Glucose
Your blood sugar at the moment of the draw, from one blood draw.
- 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
- Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
- Ordered by a licensed clinician
At a glance
- Collection
- Blood drawA standard blood draw at the lab.
- Preparation
- Fasting preferredFast 8 to 12 hours. Water is fine.
- Results
- 1 to 2 daysTypical turnaround after your visit.
- Where
- 2,000+ lab locationsNationwide, with nothing due at the lab.
About this test
This test measures the sugar (glucose) in your blood at the moment of the draw. Taken after a fast, it is a common check for prediabetes and diabetes, and it is often read with A1c. Fasting for 8 to 12 hours is preferred because food raises blood sugar for a while after you eat.
For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.
Who should take this test?
This test is often used by adults who want to check their blood sugar, including people with a family history of diabetes or a past high result. Commonly related symptoms include:
Body
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
- Slow-healing cuts
Groin
- Frequent urination
Eyes
- Blurry vision
Weight
- Unexplained weight change
Family history
- Diabetes in the family
Ask about this test
Not sure this is the right test?
AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.
What does this test measure?
Your result shows your blood sugar at one moment, which can help you and a healthcare provider see how it compares with typical fasting ranges and whether a follow-up test makes sense.
- Glucose
- Glucose is the sugar your body uses as its main source of energy. The level in your blood at the moment of the draw rises after eating and falls between meals, so a fasting sample is the usual way to read it. It is commonly checked when blood sugar or diabetes is a question.
- Why it’s measured: To see your blood sugar at the time of the draw, ideally after fasting.
How it works
- Step 1
Order online
Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.
- Step 2
Visit a lab
Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. Fast 8 to 12 hours. Water is fine. Nothing is due at the lab.
- Step 3
Get your results
Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.
Find a lab near you
Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.
What your results tell you
Glucose is reported in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The bands below apply to a fasting result, as many medical organizations read it.
- < 100 mg/dLTypical (fasting)
- 100–125 mg/dLPrediabetes range
- ≥ 126 mg/dLDiabetes range
- Your number next to the lab’s reference range
- Explained in plain language
- A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
- A lab report you can download and share
Only a healthcare provider can diagnose diabetes. A very high or low result can need prompt follow-up with one, and the bands are for fasting results.
Glucose, A1c, or insulin?
Three blood sugar markers, three different views.
Fasting glucose
Your blood sugar at the moment of the draw.
- Looks back
- The moment of the draw
- Useful for
- A snapshot, read with A1c
- Preparation
- Fasting preferred, 8 to 12 hours
Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.
From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.
CLIA-certified labs
Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.
We protect your health data
We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.
Rigorous quality assurance
All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.
Clinician-reviewed reports
Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.
Related tests
Questions
Common questions.
Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.
Blood sugar rises after you eat or drink anything other than water, then settles over the next few hours. Fasting for 8 to 12 hours means the result reflects your baseline, which is what the fasting bands on this page are based on. Water is fine. If you did not fast, a healthcare provider reads the result differently.
If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, ask your prescriber how to fast safely before your visit.
Glucose is a snapshot of your blood sugar at the moment of the draw. A1c reflects your average over about three months. They answer different questions and are often read together, which is why they are paired in the Blood Sugar & Insulin Panel.
Besides food, a short-term illness or physical stress can raise blood sugar for a while. That is one reason a single result near a cutoff is usually repeated, or read with A1c, before a healthcare provider draws any conclusion.
A glucose result shows one moment. It does not show how your blood sugar moves through the day, and one result on its own does not diagnose diabetes or low blood sugar. A healthcare provider can explain what your number means and whether other tests, like A1c or insulin, would help.
No. This test is not for emergencies. If thirst or frequent urination comes with vomiting, belly pain, fast or deep breathing, or confusion, or if you faint, get emergency care right away rather than waiting for a lab visit or a result.
Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.