Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Glucose test

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Random blood sugar; Blood sugar level; Fasting blood sugar


What the risks are

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling light-headed
  • Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Special considerations

Many forms of severe stress (for example, trauma, stroke, heart attack, and surgery) can temporarily increase blood glucose levels.

Drugs that can increase glucose measurements include the following:

  • Atypical antipsychotics, especially olanzapine and risperidone
  • Corticosteroids
  • Diazoxide
  • Dextrose
  • Diuretics
  • Epinephrine
  • Estrogens
  • Glucagon
  • Isoniazid
  • Lithium
  • Phenothiazines
  • Phenytoin
  • Salicylates (see aspirin overdose)
  • Triamterene
  • Tricyclic antidepressants

Drugs that can decrease glucose measurements include the following:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Alcohol
  • Anabolic steroids
  • Clofibrate
  • Disopyramide
  • Gemfibrozil
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
  • Pentamidine
  • Sulfonylurea medications (such as glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride)

Images

Review Date: 05/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)