Sugar Testing
Determine the values of glucose or blood sugar is one of the more routine tests that exist today along with blood pressure or tension. This test can detect situations with high blood sugar ( hyperglycemia ) or low blood sugar levels in the blood (hypoglycemia).
Although the most important goal of this type of testing is the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. If the diagnosis is not clear evidence, is often sought as a complement to the oral tolerance test glucose, where glucose is measured according to different times after ingestion of a dose X of glucose.
Simple measurement of blood glucose is done through a blood sample collected from only one patient fasting. In contrast, the oral glucose tolerance, orally administered glucose concentrated to the patient after the first extraction, and then successive extractions are performed to determine the body’s response to high doses of glucose.
The glucose values are reached maximum after 1 hour. Subsequently, the values in normal situation should gradually decline.
What should I do before the test?
It is recommended that the patient remains fasting at least 8 hours before the test and without any physical exertion or exercise. For the tolerance test, the person must comply with a diet for 3 days before in which carbohydrates are included.
You should inform your doctor if taking certain medications, or getting an infection on the day of the test. The medications that affect blood glucose levels are mainly corticosteroids, beta blockers and some specific mechanisms that cause diuresis.
Glycemic Control and Outcomes
Blood collection is located in a vein in the arm that was previously tied with rubber band. Located vein and cleaned the area, pricked with a syringe to draw blood. Once punctured the patient, you should press on the area for a while in order to avoid bruising or bruising.
To test for glucose tolerance , the patient will make a glucose solution after the first extraction. At approximately 30-60 mintutes a second extraction is performed and thus over time to see the values.
What’s on the liquid ? They are usually 70-80 g of glucose diluted in about 200-300 ml of water that vary in terms of being adult, child, pregnant or someone with a particular pathology.