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RBS Test - Range and Interpretation
TLDR
- RBS test is a blood test to measure the blood sugar level at any time of the day.
- If your RBS test reading is > 200 mg/dL, you may have diabetes.
- RBS test reading between 140 to 199 mg/dL is a sign of prediabetes.
- RBS test reading < 140 mg/dL is a sign that your blood sugar levels are normal.
- You can lower your RBS readings by improving your diet and exercise.
What is rbs test?
A random blood sugar (rbs) test is a blood test conducted to measure the blood sugar level at any random time of the day.
RBS test is also called random blood glucose (RBG), random plasma glucose (RPG), or casual plasma glucose (CPG) test.
You can take this test at any time after eating and don't need to fast.
If you are taking the blood test before eating anything in the morning it is called the fasting blood sugar (FBS) test. The normal range for the FBS test is lower than the RBS test.
Who should take the RBS test?
You should get the RBS test done if you are an Indian individual more than 30 years of age.
Type 2 diabetes occurs at a much earlier age (at least a decade earlier) in Indians compared to other major ethnic groups.
RBS test should be carried out at an earlier age if you have one or more of the following risk factors
- Family history of diabetes
- Overweight/obese (BMI ≥23 kg/m2) or have increased waist circumference (>90 cm males, > 80 cm females)
- History of hypertension (≥130/80 mm Hg) or on treatment for hypertension
- History of dyslipidemia
- Sedentary lifestyle
- History of gestational diabetes or birth weight of more than 3.5 kg
- History of cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke)
- History of PCOS and/or acanthosis nigricans
RBS Test Range
What to do if the RBS test value is more than 200 mg/dL?
If your random blood sugar test value is more than 200 mg/dL, it could be due to diabetes.
However, you need to consult your doctor and the following tests will be recommended for confirming if you have diabetes.
The other diagnostic tests include
- Fasting plasma glucose
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Glycosylated (glycated) hemoglobin (HbA1c)
You can confirm that you are suffering from Type 2 diabetes if the remaining test results are as listed below
- Fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL
- 2-hour post-Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) ≥ 200 mg/dL
- Glycosylated (glycated) hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5%
Along with test results, your doctor might also ask you for the following symptoms
- Extreme thirst and frequent urination
- Weight loss despite regularly eating excessive amounts of food
- Tiredness, weakness
- Itchy dry skin in various parts of the body
- Recurring infection in any part of the urinary system
- Delayed healing of wounds
Let your doctor know if you have experienced such symptoms anytime in the last three months.
Being diagnosed with diabetes is not the end of the world.
Diabetes can be easily controlled by improving your diet and exercise.
If you are interested to learn more, check out our Indian diabetic diet plan.
You can download the Hint app and subscribe to this diabetic diet plan within minutes.
What to do if the RBS test value is between 140 to 199 mg/dL?
If your random blood sugar test value is between 140 to 199 mg/dL, it could be due to prediabetes.
In other words, your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.
Nevertheless, you are at a high risk of diabetes and have to change your lifestyle.
Prediabetes consists of two aspects impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).
You need to undergo the following tests to confirm if you are a prediabetic
- Fasting plasma glucose
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Glycosylated (glycated) hemoglobin (HbA1c)
You can confirm prediabetes if the results of the above tests are as listed below
- Fasting blood sugar is between 100 to 125 mg/dL
- 2-hour post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is between 140 to 199 mg/dL
- Glycosylated (glycated) hemoglobin (HbA1c) is between 5.7 to 6.4%
Consult your doctor once you get these results.
Generally, the doctor does not recommend any medication for prediabetes and will ask you to change your diet and exercise.
For help in changing your diet and regular exercise, you can subscribe to the balanced Indian diet plan.
You can download the Hint app and subscribe to the plan in minutes.
Follow the balanced diet plan for at least three months as per the recommendations, and you will be able to reverse your prediabetes and prevent the onset of diabetes.
Get the RBS test done every three months to check if you are making progress.
What to do if the RBS test value is less than 140 mg/dL?
This means your blood sugar levels are under control.
However, get the fasting blood sugar or glycated hemoglobin % (%HbA1c) test results to confirm that you do not have prediabetes or diabetes.
If all these test results are normal, go for retesting after 3 years. RBS test in pregnancy Good control of blood sugar levels is essential during pregnancy.
Rather than going for an RBS test, pregnant women are advised to undergo the fasting blood sugar (FBS) test or oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
You are glucose levels are under control during pregnancy if
- Fasting blood sugar is < 90 mg/dL
- 1 hour postprandial blood sugar is < 140 mg/dL
- 2 hour postprandial blood suagr is < 120
Why do we measure blood sugar?
Blood sugar or blood glucose is the amount of sugar present in the blood. It comes from the food you eat. One should always maintain their blood glucose levels. High levels of blood sugar are known as hyperglycemia and low levels are referred to as hypoglycemia.
Why does one need rbs test?
You may have heard of high blood sugar as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
What you might not know is that uncontrolled blood sugar can also lead to other serious health problems, including high cholesterol, infections, and blindness.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you must test your blood regularly to make sure your levels of sugar stay under control.
The test involves taking a sample of your blood and testing it to see how much sugar is present in it.
This gives healthcare professionals an idea of whether or not your body has enough insulin to keep levels under control.
Not only high sugars can be monitored but also hypoglycemia (low sugars in the blood) can be monitored.
Preparation For Random Blood Sugar (RBS) Test
No special preparation is required before having a random blood sugar test.
Sample Collection for RBS test
Usually, a blood sample is collected from a vein, usually from the arm. This measurement can be performed by a diabetes self-check meter or other available testing equipment.
RBS test at home
People may also test their glucose throughout the day using a fingerstick blood sample and a special device that provides results at home. It is known as a glucometer.
Hope you liked this article on RBS test results and interpretation.
If your results are abnormal, get help in managing your blood sugar levels.
Download the HINT app, subscribe to our Indian diabetic diet plan and control your blood sugar.
Don’t let diabetes get you down.
REFERENCES
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