- The fasting glucose test is defined as a test in which a person goes without food for a period of at least eight hours prior to taking the test. Blood is then drawn, usually from a vein in the crook of the elbow or the back of the hand.
- Fasting glucose levels can vary because of a variety of reasons, including severe stress (trauma, heart attack or surgery) or taking certain drugs or medications.
- Some of the medications or drugs that can increase glucose levels are corticosteroids, diuretics, epinephrine, estrogen, Glucagon, lithium and tricyclic antidepressants. Some medical conditions that can cause glucose levels to increase are chronic renal failure, Cushing's syndrome, eating too much food, an overactive thyroid and pancreatic cancer.
- Some of the drugs that can decrease glucose levels are acetaminophen, alcohol, anabolic steroids, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and pentamidine. Some medical conditions that decrease glucose levels are adrenal insufficiency, liver disease, an underactive thyroid, insulin overdose, starvation and an underactive pituitary gland.
- A fasting glucose test will help your doctor screen you for diabetes. Or, if you already have diabetes, your doctor may want to make sure your medication is doing its job.
- A glucose test is measured in milligrams per deciliter. Normal results range from 70 to 110 mg/dL. Glucose levels higher than 126 mg/dL need to be retested to verify the results and confirm that the cause is diabetes. Results only slightly higher than normal may indicate the need for further testing, such as the oral glucose tolerance test.
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