Blood Sugar Tests Health Article

Abnormal results

These abnormal results indicate diabetes and must be confirmed with repeat testing:

• fasting plasma glucose test less than or equal to 126 mg/dL
• oral glucose tolerance test, 2 hours less than or equal to 200 mg/dL
• casual plasma glucose test (nonfasting, with symptoms) less than or equal to 200 mg/dL
• gestational oral glucose tolerance test, 1 hour less than or equal to 140 mg/dL

Brain damage can occur from glucose levels below 40 mg/dL and coma from levels above 470 mg/dL.

Other hormone disorders can cause both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Abnormal results must be interpreted by a doctor who is aware of the person's medical condition and medical history.

BOOKS

A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 5th ed. Ed. Francis Fishback. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1996.

Henry, John B., ed. Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 19th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co., 1996.

PERIODICALS

American Diabetes Association. "Report of the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus." Diabetes Care 20, no, 7 (July 997): 1183-1197.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Diabetes Association. 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311. (800) 342-2383. <http://www.diabetes.org>.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333. (800) 311-3435, (404) 639-3311. <http://www.cdc.gov>.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. 1 Information Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3560. (800) 860-8747. <http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/ndic.htm>.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Building 31, Room 9A04, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2560, Bethesda, MD 208792-2560. (301) 496-3583. <http://www.niddk.nih.gov>.

Nancy J. Nordenson