Not sure which one your doctor wrote? Send a photo of the slip and we'll tell you. Call 8872524007.
Tests in this category
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)The fasting blood sugar test measures the glucose in your blood after you've gone 8 to 10 hours without food.FastingSame day
- Post-Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)A PPBS test checks your blood glucose exactly two hours after you start a meal.No fastingSame day
- Random Blood Sugar (RBS)A random blood sugar test measures glucose at whatever time you walk in, with no fasting and no meal timing.No fastingSame day
- HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)The HbA1c test shows your average blood sugar over roughly the past two to three months.No fastingSame day
- Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)A GTT test checks how your body copes with a measured dose of sugar.FastingSame day
- Insulin (Fasting)A fasting insulin test measures how much insulin is circulating in your blood after an overnight fast.FastingSame day or next day
- C-PeptideA C-peptide test tells a doctor how much insulin your own pancreas is still making.FastingUsually 1–3 working days
- Diabetes ProfileA diabetes profile test groups the checks a doctor usually wants at a diabetes review into one visit.FastingSame day
Each card opens the full page for that test. You can also go back to the full test directory.
When doctors order these tests
Most people get a blood sugar check for one of three reasons: symptoms such as heavy thirst, passing urine often or losing weight without trying; routine screening after 30, or earlier with a family history; or follow-up once diabetes is already known.
The fasting blood sugar test and the PPBS test are usually done as a pair on the same morning. A random blood sugar test is the quick check when nobody has fasted. The HbA1c test shows the average over roughly the last two to three months and needs no fasting.
Some tests answer narrower questions. The GTT test is used in pregnancy and for borderline results. An insulin test is often ordered when insulin resistance or PCOS is suspected, and a C-peptide test helps a specialist judge how much insulin the pancreas still makes. The diabetes profile test bundles the common follow-up checks in one visit.
Preparation
Preparation is what trips people up. Fasting tests need 8 to 10 hours without food, and tea, milk or juice all break the fast. Plain water is fine. We start collecting at 7:00 am, so you can come straight from home before breakfast.
For PPBS the clock starts at the first bite of your meal, not the last. HbA1c and random sugar need no preparation at all. If you take diabetes tablets or insulin, ask your doctor how to time the morning dose; don't skip it on your own.
Packages that include them
The Diabetes Care package groups FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, kidney function, urine routine and a lipid profile. The Full Body Checkup also includes fasting sugar and HbA1c. See the details on health checkup packages.
FAQ
Which sugar test is best for checking diabetes?
There isn't one best test. Doctors commonly use fasting glucose and HbA1c together, and sometimes a GTT when results are borderline. Your doctor reads the result alongside your symptoms and other tests.
Can I do the fasting and PPBS test on the same day?
Yes. Give the fasting sample first, eat your usual breakfast, note the time and come back two hours after you started eating.
How soon will I get my sugar report?
Glucose and HbA1c results are usually ready the same day if the sample is given by about 11 am. C-peptide can take longer because it may go to a partner reference laboratory.
Is a glucometer reading the same as a lab test?
Not quite. A finger-prick meter is handy for daily monitoring, but a lab test on a venous plasma sample is what doctors use for diagnosis.
Book a test
Walk in to Alpha Laboratory, Municipal Committee, M.C. Road, Banur, or call 8872524007 to book a sugar test or arrange home collection. You can also WhatsApp us the doctor's slip, or see our contact page for directions and hours. For a quick question, call 8872524007.