tests if it's not going to make a difference?" If that's you, then you will be interested in this article. We will cover what fasting blood sugar means and how it affects your health.
 

What is a Fasting Blood Sugar Test?
Fasting blood sugar (FBS) tests are used to see if a person has diabetes or prediabetes. The test
measures how much glucose is in the blood after an overnight fast.
Fasting blood sugar tests are also used as part of routine care at most medical facilities; they're an important part of the overall assessment and treatment plan for people with diabetes, especially in situations where patients have been diagnosed recently or where their condition has not been well controlled by medication or diet alone.
It's important to remember that a normal fasting blood sugar level does not necessarily mean that you don't have diabetes or prediabetes. You may have high insulin or low levels of insulin sensitivity and still have diabetes because of other risk factors such as obesity, family history, ethnicity, or age.
 

What's the difference between a fasting and post-meal test?
A post-meal test measures blood sugar levels after eating a meal, while a fasting test measures blood sugar levels at rest — before eating anything. You will not be allowed to eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before the test, although it may be easier if you can fast for longer than this time (depending on where you are).

How to prepare for a fasting blood sugar test?
The first step in preparing for your fasting blood sugar test is ensuring you're well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will help keep your blood vessels open, allowing more blood to flow during the test. If you're not drinking enough water, it may be difficult to get an accurate reading because your body won't be able to absorb all of the glucose in your blood sample.
Take other medications with food, so they don't interfere with absorption during testing. In addition, make sure there are no other medications in your system that could interfere with testing results, such as aspirin or ibuprofen-based products.
 

How does the Fasting Blood Sugar Test work?
The fasting blood sugar test checks your blood sugar levels when you have not eaten for 8 hours. It can detect diabetes or other blood glucose conditions, such as gestational diabetes.
It's also used to monitor how well your body controls your blood sugar level and whether there are any warning signs that something may be wrong with your body's glucose control system (also known as glucose metabolism).
The test can be performed in a healthcare professional's office or home using a blood sugar test machine. If you get a fasting blood sugar test at home, you'll need to take a digital finger prick sample of your blood, which is placed on a small strip of paper.
 

How to do a Fasting Blood Sugar Test at Home?
Blood sugar testing is a basic part of diabetes management. It's used to determine your blood sugar level, which will help you manage your diabetes and prevent conditions like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
Many different blood glucose monitoring systems are available, including strips you can buy at the pharmacy or from an online source. But one of the most easy-to-use tools for people with diabetes is the fasting blood glucose monitor (also called the home blood glucose monitoring system). Here's everything you need to know about fasting blood sugar tests:
A fasting blood glucose test measures how fast your body digests and breaks down food. The higher the reading, the more quickly your body digests and breaks down food. This is necessary because it takes time for insulin to be released from the pancreas and start working. A high reading usually indicates high blood glucose levels, leading to diabetes.
You will have to manage diabetes based on blood sugar levels throughout the day and during stressful times. If you didn't have access to these levels, you wouldn't be able to understand how your body responds to certain ingredients or conditions.
Use a blood sugar test machine like Freestyle Libre. Glucose monitoring systems are also known as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). The device consists of a sensor, a reader, a pricker, and a manual. Since this device offers continuous readings, it is mainly suitable for people with type 1 diabetes. It is necessary to nick the sensor on the arm or any other body part. 
After calibrating the reader, you can get real-time readings by tapping the reader against the sensor. This type of glucometer or blood sugar test machine is the most helpful when dealing with high sugar levels or confirming a recent diagnosis.
 

Bottomline
Fasting blood sugar tells you the glucose level in the blood after a long period of not eating. Unlike your post-meal blood sugar, fasting blood sugar might give you a sense of how your body metabolizes sugar and carbohydrates. Some people have been found to have differences in heart disease risk based on their fasting glucose levels.