Check your prescription before going for a blood sugar test. It may specify fasting, post-meal or random glucose, and each option has its own timing. The lab measures glucose in the sample, and your doctor uses the result to investigate or monitor blood sugar concerns. If the wording on the prescription is unclear, confirm the requested test before you plan meals around the appointment.

A fasting sample is collected after a period without food as instructed by your healthcare team. A post-meal sample is timed around eating, while a random sample can be collected without planning around a meal. Tell the team if the requested timing could not be followed. When you review the result with your doctor, ask what it means for the type of sample taken and whether they want to compare it with another glucose result or an HbA1c.