Blood glucose (sugar) test and oral glucose tolerance test (glucose curve, OGTT): laboratories in Warsaw, Krakow, Wrocław, Gliwice, Kołobrzeg, Szczecin, Łódź, Lublin, Bydgoszcz, Gorzów, Ostrołęka

Blood glucose (sugar) test

Glucose is a simple sugar produced from the food we eat. It is our source of energy, the “fuel” used by every cell in our body, and is essential for life. However, both too much and too little sugar lead to serious problems. Glucose levels are regulated by a hormone produced by the pancreas, called insulin, which allows every cell in our body to take up glucose and use it. Insulin acts like a traffic controller: it determines whether glucose passes from the blood into cells or is stored as a reserve in the form of glycogen and/or triglycerides. Sugar, which our body needs so much, can also become a toxic substance that damages our organs. Your glucose level (also called your blood sugar level or glycaemia) on an empty stomach should remain within the range of 70-99 mg/dL.

In pancreatic diseases involving abnormal insulin secretion and consequently disrupted glucose metabolism, symptoms may go unrecognised for a long time.

Symptoms of raised blood glucose (known as hyperglycaemia), including diabetes:
• increased thirst (unrelated to increased exertion, excessive sweating or fever)
• passing larger amounts of urine than before
• feeling weak/fatigued
• reduced visual acuity
• wounds that are slow to heal.

Symptoms of blood sugar that is too low (known as hypoglycaemia)
• sweating
• feeling hungry
• muscle tremors
• anxiety
• disorientation
• blurred vision

In both cases, fainting or sudden weight loss (without a change in diet) may also occur, which is associated with abnormal glucose metabolism.

Blood glucose levels can also be measured easily using laboratory tests on capillary blood (a drop of blood from a fingertip prick) or the more accurate laboratory test on venous blood.

Remember to attend this test on an empty stomach, meaning about 8 hours without food or drink (except still, unsweetened mineral water).

Fasting blood glucose values:

-normal value 70-99 mg/dL (mg%)

-raised level 100-125 mg/dL (mg%), known as prediabetes

-an excessively high blood glucose level above 125 mg/dL (mg%) in two measurements taken on different days is diagnosed as diabetes.

The most common cause of raised blood glucose is diabetes. However, there are a number of other factors that cause blood sugar levels to rise. These include:
• acromegaly
• stress
• chronic kidney failure
• Cushing’s syndrome
• taking certain medicines: corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, oestrogens (including contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy), lithium, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
• eating more food than your body needs.

Blood glucose testing is particularly recommended for people over 40, people with obesity, those who have a family member with diabetes, and those taking any of the medicines listed above.

If the test shows a blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg%, your doctor will request an additional test called an oral glucose tolerance test (also known as a glucose curve, glucose tolerance test or OGTT). This test checks how your body copes with a sudden, fairly large dose of sugar. It is also routinely performed in pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to check the risk of developing gestational diabetes. The result report is issued in Polish.

The glucose tolerance test starts with a venous blood sample taken on an empty stomach. You then need to drink the amount of glucose prescribed by your doctor, which you should purchase from a pharmacy beforehand. Depending on the doctor’s instructions, blood is collected after one hour and/or after two hours. During an OGTT, blood is therefore collected twice: on an empty stomach and after 2 hours, or three times: on an empty stomach, after one hour and after two hours. It is important not to leave or go for a walk away from the testing site during the glucose tolerance test, because any physical exertion can distort the results. The glucose solution should also be drunk slowly, in small sips, over 5 minutes (rather than all at once), as drinking it too quickly may cause fainting. You must not consume any food or fluids between blood collections either.

* If your results fall outside the normal range, we recommend consulting a doctor.

Laboratory blood tests, medical consultations and other medical diagnostic services in the following cities and towns: Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Wrocław, Szczecin, Gdynia, Sopot, Gdańsk, Opole, Lublin, Gliwice, Bydgoszcz, Kołobrzeg, Rzeszów, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Opole, Jelenia Góra, Koszalin, Ostrołęka, Płock, Świecie, Przemyśl, Zabrze, Wodzisław Śląski, Radom, Otwock, Olsztyn, Aleksandrów, Płońsk, Łowicz, Bełchatów, Bełżyce, Chełm, Dąbrówka, Bogatynia, Bychawa, Białystok, Drzewica, Nowe Miasto Nad Pilicą, Działdowo, Garwolin, Głogów, Goleniów, Gorzyce, Iłża, Jelenia Góra, Koło, Kostrzyn, Kościan, Krzywiń, Kutno, Legionowo, Lesko, Lidzbark Welski, Łomża, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Nowy Sącz, Mielec, Malbork, Oborniki Śląskie, Poddębice, Przeworsk, Pułtusk, Raciąż, Racibórz, Rybnik, Sanok, Siedlce, Sierpc, Skórzewo, Sochaczew, Swarzędz, Szydłowiec, Tuchola, Wejherowo, Wysokie Mazowieckie, Wyszków, Ząbki, Zambrów, Żuromin, Żychlin, Kwidzyn, Kościerzyna, Cedry Wielkie, Prabuty, Pruszcz Gdański, Jarosław, Reda, Rogowiec, Katowice, Częstochowa, Kielce, Jędrzejów, Pińczów, Zamość, Lubin, Czeladź, Czerniewice, Grudziądz, Kęty, Konstantynów Łódzki, Lutomiersk, Myszków, Olkusz, Piotrków Trybunalski, Polkowice, Poniatowa, Poraj, Sławków, Stargard, Tarnobrzeg, Toruń, Wiślica, Wolbrom, Rumia, Żory, Bezrzecze, Legnica, Marki, Siemianowice Śląskie, Ropczyce