Lab test · Diabetes
Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)
Fasting blood sugar, diabetes check
- Blood sample
- Fasting: 8 hours
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Fasting blood sugar, diabetes check
This test measures the glucose (sugar) in your blood after you have not eaten for several hours, usually overnight. Without food, blood sugar should settle at a steady level kept in check by insulin. A raised fasting level can be a sign of prediabetes or diabetes, and the test also helps your doctor check how well known diabetes is controlled.
Why a doctor may order it
- To screen for diabetes or prediabetes
- If you have symptoms such as strong thirst, passing urine often, tiredness or unexplained weight loss
- To monitor blood sugar control in people with diabetes
- If you have risk factors such as a family history of diabetes, excess weight or high blood pressure
- During pregnancy or as part of a routine health check-up
How to prepare
Fasting: 8 hours without food before the sample; plain water is fine.
Fasting is needed; the fasting time is shown on this page. Do not eat or drink anything except plain water during that time, and avoid tea, coffee, chewing gum and smoking. If you take diabetes medicines or insulin, ask your doctor how to take them on the morning of the test so that your sugar does not drop too low.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- Choose an early-morning visit so the sample can be taken straight after your overnight fast. The collector draws blood from a vein in your arm at home in a few minutes, and you can have breakfast right afterwards.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
The report shows your fasting glucose next to the laboratory's reference range. A higher value can point to prediabetes or diabetes, but illness, stress and some medicines, such as steroids, can also raise blood sugar. Diabetes is usually confirmed with a repeat test or an HbA1c. Your doctor will interpret the result together with your symptoms and other tests.
What's included
One test: Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)3-month blood sugar average৳550
- Random Blood Sugar (RBS)Blood sugar at any time৳150
- Blood Sugar 2 Hours After Breakfast (2HABF)Blood sugar after a meal৳100
- Lipid ProfileA lipid profile measures the fats in your blood: total cholesterol, LDL ('bad') cholesterol, HDL ('good') cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance)Insulin resistance check৳790
Questions people ask
Can I drink water before a fasting blood sugar test?
Yes. Plain water is allowed and helps with the blood draw. Avoid tea, coffee, milk, juice and sweetened drinks until the sample is taken.
What is the difference between FBS and HbA1c?
Fasting blood sugar shows your glucose level at one moment after an overnight fast. HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Doctors often use both.
Should I take my diabetes medicine before the test?
Ask your doctor. Some diabetes medicines and insulin can cause low blood sugar if taken without food, so your doctor may give you specific instructions for the test morning. Do not stop or change a medicine without talking to your doctor.
What if I ate something by mistake before the test?
Tell the collector. Eating during the fasting time raises blood sugar and can give a misleading result, so the test may need to be rebooked for another morning.
How much does a FBS test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳110, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the FBS test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the FBS report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.