Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) represents the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream measured after an individual has not consumed food or beverages for at least eight hours. It is a critical diagnostic biomarker used to identify and manage conditions like diabetes mellitus and prediabetes, reflecting the equilibrium between endogenous glucose production by the liver and its utilization by peripheral tissues [6, 11]. Although FPG is not a protein-based therapeutic target itself, its normalization is the primary clinical endpoint for a wide range of glucose-lowering medications [1, 13]. Drugs such as metformin, insulin, and GLP-1 receptor agonists target specific metabolic pathways to reduce elevated FPG levels and minimize the risk of chronic complications like retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease [3, 8]. Consequently, the precise monitoring and management of fasting plasma glucose are essential components of metabolic therapy and long-term patient care [5, 14, 15].

Other names

Fasting blood sugarFasting glucoseFBSBasal plasma glucose

Fasting plasma glucose is a physiological measurement and clinical biomarker, not a direct molecular drug target. Therapeutic agents modulate these levels through various indirect mechanisms: Metformin reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis via AMPK activation [2]; SGLT2 inhibitors like empagliflozin block renal glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule [3]; and GLP-1 receptor agonists enhance glucose-dependent insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells [8].