Fasting Glucose Test

Lowering fasting glucose often involves lifestyle changes such as:
 

• Eating a balanced diet with low-glycemic foods and more fiber
• Reducing intake of refined carbs and sugary drinks
• Exercising regularly, especially after meals
• Managing stress and getting adequate sleep
• Staying hydrated
• Maintaining a healthy weight

In some cases, medications such as metformin or insulin therapy may be recommended. Always consult your healthcare provider to interpret your glucose blood test results and determine the best approach.

According to American Diabetes Association, a repeated high fasting glucose result (≥126 mg/dL) may indicate diabetes, while levels between 100–125 mg/dL suggest prediabetes.2 Elevated glucose means your body may not be using insulin effectively, leading to excess sugar in the bloodstream.

This can increase your risk for:
 

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney and nerve damage
• Vision problems

A fasting glucose test helps detect these risks early, even before symptoms appear. If you’re experiencing new, persistent symptoms or have elevated glucose levels, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider. They may recommend additional testing or lifestyle changes to manage your blood sugar levels. 

Normal: less than 100 mg/dL

Prediabetes: 100–125 mg/dL

Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or higher (repeated on a second day)

These ranges are based on guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.

Always talk to a healthcare provider about what your results mean and what steps to take next.

Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.

Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order.  If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.  

If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.

To align with clinical best practices, we’ve set an age maximum of 100 for consumer-initiated testing. This limit was set to encourage individuals in more advanced age groups - who may have complex medical needs - to receive personalized guidance about testing from their healthcare providers.