Glucose is a sugar with many important functions in the body. When you eat, the different sugars in food are converted to glucose and used by the cells for energy.
Your glucose must be kept within a certain range, otherwise it can cause health problems. This test measures glucose in the blood at the time of testing.
Read more about the glucose blood test.
Insulin, a hormone excreted by the pancreas, helps the body’s cells use or store blood glucose from food. If your body is not able to produce insulin, or insulin is produced but your body’s ability to use it is impaired, as in insulin resistance, glucose remains in your bloodstream. This can result in type-2 diabetes and other health conditions.
Many different factors, including medication, physical activity, diet and other biological and environmental factors, affect your blood glucose levels. These are not always easy to control.
Chronic high blood sugar can lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, blindness, neurological damage and ulcers. Symptoms of poor blood glucose management include fatigue, poor mental capacity, weakness, weight loss, excess thirst and frequent urination, and some people have no symptoms at all. In the worst case, both high and low blood sugars can lead to unconsciousness.
This test should not be used alone to detect the risk of future diabetes and heart disease. No test should be used alone to determine whether someone has a blood sugar problem. It should ideally be tested alongside HBA1C, triglycerides, C-peptide and homocysteine.
This test requires a blood draw, which can be done at your local clinic. It will be analysed at an accredited lab, such as Karolinska, Aleris or Unilabs. The first results are usually available within 48h.
What happens next?
The lab sends the results to your personal dashboard, with comments from both a doctor and a nutritionist. If results are abnormal, we recommend seeing a doctor and, if appropriate, booking an appointment with a Nordic Wellth nutrition lifestyle specialist.
You may need to make lifestyle and dietary changes.