Blood Glucose

2-hour Postprandial Blood Sugar Test, Fasting Blood Sugar Test, Random Blood Sugar Test

Results

Normal

A blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood.

Results are often ready in 1 to 2 hours. Glucose levels in a blood sample taken from your vein (called a blood plasma value) may differ a little than glucose levels checked with a finger stick.

Blood glucose

Fasting blood glucose:	3.9 to 6.1 millimoles per litre (mmol/L)
2 hours after eating (post-prandial):	5 to 8 mmol/L
Random (casual):	3.9–11.0 mmol/L

 

Normal results may vary from lab to lab. Many conditions can change your blood glucose levels. Your health professional will discuss any significant abnormal results with you in relation to your symptoms and medical history.

High values

You may have diabetes. But your doctor will not use just one test result to diagnose you with the condition.

• The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) criteria for diagnosing diabetes are met when any of the following results have been repeated on at least two different days:
  • A fasting blood glucose level is 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) or higher.
  • A 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test result is 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or higher. For more information, see the medical test Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.
  • Symptoms of diabetes are present and a random blood glucose test is 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or higher. Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and frequent urination (especially at night), unexplained increase in appetite, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, erection problems, blurred vision, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
• If your fasting blood glucose level is between 5.5 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) and 6.9 mmol/L (126 mg/dL), you are considered to have prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose), and you have an increased chance of getting diabetes.
• Other conditions that can cause high blood glucose levels include severe stress, heart attack, stroke, Cushing's syndrome, medicines such as corticosteroids, or excess production of growth hormone (acromegaly).

Low values

A fasting glucose level below 2.2 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) in women or below 2.8 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) in men that is accompanied by symptoms of hypoglycemia may mean you have an insulinoma, a tumour that produces abnormally high amounts of insulin.

Low glucose levels also may be caused by:

• Addison's disease.
• Decreased thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism).
• A tumour in the pituitary gland.
• Liver disease, such as cirrhosis.
• Kidney failure.
• Malnutrition or an eating disorder, such as anorexia.
• Medicines used to treat diabetes.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: September 14, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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