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Glucose serum is more commonly referred to as blood sugar, and it refers to the concentration of sugar, or glucose, in the bloodstream. The carbohydrates you eat are converted to glucose, which is the human body’s primary source of energy. If glucose levels are too high or too low overall, health problems result, the most prevalent of which is diabetes.
The Role of Insulin
The amount of glucose in the bloodstream is regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas. The role of insulin is to transport glucose out of the bloodstream and into the body’s cells, where it is either converted to energy or stored for later use. Eating and drinking stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin. Glucose levels in the bloodstream vary throughout the day, rising when sugar is ingested and dropping as insulin removes the sugar from the bloodstream.
- The amount of glucose in the bloodstream is regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas.
Normal Blood Sugar Levels
Adrenal Glands and Diabetes
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Normal fasting glucose serum or blood sugar levels range from 70 to 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. Blood sugar may rise as high as 180 mg/dL following a meal, but it should be neutralized within two hours thereafter. A person is considered to be diabetic if the glucose serum concentration is 126 mg/dL or higher after fasting (not having had anything to eat or drink for the previous six to eight hours).
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes. In type I, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. In type II, the pancreas produces insulin, but the cells develop a resistance or immunity to it, such that they no longer respond to insulin as they should.
- There are two types of diabetes.
- In type II, the pancreas produces insulin, but the cells develop a resistance or immunity to it, such that they no longer respond to insulin as they should.
Other Causes of High Blood Sugar
Healthy Fasting Blood Glucose Range
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High blood sugar levels are referred to as hyperglycemia. Blood sugar can temporarily rise when the body is subject to severe stress as well, including trauma, heart attack, stroke or surgery. Some prescription drugs also cause a rise in blood sugar.
Causes of Low Blood Sugar
Lower-than-normal blood sugar levels are referred to as hypoglycemia. Symptoms of low blood sugar include dizziness, confusion and profuse sweating, and glucose must be administered immediately to remedy the situation. Conditions that can cause hypoglycemia include hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism and, in people with diabetes, combining too much insulin with too little food. Some prescription drugs can also lower blood sugar.
- Lower-than-normal blood sugar levels are referred to as hypoglycemia.
- Conditions that can cause hypoglycemia include hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism and, in people with diabetes, combining too much insulin with too little food.
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References
- Merck Manual of Medical Information; Merck & Co., Inc.; 1997
- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes diet, eating, & physical activity. Published December 2016.
- American Diabetes Association. The big picture: Checking your blood glucose.
- American Diabetes Association. 6. Glycemic Targets: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2020. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(Suppl 1):S66-S76. doi:10.2337/dc20-S006
- American Diabetes Association. 14. Management of diabetes in pregnancy: Standards of medical care in diabetes-2020. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(Suppl 1):S183-S192. doi:10.2337/dc20-S014
- Porcellati F, Lucidi P, Bolli GB, Fanelli CG. Thirty years of research on the dawn phenomenon: Lessons to optimize blood glucose control in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(12):3860-2. doi:10.2337/dc13-2088
- American Diabetes Association. 5. Lifestyle management: Standards of medical care in diabetes-2019. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(Suppl 1):S46-60. doi:10.2337/dc19-S005
- Colberg SR, Sigal RJ, Yardley JE, et al. Physical activity/exercise and diabetes: A position statement of the American diabetes association. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(11):2065-2079. doi:10.2337/dc16-1728
- American Diabetes Association (ADA). Understanding A1C.
- Garber AJ, Abrahamson MJ, Barzilay JI, et al. Consensus statement by the American association of clinical endocrinologists and American college of endocrinology on the comprehensive type 2 diabetes management algorithm - 2019 executive summary. Endocr Pract. 2019;25(1):69-100. doi:10.4158/CS-2018-0535
Writer Bio
Writer and editor Christine Pingleton has authored hundreds of articles for national magazines and websites on a variety of topics including travel, home improvement, business and careers, gardening, and pets. She enjoys editing both fiction and nonfiction books and holds a degree in journalism from Ball State University.