AWARENESS OF THE SELECTED 1ST YEAR MEDICAL LABORATORY

SCIENCE STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING PLASMA

GLUCOSE
MALALUAN, Roy Angelo V.
PENO, Jibbran B.
SOLACITO, Romie Bren G.
SOLIVIO, Beverly A.
Medical Laboratory Science Program
University of the Immaculate Conception
Davao City
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS
INTRODUCTION
Fasting Plasma Glucose also known as Fasting Blood Sugar, is a laboratory test,
usually done in hospitals, that measures or determines the levels of sugar in the blood
through measuring how well your body breaks down glucose. It is done after a period of
fasting, usually performed after fourteen hours. It is a glucose test most commonly used
for the patients diagnosed with a disease that relates to the level of blood sugar glucose
such as diabetes and pre-diabetes (Medical-Dictionary, 2016).
According to Pagana, K.D. & Pagana, T.J. (2014), Blood sugar, or glucose, is the
main sugar found in our blood. It has a major duty in terms of supplying energy for most
cells of the body via the blood, including brain cells. Fruits, cereals, bread, pasta, and rice
are some examples of our bodys source of Carbohydrates, where they are transform
quickly as glucose in our body, which result to a higher blood glucose level.
In 2002, American Diabetes Association introduced the newly-coined medical term,
Pre-diabetes. The term refers to blood sugar levels that are abnormally higher but still

lower than those required for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The people who are in the
stage of pre-diabetes have no clearly manifesting symptoms such as an increased need to
urinate, blurred vision, fainting spells, seizures, and et cetera. Their condition is
diagnosed when they undergo fasting blood sugar or fasting plasma glucose and oral
glucose tolerance test (Philippine Council for Health Research and Development).
Whitehead (2010) said that Fasting Plasma Glucose is a text that monitors the
amount of blood glucose in the body. And maintaining bloody sugar levels, even n the
absence of diabetes, could help maintain aspects of cognitive health. The test not just
monitor the blood glucose that leads to diabetes but also to cancer, and heart disease.
According to Wanda & Walton (2016) The test is more important to the people who are
pregnant, because of the gestational diabetes that can develop during the duration of
pregnancy.
In testing for the disease, it may be done at a physicians office, local laboratory, or
even at home through the use of a glucometer. In the test, a small sample of blood will be
taken and/or even a urine sample. After the health care provider or glucometer processes
your results, you will now be able to tell how quickly your body can process glucose. The
glucose levels will then indicate if it is normal, abnormal, or even below normal (Pagana
K.D. & Pagana T.J., 2014).
Managing diabetes is one part investigation and two parts action. Diabetes mellitus
does not primarily rely on professional healthcare or medical treatment. Treatment of the
disease requires active participation of the person who has or is suspected to contract it in
the near future. This active participation entitles the person to watch their diet and also is
entitled to monitor their blood sugar levels. These two are critical in the care for diabetes
or diseases of the like (Abma, 2009).
According to Linda Dale (2012) self-monitoring is an integral part of diabetes
management because it puts you in charge. According to her, regular blood sugar
monitoring provides immediate feedback on how you are coping up or managing the
disease- either through diet and exercise alone or combined with medicine such as
insulin. Over time, the records of your blood sugar can be spread out and checked for
highs and lows that suggest or adjust to a better treatment method.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that by the year of 2050,

forty years from now diabetics will consist one third or nearly 140 million of American
citizens. It is also predicted that the true number of diabetics will be much higher,
because of the failure of testing to find the disease until it is in severe or terminal stage,
and also because doctors who do not perform more sensitive diagnostic tests necessary
for early diagnosis. According to a researcher, Bill Faloon, already three fourth of people
over the age of forty suffer some degree of pre-diabetes.
According to a survey conducted in 2008, one out of every five Filipinos have
diabetes mellitus. Around twenty percent of the Philippine population has diabetes
mellitus. Children as young as five years old have already been diagnosed with Type 2
diabetes mellitus. Philippines is anticipated to be part of the top 10 countries with the
most people diagnosed with diabetes in the next few years. By the year 2030 it is
estimated that seven million Filipino citizen will have diabetes mellitus. Some experts
conclude that the increase of this disease incidence in the Philippines are caused by rising
blood glucose levels, which go unmonitored, caused by the lifestyle and culture of the
Filipinos (Philippine Diabetes Statistics, 2015).
In Mindanao, more specifically, in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM), it is concluded that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased from 2008
until 2013. Diabetes rate in ARMM is the lowest in the country with 3.8% alongside with
Region X: Northern Mindanao and Region I: Ilocos Region with 3.3% and 4.0%,
respectively. The numbers were based on the survey conducted by the Department of
Science and Technology. (Diabetes, hypertension patients get aid from ARMM, 2016)
With this, the researchers were motivated to conduct a study to know if the 1st Year
students of Medical Laboratory Science in the University of the Immaculate Conception
are aware of the disease by undergoing the test of fasting plasma glucose. The main
purpose is to assess the awareness on the importance of fasting plasma glucose
specifically on its foreseeable advantages, disadvantages, and the purpose of its testing.

Statement of the Problem

This study is conducted to analyzed the awareness of selected 1st Year Medical
Laboratory Science students on the importance of Fasting Blood Sugar..
Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:
1.

What are the importance of performing Fasting Plasma Glucose according to the 1 st
Year Medical Laboratory Science Students?

2.

What are the risks of performing Fasting Plasma Glucose according to the 1 st Year
Medical Laboratory Science Students?

3.

When should a Fasting Plasma Glucose test be undergone according to the 1 st Year
Medical Laboratory Science Students?

4.

What is/are the common procedures in Fasting Plasma Glucose according to the 1 st
Year Medical Laboratory Science Students?

Significance of the Study

The result of the study would be beneficial to the following:
Primarily, the students, for they will become aware of the importance of fasting
blood sugar, especially its advantages and disadvantages and its purpose.
Subsequently, the teachers may use the results in giving support and theories
about fasting blood sugar test. This will also give teachers ideas to present their lesson
and laboratory experiment in other way.
Lastly, the professionals may use the results to help them know the importance of
fasting blood sugar, what is the other purpose and to broaden their knowledge with the
specific diagnostic techniques importance.
Scope and Limitation
This study focused on the awareness of selected 1st year Medical Laboratory Science
students on the importance of fasting blood sugar. The respondents are the selected 1st
Year Medical Laboratory Science students of University of the Immaculate Conception
who are currently enrolled in the University of the Immaculate Conception Academic
Year 2015-2016.

Definition of Term
The following terms were defined:
Awareness refers to the knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
Fasting Plasma Glucose refers to a laboratory test that determines the level of glucose in
the blood after an overnight fast.
1st Year Medical Laboratory Science Students refers to the respondents who are
currently enrolled for the summer class academic year 2015-2016.