PHYSICIANS REFERENCE LABORATORY

ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY  |  MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY  |  CYTOLOGY  |  TOXICOLOGY
PAIN MED  | CLINICAL LABORATORY TESTING  |  TEST RESULTS
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS | PATIENT CARE SERVICES  |  SERVICE CENTERS
PATIENT INFORMATION (KCFIT.NET)

CLA:  GLUCOSE, PASTING GLUCOSE, 2 HR. POST-PRANDIAL GLUCOSE, HEMOGLOBIN A1C

DIABETES MELLITUS

Glucose (or sugar) is normally found in the blood and is essential for life.  It is the main source of immediate energy for our bodily tissues as the cells metabolize. The hormone that is necessary to help our tissue cells metabolize glucose is insulin, produced in the pancreas. When there is too little insulin to help the tissue cells metabolize glucose or when the tissue cells are not receptive to insulin’s help, the blood glucose concentration rises and the condition is called diabetes mellitus, or simply “diabetes”. High levels of glucose in the blood for long periods of time, together with other associated chemical abnormalities, causes particular damage to small blood vessels which then cause damage to the nerves, eyes, kidneys, skin, larger blood vessels and the heart. There are two main types of diabetes, Types I and II. Type I is found in children and is also called “juvenile” or “insulin-dependent” diabetes. Type II is also called “adult-onset” or “non-insulin dependent” diabetes. If identified and treated early and continuously, much of the tissue damage can be minimized or delayed.

BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST

A blood glucose test measures the concentration of glucose present in the blood at that time. Because blood glucose varies considerably according to when we last ate, its diagnostic value is limited unless the number is high, above 120 mg/dL.

FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST

If the blood glucose is measured after a 12 hr. fast, the reference range (the range within which most healthy peoples’ blood glucose will be) is 60-120 mg/dL.

2HR. POST-PRANDIAL GLUCOSE TEST

In this test, after a 12 hr. fast, a fasting blood glucose test is done.  Then the person being tested is asked to have a normal meal. Two hours from the time the fasting glucose was measured, the blood glucose concentration is again measured. If the fasting glucose is greater than 120mg/dL and/or the 2hour value is greater than 140mg/dL, the test is abnormal and further evaluation is necessary.

HEMOGLOBIN A1C (HgbA1C or glycohemoglobin) TEST

If the blood glucose has been chronically high for at least 4-8 weeks, another excellent test to evaluate the person’s bodily ability to metabolize glucose is to measure the blood hemoglobin A1C (Hgb A1C or gylcohemobglobin) concentration. The reason for this is that there are a number of types of hemoglobin found in a person's blood, most of which will attach to glucose molecules, especially if the concentration of glucose is chronically elevated.  Hemoglobin A1C does this especially well. If the person’s Hgb A1C level is greater than 7%, this is consistent with diabetes mellitus; if a diabetic person’s Hgb A1C is less than 8%, this indicates that the blood glucose level has been well-controlled over the past 4-8 weeks.

If any of the above is abnormal, you should discuss it further with a physician.

Thanks for using Physicians Reference Laboratory’s Community Laboratory Access option to assist you in taking charge of your health care.