Blood sugar refers to the blood sugar level after fasting for 8 to 12 hours, that is, the blood sugar level in the morning on an empty stomach, and the blood sugar level before lunch and dinner is not included. Since blood sugar levels are affected by various factors, it is necessary to eliminate these factors to a great extent during the morning fasting test to reflect the true condition. Blood sugar is a key indicator of pancreatic function and one of the criteria for diagnosing diabetes. Blood sugar can also reflect the control status of blood sugar levels throughout the night and in the morning by the commonly used medication the night before.

Generally, for patients who need to have a blood sugar test, the doctor will tell you not to eat breakfast when taking blood, and will not emphasize the aspects of blood tests before and after fasting, and whether drinking water is allowed. Some people, upon hearing that they need to have a blood sugar test, do not eat breakfast or drink water that morning to accept the test. Some patients like Peng women feel that drinking water is not eating, and drinking some drinks should be fine.

Generally, drinking plain water does not affect the results of blood sugar testing. The ‘fasting’ required for blood sugar testing generally refers to not consuming calories, such as eating meals, meat and eggs, milk, and others, but not strictly limiting drinking water. Therefore, it can be relieved of concerns, and if you are thirsty before measuring blood sugar, you can drink a small amount of water. However, some sugary drinks should be limited as they may affect the results of blood sugar testing. Peng women’s blood sugar level also cannot be excluded by honey water, so it is necessary to conduct a blood sugar test again.

Attention is paid to the fasting time

There are also considerations for the time of blood sugar testing. The time should be selected 8 to 12 hours after the previous meal, with a maximum of 12 hours. If it is too long, the blood sugar level is also prohibited.

Some patients feel that they can check their blood sugar levels without eating breakfast, whether it is 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. This idea is also incorrect.

Prevent excitement to ensure sleep quality

If the purpose of checking blood sugar is to understand the control status of daily blood sugar levels and observe the effectiveness of medication, continue to take the hypoglycemic medication the night before the test, and take the morning medication after the blood test.

In addition, it is also necessary to ensure adequate sleep, avoid poor rest, prevent excessive eating the day before the test, or being overly emotional and active before measuring blood sugar. These factors may cause blood sugar levels to rise. Do not diet too much the day before measuring blood sugar, as this may yield ‘ideal’ results, but it is a self-defeating behavior. Such blood sugar results cannot truly reflect the body’s actual blood sugar level.

Ensure the following two points to improve the accuracy of blood sugar measurement:

1. To measure blood sugar, it is essential to have an empty stomach blood test before 8 a.m., especially for patients on insulin therapy. An empty stomach blood test must be taken before the morning injection of glargine insulin, otherwise, it cannot truly reflect the control status of diabetes.

2. Blood sugar levels can also increase during various stress response conditions, such as mood fluctuations, insomnia, fever, fatigue, and others, which can affect blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent excessive exercise on the way to the hospital.