A random glucose test is one method for measuring the amount of glucose or sugar circulating in a person’s blood at any time of day. For a glucose tolerance test, normal ranges are typically 140 milligrams per deciliter or lower.
Doctors perform this test and use the result to determine whether a person is likely to have diabetes. While other tests may be necessary to confirm a full diagnosis, a random glucose test may help a doctor decide if additional testing is needed.
Many blood tests for diabetes involve either fasting or continuous monitoring, but this test does not.
It is useful for people who need a speedy diagnosis, such as those with type 1 diabetes who require urgent supplementary insulin.
Glucose is a form of sugar. It is the body’s primary energy source and fuels every cell — including those in the brain, heart, and muscles.
Glucose mainly comes from food and drink people consume. The body also breaks down stored forms of the carbohydrate glycogen into glucose.
The body works continuously to keep the amount of blood glucose at optimum levels. It produces a hormone called insulin to achieve this, which helps glucose get into the cells that need it for energy.
A person with type 1 diabetes does not produce insulin as their body no longer makes insulin.
Someone with type 2 diabetes either does not produce enough insulin, or their body does not respond to it appropriately.
