Blood Sugar & Metabolism
Glucose
Blood Sugar & Metabolism
Fasting blood sugar level. Basic diabetes and metabolic screening.
VAT-exempt medical service
Glucose is the body's main source of energy. The hormone insulin helps cells take glucose out of the blood. When insulin stops working as it should, more sugar stays in the blood and the value rises. A fasting test measures your blood glucose at a single point in time. Your sample is analysed at an accredited Swedish laboratory and reported with the laboratory's reference interval.
Rising blood glucose rarely causes symptoms at first, so a test can show a change before you notice anything yourself. It is particularly relevant if diabetes runs in your family, if you carry weight around your waist, or if you have high blood pressure or raised blood lipids. It is also used to follow the effect of changes to diet and exercise. Fasting glucose is often combined with HbA1c, which reflects average blood glucose over a longer period.
What a high value can mean
A raised fasting glucose can indicate insulin resistance, pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. It can also be temporarily raised during acute illness, severe stress, corticosteroid treatment and with certain other medicines. A diagnosis is never made from a single test: the value needs to be confirmed on a separate occasion and assessed alongside HbA1c and your wider health.
What a low value can mean
Low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia) is uncommon in people who do not have diabetes. It is seen mainly with insulin treatment or certain diabetes tablets. Other causes include prolonged fasting, alcohol, and liver or kidney disease. Recurrent shaking, sweating and dizziness should be assessed by a doctor.
Fast for at least ten hours before the test. You may drink water. Bring valid ID to your appointment. If you take medicines for diabetes, ask your doctor whether to take them as usual before the test.
Order your test
Choose your test and pay online. Your lab referral is created straight away.
Give your sample
Visit any of our partner sampling locations. No appointment needed at most of them.
The lab analyses it
Your sample is analysed at an accredited Swedish laboratory.
Get your results
Your values appear in your account with reference ranges and an explanation of each marker.
A normal fasting value is below 6.1 mmol/L. Between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/L is called impaired fasting glucose, often referred to as pre-diabetes. A value of 7.0 mmol/L or above on two separate occasions indicates diabetes. Your result always states the laboratory's reference interval.
Fasting blood glucose shows the value at the moment of testing. HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over the past two to three months. They are often used together.
In pre-diabetes, regular physical activity, fewer fast-acting carbohydrates, weight loss and better sleep can lower blood glucose. In diabetes, your doctor decides whether medication is needed. Never change prescribed treatment on your own.
If your value is normal and you have no risk factors, once every three years is usually enough. With pre-diabetes, a family history or ongoing lifestyle changes, every six to twelve months is reasonable, or as your doctor advises.