Post-prandial glucose

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A blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood. Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods. It is the main source of energy used by the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body's cells use the glucose. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and released into the blood when the amount of glucose in the blood rises.

Normally, your blood glucose levels increase slightly after you eat. This increase causes your pancreas to release insulin so that your blood glucose levels do not get too high. Blood glucose levels that remain high over time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels.

2-hour postprandial blood sugar measures blood glucose exactly 2 hours after you eat a meal.

Blood glucose tests are done to:

   * Check for diabetes.
   * Monitor treatment of diabetes.
   * Check for diabetes that occurs during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
   * Determine if an abnormally low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) is present. A test to measure blood levels of insulin and a protein called C-peptide may be done along with a blood glucose test to determine the cause of hypoglycemia. For more information, see the medical test C-Peptide.

For a 2-hour postprandial test, eat a meal exactly 2 hours before the blood sample is taken. A home blood sugar test is the most common way to check 2-hour postprandial blood sugar levels.

The health professional taking a sample of your blood will:

   * Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
   * Clean the needle site with alcohol.
   * Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
   * Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
   * Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
   * Apply a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
   * Apply pressure to the site and then a bandage.

A blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood.

Results are often ready in 1 to 2 hours. Glucose levels in a blood sample taken from your vein (called a blood plasma value) may differ a little than glucose levels checked with a finger stick.

2 hours after eating (postprandial):

70–145 mg/dL (less than 7.9 mmol/L)

High values may indicatelink title diabetes. But your doctor will not use just one test result to diagnose you with the condition.

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