A blood sugar test can be used to determine the amount of glucose in the blood. It may be used to diagnose diabetes or to help those with diabetes check their blood sugar and insulin levels.

A blood sugar test is a procedure that measures the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood. A doctor may order this test to help diagnose diabetes. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes also use this test to manage their condition.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the cells in the body responsible for producing insulin are destroyed. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin and no longer uses it effectively. Both types can result in high blood sugar if they’re not managed well.

Blood sugar tests provide instant results and let you know the following:

• if your blood sugar levels are high or low
• if your diet or exercise routine needs to change
• how your diabetes treatment is working
• if your overall treatment goals for diabetes are manageable

If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, a doctor may also order a blood sugar test as part of a routine check-up. They may also be looking to see if you have diabetes or prediabetes, a condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than typical.

People may need to be tested if they have symptoms of diabetes or if they have certain risk factors.

Risk factors for diabetes

You may have more likely to get type 1 diabetes if you:

• are a teenager or younger
• have a family member with the condition
• have certain genes that give you a genetic predisposition

Your risk for type 2 diabetes may increase if youTrusted Source:

• are age 35 years or older
• are overweight
• are not physically active
• have a family history of diabetes
• have a history of insulin resistance or have prediabetes
• have a history of gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds
• have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or high cholesterol
• have a history of stroke or hypertension