Blood sugar checks are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of every form of diabetes. “Glucose monitoring is critical for preventing short-term and long-term complications of diabetes,” says ...

Dr. Omar Al-Heeti is an assistant professor of medicine at Southern Illinois University and practices internal medicine with a specialty in infectious diseases. He received his medical degree from the ...

Doctors can test for gallbladder issues using a combination of physical exams, blood tests, and imaging studies. Several issues can affect the gallbladder, including gallstones, inflammation, or ...

This article was reviewed by Darragh O’Carroll, MD. Blood tests are one of the most widely used and helpful tools in modern medicine. Whether ordered in a clinic or done through an at-home kit, they ...

Blood draws for several kinds of diagnostic tests require you to fast for several hours. Eating or drinking anything besides water can skew the results, leading to you needing to be retested. You may ...

A person should only fast before a blood test if their doctor or healthcare professional specifically instructs them to do so. Not all blood tests require fasting. If a doctor or healthcare ...

Not all blood tests require you to fast, but you should always follow your doctor’s instructions if you do need to fast for a specific exam. Blood tests are common procedures that healthcare providers ...

What Is a RDW Blood Test? An RDW blood test – also known as a red blood cell distribution width blood test – is a measure of the difference in your red blood cells’ size and volume. RDW is one part of ...

The anion gap blood test measures the acid-base and electrolyte balance in the blood. Results can show whether there is an imbalance in a person’s pH levels, which may be making the blood too acidic ...