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Blood sugar level

Glycaemia, also known as blood sugar level, blood sugar concentration, or blood glucose level is the measure of glucose concentrated in the blood of humans and other animals. Approximately 4 grams of dissolved glucose, a simple sugar, is present in the blood plasma of a 70 kg (154 lb) human at all times.[2] The body tightly regulates blood glucose levels as a part of metabolic homeostasis.[2] Glucose is stored in skeletal muscle and liver cells in the form of glycogen;[2] in fasting individuals, blood glucose is maintained at a constant level at the expense of glycogen stores in the liver and skeletal muscle.[2]

The fluctuation of blood sugar (red) and the sugar-lowering hormone insulin (blue) in humans during the course of a day with three meals. One of the effects of a sugar-rich vs a starch-rich meal is highlighted.[1]

In humans, a blood glucose level of 4 grams, or about a teaspoon, is critical for normal function in a number of tissues, and the human brain consumes approximately 60% of blood glucose in fasting, sedentary individuals.[2] A persistent elevation in blood glucose leads to glucose toxicity, which contributes to cell dysfunction and the pathology grouped together as complications of diabetes.[2] Glucose can be transported from the intestines or liver to other tissues in the body via the bloodstream.[2] Cellular glucose uptake is primarily regulated by insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas.[2]

Glucose levels are usually lowest in the morning, before the first meal of the day, and rise after meals for an hour or two by a few millimoles. Blood sugar levels outside the normal range may be an indicator of a medical condition. A persistently high level is referred to as hyperglycemia; low levels are referred to as hypoglycemia. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia from any of several causes, and it is the most prominent disease related to the failure of blood sugar regulation. There are different methods of testing and measuring blood sugar levels.

The intake of alcohol causes an initial surge in blood sugar and later tends to cause levels to fall. Also, certain drugs can increase or decrease glucose levels.[3]

Units

There are two ways of measuring blood glucose levels: In The United Kingdom and commonwealth countries (Australia, Canada, India, etc.) and ex-USSR countries molar concentration, measured in mmol/L (millimoles per litre, or millimolar, abbreviated mM). In the United States, Germany, Japan and many other countries mass concentration is measured in mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre).[4]

Since the molecular weight of glucose C6H12O6 is 180, the difference between the two units is a factor of 18, so 1 mmol/L of glucose is equivalent to 18 mg/dL.[5]

Normal value range

Humans

Normal value ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. Many factors affect a person's blood sugar level. The body's homeostatic mechanism of blood sugar regulation (known as glucose homeostasis), when operating normally, restores the blood sugar level to a narrow range of about 4.4 to 6.1 mmol/L (79 to 110 mg/dL) (as measured by a fasting blood glucose test).[6]

Normal blood glucose level (tested while fasting) for non-diabetics is between 3.9 and 7.1 mmol/L (70 and 130 mg/dL). The global mean fasting plasma blood glucose level in humans is about 5.5 mmol/L (100 mg/dL);[7][5] however, this level fluctuates throughout the day. Blood sugar levels for those without diabetes and who are not fasting should be below 6.9 mmol/L (125 mg/dL).[8] The blood glucose target range for diabetics, according to the American Diabetes Association, should be 5.0–7.2 mmol/L (90–130 mg/dL) before meals and less than 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) two hours after meals (as measured by a blood glucose monitor).[9][10]

Despite widely variable intervals between meals or the occasional consumption of meals with a substantial carbohydrate load, human blood glucose levels tend to remain within the normal range. However, shortly after eating, the blood glucose level may rise, in non-diabetics, temporarily up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) or slightly more. For people with diabetes maintaining "tight diabetes control", the American Diabetes Association recommends a post-meal glucose level of less than 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) and a fasting plasma glucose of 3.9 to 7.2 mmol/L (70–130 mg/dL).[11]

The actual amount of glucose in the blood and body fluids is very small. In a healthy adult male of 75 kg (165 lb) with a blood volume of 5 L, a blood glucose level of 5.5 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) amounts to 5 g, equivalent to about a teaspoonful of sugar.[12] Part of the reason why this amount is so small is that, to maintain an influx of glucose into cells, enzymes modify glucose by adding phosphate or other groups to it.[citation needed]

Other animals

In general, ranges of blood sugar in common domestic ruminants are lower than in many monogastric mammals.[13] However this generalization does not extend to wild ruminants or camelids. For serum glucose in mg/dL, reference ranges of 42 to 75 for cows, 44 to 81 for sheep, and 48 to 76 for goats, but 61 to 124 for cats; 62 to 108 for dogs, 62 to 114 for horses, 66 to 116 for pigs, 75 to 155 for rabbits, and 90 to 140 for llamas have been reported.[14] A 90 percent reference interval for serum glucose of 26 to 181 mg/dL has been reported for captured mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), where no effects of the pursuit and capture on measured levels were evident.[15] For beluga whales, the 25–75 percent range for serum glucose has been estimated to be 94 to 115 mg/dL.[16] For the white rhinoceros, one study has indicated that the 95 percent range is 28 to 140 mg/dL.[17] For harp seals, a serum glucose range of 4.9 to 12.1 mmol/L [i.e. 88 to 218 mg/dL] has been reported; for hooded seals, a range of 7.5 to 15.7 mmol/L [i.e. about 135 to 283 mg/dL] has been reported.[18]

Regulation

The body's homeostatic mechanism keeps blood glucose levels within a narrow range. It is composed of several interacting systems, of which hormone regulation is the most important.[citation needed]

There are two types of mutually antagonistic metabolic hormones affecting blood glucose levels:

These hormones are secreted from pancreatic islets (bundles of endocrine tissues), of which there are four types: alpha (A) cells, beta (B) cells, Delta (D) cells and F cells. Glucagon is secreted from alpha cells, while insulin is secreted by beta cells. Together they regulate the blood-glucose levels through negative feedback, a process where the end product of one reaction stimulates the beginning of another reaction. In blood-glucose levels, insulin lowers the concentration of glucose in the blood. The lower blood-glucose level (a product of the insulin secretion) triggers glucagon to be secreted, and repeats the cycle.[20]

In order for blood glucose to be kept stable, modifications to insulin, glucagon, epinephrine and cortisol are made. Each of these hormones has a different responsibility to keep blood glucose regulated; when blood sugar is too high, insulin tells muscles to take up excess glucose for storage. Glucagon responds to too low of a blood glucose level; it informs the tissue to produce more glucose. Epinephrine prepares the muscles and respiratory system for activity in the case of a "fight and flight" response. Lastly, cortisol supplies the body with fuel in times of heavy stress.[21]

Abnormalities

High blood sugar

If blood sugar levels remain too high the body suppresses appetite over the short term. Long-term hyperglycemia causes many health problems including heart disease, cancer,[22] eye, kidney, and nerve damage.[23]

Blood sugar levels above 16.7 mmol/L (300 mg/dL) can cause fatal reactions. Ketones will be very high (a magnitude higher than when eating a very low carbohydrate diet) initiating ketoacidosis. The Mayo Clinic recommends emergency room treatment above 16.7 mmol/L (300 mg/dL) blood glucose.[citation needed] The most common cause of hyperglycemia is diabetes. When diabetes is the cause, physicians typically recommend an anti-diabetic medication as treatment. From the perspective of the majority of patients, treatment with an old, well-understood diabetes drug such as metformin will be the safest, most effective, least expensive, and most comfortable route to managing the condition. Treatment will vary for the distinct forms of Diabetes and can differ from person to person based on how they are reacting to treatment.[24] Diet changes and exercise implementation may also be part of a treatment plan for diabetes.[citation needed]

Some medications may cause a rise in blood sugars of diabetics, such as steroid medications, including cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, prednisone, and dexamethasone.[25]

Low blood sugar

If blood sugar levels drop too low, a potentially fatal condition called hypoglycemia develops. Symptoms may include lethargy, impaired mental functioning; irritability; shaking, twitching, weakness in arm and leg muscles; pale complexion; sweating; loss of consciousness.[citation needed]

Mechanisms that restore satisfactory blood glucose levels after extreme hypoglycemia (below 2.2 mmol/L or 40 mg/dL) must be quick and effective to prevent extremely serious consequences of insufficient glucose: confusion or unsteadiness and, in the extreme (below 0.8 mmol/L or 15 mg/dL) loss of consciousness and seizures. Without discounting the potentially quite serious conditions and risks due to or oftentimes accompanying hyperglycemia, especially in the long-term (diabetes or pre-diabetes, obesity or overweight, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, etc.), it is still generally more dangerous to have too little glucose – especially if levels are very low – in the blood than too much, at least temporarily, because glucose is so important for metabolism and nutrition and the proper functioning of the body's organs. This is especially the case for those organs that are metabolically active or that require a constant, regulated supply of blood sugar (the liver and brain are examples). Symptomatic hypoglycemia is most likely associated with diabetes (especially overnight or postprandial), without treatment or with wrong treatment, possibly in combination with carbohydrate malabsorption, physical over-exertion or drugs. Many other less likely illnesses, like cancer, could also be a reason. Starvation, possibly due to eating disorders, like anorexia, will also eventually lead to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic episodes can vary greatly between persons and from time to time, both in severity and swiftness of onset. For severe cases, prompt medical assistance is essential, as damage to brain and other tissues and even death will result from sufficiently low blood-glucose levels.

Glucose measurement

Sample source

Glucose testing in a fasting individual shows comparable levels of glucose in arterial, venous, and capillary blood. But following meals, capillary and arterial blood glucose levels can be significantly higher than venous levels. Although these differences vary widely, one study found that following the consumption of 50 grams of glucose, "the mean capillary blood glucose concentration is higher than the mean venous blood glucose concentration by 35%."[26][27]

Sample type

Glucose is measured in whole blood, plasma or serum. Historically, blood glucose values were given in terms of whole blood, but most laboratories now measure and report plasma or serum glucose levels. Because red blood cells (erythrocytes) have a higher concentration of protein (e.g., hemoglobin) than serum, serum has a higher water content and consequently more dissolved glucose than does whole blood. To convert from whole-blood glucose, multiplication by 1.14[28] has been shown to generally give the serum/plasma level.

To prevent contamination of the sample with intravenous fluids, particular care should be given to drawing blood samples from the arm opposite the one in which an intravenous line is inserted. Alternatively, blood can be drawn from the same arm with an IV line after the IV has been turned off for at least 5 minutes, and the arm has been elevated to drain infused fluids away from the vein. Inattention can lead to large errors, since as little as 10% contamination with a 5% glucose solution (D5W) will elevate glucose in a sample by 500 mg/dL or more. The actual concentration of glucose in blood is very low, even in the hyperglycemic.[citation needed]

Measurement techniques

Two major methods have been used to measure glucose. The first, still in use in some places, is a chemical method exploiting the nonspecific reducing property of glucose in a reaction with an indicator substance that changes color when reduced. Since other blood compounds also have reducing properties (e.g., urea, which can be abnormally high in uremic patients), this technique can produce erroneous readings in some situations (5–15 mg/dL has been reported). The more recent technique, using enzymes specific to glucose, is less susceptible to this kind of error. The two most common employed enzymes are glucose oxidase and hexokinase.[29] Average blood glucose concentrations can also be measured. This method measures the level of glycated hemoglobin, which is representative of the average blood glucose levels over the last, approximately, 120 days.[29]

In either case, the chemical system is commonly contained on a test strip which is inserted into a meter, and then has a blood sample applied. Test-strip shapes and their exact chemical composition vary between meter systems and cannot be interchanged. Formerly, some test strips were read (after timing and wiping away the blood sample) by visual comparison against a color chart printed on the vial label. Strips of this type are still used for urine glucose readings, but for blood glucose levels they are obsolete. Their error rates were, in any case, much higher. Errors when using test strips were often caused by the age of the strip or exposure to high temperatures or humidity.[30] More precise blood glucose measurements are performed in a medical laboratory, using hexokinase, glucose oxidase, or glucose dehydrogenase enzymes.

Urine glucose readings, however taken, are much less useful. In properly functioning kidneys, glucose does not appear in urine until the renal threshold for glucose has been exceeded. This is substantially above any normal glucose level, and is evidence of an existing severe hyperglycemic condition. However, as urine is stored in the bladder, any glucose in it might have been produced at any time since the last time the bladder was emptied. Since metabolic conditions change rapidly, as a result of any of several factors, this is delayed news and gives no warning of a developing condition. Blood glucose monitoring is far preferable, both clinically and for home monitoring by patients. Healthy urine glucose levels were first standardized and published in 1965[31] by Hans Renschler.

A noninvasive method of sampling to monitor glucose levels has emerged using an exhaled breath condensate. However this method does need highly sensitive glucose biosensors.[32]

I. Chemical methods
A. Oxidation-reduction reaction
 
1. Alkaline copper reduction
Folin-Wu method   Blue end-product
Benedict's method
  • Modification of Folin–Wu method for qualitative urine glucose.
Nelson–Somogyi method   Blue end-product.
Neocuproine method  * Yellow-orange color neocuproine[33]
Shaeffer–Hartmann–Somogyi
  • Uses the principle of iodine reaction with cuprous byproduct.
  • Excess I2 is then titrated with thiosulfate.
2. Alkaline Ferricyanide reduction
Hagedorn–Jensen   Colorless end product; other reducing substances interfere with reaction.
B. Condensation
Ortho-toluidine method
Anthrone (phenols) method
  • Forms hydroxymethyl furfural in hot acetic acid
II. Enzymatic methods
A. Glucose oxidase
 
Saifer–Gerstenfeld method   Inhibited by reducing substances like BUA, bilirubin, glutathione, ascorbic acid.
Trinder method
Kodak Ektachem
  • A dry chemistry method.
  • Uses spectrophotometry to measure the intensity of color through a lower transparent film.
Glucometer
  • Home monitoring blood glucose assay method.
  • Uses a strip impregnated with a glucose oxidase reagent.
B. Hexokinase

 

  • NADP as cofactor.
  • NADPH (reduced product) is measured in 340 nm.
  • More specific than glucose oxidase method due to G-6PO4, which inhibits interfering substances except when sample is hemolyzed.

Clinical correlation

The fasting blood glucose level, which is measured after a fast of 8 hours, is the most commonly used indication of overall glucose homeostasis, largely because disturbing events such as food intake are avoided. Conditions affecting glucose levels are shown in the table below. Abnormalities in these test results are due to problems in the multiple control mechanism of glucose regulation.[citation needed]

The metabolic response to a carbohydrate challenge is conveniently assessed by a postprandial glucose level drawn 2 hours after a meal or a glucose load. In addition, the glucose tolerance test, consisting of several timed measurements after a standardized amount of oral glucose intake, is used to aid in the diagnosis of diabetes.

Error rates for blood glucose measurements systems vary, depending on laboratories, and on the methods used. Colorimetry techniques can be biased by color changes in test strips (from airborne or finger-borne contamination, perhaps) or interference (e.g., tinting contaminants) with light source or the light sensor. Electrical techniques are less susceptible to these errors, though not to others. In home use, the most important issue is not accuracy, but trend. Thus if a meter / test strip system is consistently wrong by 10%, there will be little consequence, as long as changes (e.g., due to exercise or medication adjustments) are properly tracked. In the US, home use blood test meters must be approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration before they can be sold.

Finally, there are several influences on blood glucose level aside from food intake. Infection, for instance, tends to change blood glucose levels, as does stress either physical or psychological. Exercise, especially if prolonged or long after the most recent meal, will have an effect as well. In the typical person, maintenance of blood glucose at near constant levels will nevertheless be quite effective.[clarification needed]

Causes of abnormal glucose levels
Persistent hyperglycemia Transient hyperglycemia Persistent hypoglycemia Transient hypoglycemia
Reference range, fasting blood glucose (FBG): 70–110 mg/dL
Diabetes mellitus Pheochromocytoma Insulinoma Acute alcohol ingestion
Adrenal cortical hyperactivity Cushing's syndrome Severe liver disease Adrenal cortical insufficiency Addison's disease Drugs: salicylates, antituberculosis agents
Hyperthyroidism Acute stress reaction Hypopituitarism Severe liver disease
Acromegaly Shock Galactosemia Several glycogen storage diseases
Obesity Convulsions Ectopic insulin production from tumors Hereditary fructose intolerance

See also

References

  1. ^ Daly ME, Vale C, Walker M, Littlefield A, Alberti KG, Mathers JC (June 1998). "Acute effects on insulin sensitivity and diurnal metabolic profiles of a high-sucrose compared with a high-starch diet" (PDF). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 67 (6): 1186–96. doi:10.1093/ajcn/67.6.1186. PMID 9625092.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Wasserman DH (January 2009). "Four grams of glucose". American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 296 (1): E11–21. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.90563.2008. PMC 2636990. PMID 18840763.
  3. ^ Walker, Rosemary and Rodgers, Jill (2006) Type 2 Diabetes – Your Questions Answered. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 1-74033-550-3.
  4. ^ . 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  5. ^ a b What are mg/dL and mmol/L? How to convert? Glucose? Cholesterol? Advameg, Inc.
  6. ^ "Screening for Type 2 Diabetes". Clinical Diabetes. 18 (2). 2000.
  7. ^ Danaei, G (2 July 2011). "National, regional, and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 370 country-years and 2·7 million participants". The Lancet. 378 (9785): 31–40. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60679-X. PMID 21705069. S2CID 13951614.
  8. ^ Glucose test – blood. NIH – National Institutes of Health.
  9. ^ Davidson NK, Moreland P (26 July 2011). . Mayo Clinic. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013.
  10. ^ Schuster D (14 August 2008). "What Does 'Post-Meal (Or Post-Prandial) Blood Sugar' Mean And What Does It Tell You?". Ohio State University.
  11. ^ American Diabetes Association (January 2006). "Standards of medical care in diabetes--2006". Diabetes Care. 29 Suppl 1 (Supplement 1): S4–42. doi:10.2337/diacare.29.s1.06.s4. PMID 16373931. S2CID 29740430. Standards of Medical Care – Table 6 and Table 7, Correlation between A1C level and Mean Plasma Glucose Levels on Multiple Testing over 2–3 months
  12. ^ USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 22 (2009)
  13. ^ Eiler H (2004). "Endocrine glands". In Reese WO (ed.). Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals (12th ed.). Ithaca, NY: Comstock. pp. 621–69. ISBN 978-0801442384.
  14. ^ Kahn CM, ed. (2005). Merck Veterinary Manual (9th ed.). Whitehouse Station: Merck & Co. ISBN 978-0911910506.
  15. ^ Rice, C. G.; Hall, B. (2007). "Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus): effects of capture conditions". Northwest Science. 81 (3): 206. doi:10.3955/0029-344X-81.3.206. S2CID 56564674.
  16. ^ Cornell LH, Duffield DS, Joseph BE, Stark B (April 1988). "Hematology and serum chemistry values in the beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 24 (2): 220–4. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-24.2.220. PMID 3373628.
  17. ^ Seal, U. S.; Barton, R.; Mather, L.; Gray, C. W. (1976). "Baseline Laboratory Data for the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)" (PDF). The Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine. 7 (1): 11–17. JSTOR 20094341.
  18. ^ Boily F, Beaudoin S, Measures LN (January 2006). "Hematology and serum chemistry of harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) during the breeding season, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 42 (1): 115–32. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-42.1.115. PMID 16699154. S2CID 21875860.
  19. ^ Lehninger A, Nelson D, Cox M (2017). Lehininger Principles of Biochemistry. New York: W.H. Freedom. p. 934. ISBN 9781319117689.
  20. ^ Tortora G (December 2016). Principles Anatomy and Physiology (15 ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. Chapter 18. ISBN 9781119343738.
  21. ^ Lehninger A, Nelson D, Cox M (2017). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (7th ed.). New York: W.H.Freeman. p. 930. ISBN 9781319117689.
  22. ^ "Excess sugar linked to cancer". Science Daily.
  23. ^ "Diabetic ketoacidosis - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  24. ^ Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs. "The Oral Diabetes Drugs: Treating Type 2 Diabetes" (PDF). Best Buy Drugs: 2. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  25. ^ "Steroid medications and diabetes fact sheet – NDSS". www.ndss.com.au.
  26. ^ Somogyi M (May 1948). "Studies of arteriovenous differences in blood sugar; effect of alimentary hyperglycemia on the rate of extrahepatic glucose assimilation" (PDF). The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 174 (1): 189–200. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)57386-5. PMID 18914074.
  27. ^ Roe J. . Best Thinking. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014.
  28. ^ Cox DL, Nelson MM (2013). Lehninger principles of biochemistry (6th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman. p. 950. ISBN 9781429234146.
  29. ^ a b Cox MM, Lehninger AL, Nelson DL (2017). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. New York: W.H. Freeman. pp. 248–49. ISBN 9781319117689.
  30. ^ Ginsberg BH (July 2009). "Factors affecting blood glucose monitoring: sources of errors in measurement". Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. 3 (4): 903–13. doi:10.1177/193229680900300438. PMC 2769960. PMID 20144340.
  31. ^ Renschler HE, Weicker H, von Baeyer H (December 1965). "[The upper limit of glucose concentration in the urine of healthy subjects]". Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. 90 (53): 2349–53. PMID 5851934.
  32. ^ Tankasala, D; Linnes, JC (November 2019). "Noninvasive glucose detection in exhaled breath condensate". Translational Research. 213: 1–22. doi:10.1016/j.trsl.2019.05.006. PMC 6783357. PMID 31194942.
  33. ^ Neocuproine MSDS. hazard.com

Further reading

  • Henry JB (2001). Clinical diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods (20th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 978-0721688640.
  • Levine R (1986). "Monosaccharides in health and disease". Annual Review of Nutrition. 6: 211–24. doi:10.1146/annurev.nu.06.070186.001235. PMID 3524617.
  • Röder PV, Wu B, Liu Y, Han W (March 2016). "Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis". Experimental & Molecular Medicine. 48 (3, March): e219. doi:10.1038/emm.2016.6. PMC 4892884. PMID 26964835.

External links

  •   Media related to Blood sugar level at Wikimedia Commons
  • – The Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine

blood, sugar, level, glycaemia, also, known, blood, sugar, level, blood, sugar, concentration, blood, glucose, level, measure, glucose, concentrated, blood, humans, other, animals, approximately, grams, dissolved, glucose, simple, sugar, present, blood, plasma. Glycaemia also known as blood sugar level blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the measure of glucose concentrated in the blood of humans and other animals Approximately 4 grams of dissolved glucose a simple sugar is present in the blood plasma of a 70 kg 154 lb human at all times 2 The body tightly regulates blood glucose levels as a part of metabolic homeostasis 2 Glucose is stored in skeletal muscle and liver cells in the form of glycogen 2 in fasting individuals blood glucose is maintained at a constant level at the expense of glycogen stores in the liver and skeletal muscle 2 The fluctuation of blood sugar red and the sugar lowering hormone insulin blue in humans during the course of a day with three meals One of the effects of a sugar rich vs a starch rich meal is highlighted 1 In humans a blood glucose level of 4 grams or about a teaspoon is critical for normal function in a number of tissues and the human brain consumes approximately 60 of blood glucose in fasting sedentary individuals 2 A persistent elevation in blood glucose leads to glucose toxicity which contributes to cell dysfunction and the pathology grouped together as complications of diabetes 2 Glucose can be transported from the intestines or liver to other tissues in the body via the bloodstream 2 Cellular glucose uptake is primarily regulated by insulin a hormone produced in the pancreas 2 Glucose levels are usually lowest in the morning before the first meal of the day and rise after meals for an hour or two by a few millimoles Blood sugar levels outside the normal range may be an indicator of a medical condition A persistently high level is referred to as hyperglycemia low levels are referred to as hypoglycemia Diabetes mellitus is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia from any of several causes and it is the most prominent disease related to the failure of blood sugar regulation There are different methods of testing and measuring blood sugar levels The intake of alcohol causes an initial surge in blood sugar and later tends to cause levels to fall Also certain drugs can increase or decrease glucose levels 3 Contents 1 Units 2 Normal value range 2 1 Humans 2 2 Other animals 3 Regulation 4 Abnormalities 4 1 High blood sugar 4 2 Low blood sugar 5 Glucose measurement 5 1 Sample source 5 2 Sample type 5 3 Measurement techniques 5 4 Clinical correlation 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksUnits EditThere are two ways of measuring blood glucose levels In The United Kingdom and commonwealth countries Australia Canada India etc and ex USSR countries molar concentration measured in mmol L millimoles per litre or millimolar abbreviated mM In the United States Germany Japan and many other countries mass concentration is measured in mg dL milligrams per decilitre 4 Since the molecular weight of glucose C6H12O6 is 180 the difference between the two units is a factor of 18 so 1 mmol L of glucose is equivalent to 18 mg dL 5 Normal value range EditHumans Edit Normal value ranges may vary slightly between laboratories Many factors affect a person s blood sugar level The body s homeostatic mechanism of blood sugar regulation known as glucose homeostasis when operating normally restores the blood sugar level to a narrow range of about 4 4 to 6 1 mmol L 79 to 110 mg dL as measured by a fasting blood glucose test 6 Normal blood glucose level tested while fasting for non diabetics is between 3 9 and 7 1 mmol L 70 and 130 mg dL The global mean fasting plasma blood glucose level in humans is about 5 5 mmol L 100 mg dL 7 5 however this level fluctuates throughout the day Blood sugar levels for those without diabetes and who are not fasting should be below 6 9 mmol L 125 mg dL 8 The blood glucose target range for diabetics according to the American Diabetes Association should be 5 0 7 2 mmol L 90 130 mg dL before meals and less than 10 mmol L 180 mg dL two hours after meals as measured by a blood glucose monitor 9 10 Despite widely variable intervals between meals or the occasional consumption of meals with a substantial carbohydrate load human blood glucose levels tend to remain within the normal range However shortly after eating the blood glucose level may rise in non diabetics temporarily up to 7 8 mmol L 140 mg dL or slightly more For people with diabetes maintaining tight diabetes control the American Diabetes Association recommends a post meal glucose level of less than 10 mmol L 180 mg dL and a fasting plasma glucose of 3 9 to 7 2 mmol L 70 130 mg dL 11 The actual amount of glucose in the blood and body fluids is very small In a healthy adult male of 75 kg 165 lb with a blood volume of 5 L a blood glucose level of 5 5 mmol L 100 mg dL amounts to 5 g equivalent to about a teaspoonful of sugar 12 Part of the reason why this amount is so small is that to maintain an influx of glucose into cells enzymes modify glucose by adding phosphate or other groups to it citation needed Other animals Edit In general ranges of blood sugar in common domestic ruminants are lower than in many monogastric mammals 13 However this generalization does not extend to wild ruminants or camelids For serum glucose in mg dL reference ranges of 42 to 75 for cows 44 to 81 for sheep and 48 to 76 for goats but 61 to 124 for cats 62 to 108 for dogs 62 to 114 for horses 66 to 116 for pigs 75 to 155 for rabbits and 90 to 140 for llamas have been reported 14 A 90 percent reference interval for serum glucose of 26 to 181 mg dL has been reported for captured mountain goats Oreamnos americanus where no effects of the pursuit and capture on measured levels were evident 15 For beluga whales the 25 75 percent range for serum glucose has been estimated to be 94 to 115 mg dL 16 For the white rhinoceros one study has indicated that the 95 percent range is 28 to 140 mg dL 17 For harp seals a serum glucose range of 4 9 to 12 1 mmol L i e 88 to 218 mg dL has been reported for hooded seals a range of 7 5 to 15 7 mmol L i e about 135 to 283 mg dL has been reported 18 Regulation EditMain article Blood sugar regulation The body s homeostatic mechanism keeps blood glucose levels within a narrow range It is composed of several interacting systems of which hormone regulation is the most important citation needed There are two types of mutually antagonistic metabolic hormones affecting blood glucose levels catabolic hormones such as glucagon cortisol and catecholamines which increase blood glucose 19 and one anabolic hormone insulin which decreases blood glucose These hormones are secreted from pancreatic islets bundles of endocrine tissues of which there are four types alpha A cells beta B cells Delta D cells and F cells Glucagon is secreted from alpha cells while insulin is secreted by beta cells Together they regulate the blood glucose levels through negative feedback a process where the end product of one reaction stimulates the beginning of another reaction In blood glucose levels insulin lowers the concentration of glucose in the blood The lower blood glucose level a product of the insulin secretion triggers glucagon to be secreted and repeats the cycle 20 In order for blood glucose to be kept stable modifications to insulin glucagon epinephrine and cortisol are made Each of these hormones has a different responsibility to keep blood glucose regulated when blood sugar is too high insulin tells muscles to take up excess glucose for storage Glucagon responds to too low of a blood glucose level it informs the tissue to produce more glucose Epinephrine prepares the muscles and respiratory system for activity in the case of a fight and flight response Lastly cortisol supplies the body with fuel in times of heavy stress 21 Abnormalities EditSee also Dysglycemia High blood sugar Edit Main article Hyperglycemia If blood sugar levels remain too high the body suppresses appetite over the short term Long term hyperglycemia causes many health problems including heart disease cancer 22 eye kidney and nerve damage 23 Blood sugar levels above 16 7 mmol L 300 mg dL can cause fatal reactions Ketones will be very high a magnitude higher than when eating a very low carbohydrate diet initiating ketoacidosis The Mayo Clinic recommends emergency room treatment above 16 7 mmol L 300 mg dL blood glucose citation needed The most common cause of hyperglycemia is diabetes When diabetes is the cause physicians typically recommend an anti diabetic medication as treatment From the perspective of the majority of patients treatment with an old well understood diabetes drug such as metformin will be the safest most effective least expensive and most comfortable route to managing the condition Treatment will vary for the distinct forms of Diabetes and can differ from person to person based on how they are reacting to treatment 24 Diet changes and exercise implementation may also be part of a treatment plan for diabetes citation needed Some medications may cause a rise in blood sugars of diabetics such as steroid medications including cortisone hydrocortisone prednisolone prednisone and dexamethasone 25 Low blood sugar Edit Main article Hypoglycemia If blood sugar levels drop too low a potentially fatal condition called hypoglycemia develops Symptoms may include lethargy impaired mental functioning irritability shaking twitching weakness in arm and leg muscles pale complexion sweating loss of consciousness citation needed Mechanisms that restore satisfactory blood glucose levels after extreme hypoglycemia below 2 2 mmol L or 40 mg dL must be quick and effective to prevent extremely serious consequences of insufficient glucose confusion or unsteadiness and in the extreme below 0 8 mmol L or 15 mg dL loss of consciousness and seizures Without discounting the potentially quite serious conditions and risks due to or oftentimes accompanying hyperglycemia especially in the long term diabetes or pre diabetes obesity or overweight hyperlipidemia hypertension etc it is still generally more dangerous to have too little glucose especially if levels are very low in the blood than too much at least temporarily because glucose is so important for metabolism and nutrition and the proper functioning of the body s organs This is especially the case for those organs that are metabolically active or that require a constant regulated supply of blood sugar the liver and brain are examples Symptomatic hypoglycemia is most likely associated with diabetes especially overnight or postprandial without treatment or with wrong treatment possibly in combination with carbohydrate malabsorption physical over exertion or drugs Many other less likely illnesses like cancer could also be a reason Starvation possibly due to eating disorders like anorexia will also eventually lead to hypoglycemia Hypoglycemic episodes can vary greatly between persons and from time to time both in severity and swiftness of onset For severe cases prompt medical assistance is essential as damage to brain and other tissues and even death will result from sufficiently low blood glucose levels Glucose measurement EditFurther information Blood glucose monitoring and Glucose meter Sample source Edit Glucose testing in a fasting individual shows comparable levels of glucose in arterial venous and capillary blood But following meals capillary and arterial blood glucose levels can be significantly higher than venous levels Although these differences vary widely one study found that following the consumption of 50 grams of glucose the mean capillary blood glucose concentration is higher than the mean venous blood glucose concentration by 35 26 27 Sample type Edit Glucose is measured in whole blood plasma or serum Historically blood glucose values were given in terms of whole blood but most laboratories now measure and report plasma or serum glucose levels Because red blood cells erythrocytes have a higher concentration of protein e g hemoglobin than serum serum has a higher water content and consequently more dissolved glucose than does whole blood To convert from whole blood glucose multiplication by 1 14 28 has been shown to generally give the serum plasma level To prevent contamination of the sample with intravenous fluids particular care should be given to drawing blood samples from the arm opposite the one in which an intravenous line is inserted Alternatively blood can be drawn from the same arm with an IV line after the IV has been turned off for at least 5 minutes and the arm has been elevated to drain infused fluids away from the vein Inattention can lead to large errors since as little as 10 contamination with a 5 glucose solution D5W will elevate glucose in a sample by 500 mg dL or more The actual concentration of glucose in blood is very low even in the hyperglycemic citation needed Measurement techniques Edit This section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Two major methods have been used to measure glucose The first still in use in some places is a chemical method exploiting the nonspecific reducing property of glucose in a reaction with an indicator substance that changes color when reduced Since other blood compounds also have reducing properties e g urea which can be abnormally high in uremic patients this technique can produce erroneous readings in some situations 5 15 mg dL has been reported The more recent technique using enzymes specific to glucose is less susceptible to this kind of error The two most common employed enzymes are glucose oxidase and hexokinase 29 Average blood glucose concentrations can also be measured This method measures the level of glycated hemoglobin which is representative of the average blood glucose levels over the last approximately 120 days 29 In either case the chemical system is commonly contained on a test strip which is inserted into a meter and then has a blood sample applied Test strip shapes and their exact chemical composition vary between meter systems and cannot be interchanged Formerly some test strips were read after timing and wiping away the blood sample by visual comparison against a color chart printed on the vial label Strips of this type are still used for urine glucose readings but for blood glucose levels they are obsolete Their error rates were in any case much higher Errors when using test strips were often caused by the age of the strip or exposure to high temperatures or humidity 30 More precise blood glucose measurements are performed in a medical laboratory using hexokinase glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase enzymes Urine glucose readings however taken are much less useful In properly functioning kidneys glucose does not appear in urine until the renal threshold for glucose has been exceeded This is substantially above any normal glucose level and is evidence of an existing severe hyperglycemic condition However as urine is stored in the bladder any glucose in it might have been produced at any time since the last time the bladder was emptied Since metabolic conditions change rapidly as a result of any of several factors this is delayed news and gives no warning of a developing condition Blood glucose monitoring is far preferable both clinically and for home monitoring by patients Healthy urine glucose levels were first standardized and published in 1965 31 by Hans Renschler A noninvasive method of sampling to monitor glucose levels has emerged using an exhaled breath condensate However this method does need highly sensitive glucose biosensors 32 I Chemical methodsA Oxidation reduction reactionG l u c o s e A l k a l i n e c o p p e r t a r t a r a t e R e d u c t i o n C u p r o u s o x i d e displaystyle mathrm Glucose mathrm Alkaline copper tartarate xrightarrow mathrm Reduction mathrm Cuprous oxide 1 Alkaline copper reductionFolin Wu method C u 2 P h o s p h o m o l y b d i c a c i d O x i d a t i o n P h o s p h o m o l y b d e n u m o x i d e displaystyle mathrm Cu 2 mathrm Phosphomolybdic acid xrightarrow mathrm Oxidation mathrm Phosphomolybdenum oxide Blue end productBenedict s method Modification of Folin Wu method for qualitative urine glucose Nelson Somogyi method C u 2 A r s e n o m o l y b d i c a c i d O x i d a t i o n A r s e n o m o l y b d e n u m o x i d e displaystyle mathrm Cu 2 mathrm Arsenomolybdic acid xrightarrow mathrm Oxidation mathrm Arsenomolybdenum oxide Blue end product Neocuproine method C u 2 N e o c u p r o i n e O x i d a t i o n C u 2 n e o c u p r o i n e c o m p l e x displaystyle mathrm Cu 2 mathrm Neocuproine xrightarrow mathrm Oxidation mathrm Cu 2 mathrm neocuproine complex Yellow orange color neocuproine 33 Shaeffer Hartmann Somogyi Uses the principle of iodine reaction with cuprous byproduct Excess I2 is then titrated with thiosulfate 2 Alkaline Ferricyanide reductionHagedorn Jensen G l u c o s e A l k a l i n e f e r r i c y a n i d e F e r r o c y a n i d e displaystyle mathrm Glucose mathrm Alkaline ferricyanide longrightarrow mathrm Ferrocyanide Colorless end product other reducing substances interfere with reaction B CondensationOrtho toluidine method Uses aromatic amines and hot acetic acid Forms glycosylamine and Schiff s base which is emerald green in color This is the most specific method but the reagent used is toxic Anthrone phenols method Forms hydroxymethyl furfural in hot acetic acidII Enzymatic methodsA Glucose oxidaseG l u c o s e O 2 O x i d a t i o n g l u c o s e o x i d a s e D glucono 1 5 lactone H 2 O 2 displaystyle mathrm Glucose mathrm O 2 xrightarrow mathrm Oxidation mathrm glucose oxidase textrm D glucono 1 5 lactone mathrm H 2 O 2 Saifer Gerstenfeld method H 2 O 2 O dianisidine O x i d a t i o n p e r o x i d a s e H 2 O o x i d i z e d c h r o m o g e n displaystyle mathrm H 2 O 2 textit O text dianisidine xrightarrow mathrm Oxidation mathrm peroxidase mathrm H 2 O mathrm oxidized chromogen Inhibited by reducing substances like BUA bilirubin glutathione ascorbic acid Trinder method Uses 4 aminophenazone oxidatively coupled with phenol Subject to less interference by increases serum levels of creatinine uric acid or hemoglobin Inhibited by catalase Kodak Ektachem A dry chemistry method Uses spectrophotometry to measure the intensity of color through a lower transparent film Glucometer Home monitoring blood glucose assay method Uses a strip impregnated with a glucose oxidase reagent B HexokinaseG l u c o s e A T P P h o s p h o r y l a t i o n H e x o k i n a s e M g 2 G 6PO 4 A D P G 6PO 4 N A D P O x i d a t i o n G 6PD 6 Phosphogluconate N A D P H H displaystyle begin alignedat 2 amp mathrm Glucose mathrm ATP xrightarrow mathrm Phosphorylation mathrm Hexokinase mathrm Mg 2 textrm G 6PO 4 mathrm ADP amp textrm G 6PO 4 mathrm NADP xrightarrow mathrm Oxidation textrm G 6PD textrm 6 Phosphogluconate mathrm NADPH mathrm H end alignedat NADP as cofactor NADPH reduced product is measured in 340 nm More specific than glucose oxidase method due to G 6PO4 which inhibits interfering substances except when sample is hemolyzed Clinical correlation Edit The fasting blood glucose level which is measured after a fast of 8 hours is the most commonly used indication of overall glucose homeostasis largely because disturbing events such as food intake are avoided Conditions affecting glucose levels are shown in the table below Abnormalities in these test results are due to problems in the multiple control mechanism of glucose regulation citation needed The metabolic response to a carbohydrate challenge is conveniently assessed by a postprandial glucose level drawn 2 hours after a meal or a glucose load In addition the glucose tolerance test consisting of several timed measurements after a standardized amount of oral glucose intake is used to aid in the diagnosis of diabetes Error rates for blood glucose measurements systems vary depending on laboratories and on the methods used Colorimetry techniques can be biased by color changes in test strips from airborne or finger borne contamination perhaps or interference e g tinting contaminants with light source or the light sensor Electrical techniques are less susceptible to these errors though not to others In home use the most important issue is not accuracy but trend Thus if a meter test strip system is consistently wrong by 10 there will be little consequence as long as changes e g due to exercise or medication adjustments are properly tracked In the US home use blood test meters must be approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration before they can be sold Finally there are several influences on blood glucose level aside from food intake Infection for instance tends to change blood glucose levels as does stress either physical or psychological Exercise especially if prolonged or long after the most recent meal will have an effect as well In the typical person maintenance of blood glucose at near constant levels will nevertheless be quite effective clarification needed Causes of abnormal glucose levels Persistent hyperglycemia Transient hyperglycemia Persistent hypoglycemia Transient hypoglycemiaReference range fasting blood glucose FBG 70 110 mg dLDiabetes mellitus Pheochromocytoma Insulinoma Acute alcohol ingestionAdrenal cortical hyperactivity Cushing s syndrome Severe liver disease Adrenal cortical insufficiency Addison s disease Drugs salicylates antituberculosis agentsHyperthyroidism Acute stress reaction Hypopituitarism Severe liver diseaseAcromegaly Shock Galactosemia Several glycogen storage diseasesObesity Convulsions Ectopic insulin production from tumors Hereditary fructose intoleranceSee also EditBlood glucose monitoring Saccharide recognition by boronic acidsReferences Edit Daly ME Vale C Walker M Littlefield A Alberti KG Mathers JC June 1998 Acute effects on insulin sensitivity and diurnal metabolic profiles of a high sucrose compared with a high starch diet PDF The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 67 6 1186 96 doi 10 1093 ajcn 67 6 1186 PMID 9625092 a b c d e f g h Wasserman DH January 2009 Four grams of glucose American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism 296 1 E11 21 doi 10 1152 ajpendo 90563 2008 PMC 2636990 PMID 18840763 Walker Rosemary and Rodgers Jill 2006 Type 2 Diabetes Your Questions Answered Dorling Kindersley ISBN 1 74033 550 3 Blood Glucose Monitor and Blood Glucose Meter Blood Glucose Measurement Units FAQ 6 July 2011 Archived from the original on 6 July 2011 a b What are mg dL and mmol L How to convert Glucose Cholesterol Advameg Inc Screening for Type 2 Diabetes Clinical Diabetes 18 2 2000 Danaei G 2 July 2011 National regional and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980 systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 370 country years and 2 7 million participants The Lancet 378 9785 31 40 doi 10 1016 S0140 6736 11 60679 X PMID 21705069 S2CID 13951614 Glucose test blood NIH National Institutes of Health Davidson NK Moreland P 26 July 2011 Living with diabetes blog Mayo Clinic Archived from the original on 14 May 2013 Schuster D 14 August 2008 What Does Post Meal Or Post Prandial Blood Sugar Mean And What Does It Tell You Ohio State University American Diabetes Association January 2006 Standards of medical care in diabetes 2006 Diabetes Care 29 Suppl 1 Supplement 1 S4 42 doi 10 2337 diacare 29 s1 06 s4 PMID 16373931 S2CID 29740430 Standards of Medical Care Table 6 and Table 7 Correlation between A1C level and Mean Plasma Glucose Levels on Multiple Testing over 2 3 months USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 22 2009 Eiler H 2004 Endocrine glands In Reese WO ed Dukes Physiology of Domestic Animals 12th ed Ithaca NY Comstock pp 621 69 ISBN 978 0801442384 Kahn CM ed 2005 Merck Veterinary Manual 9th ed Whitehouse Station Merck amp Co ISBN 978 0911910506 Rice C G Hall B 2007 Hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for mountain goats Oreamnos americanus effects of capture conditions Northwest Science 81 3 206 doi 10 3955 0029 344X 81 3 206 S2CID 56564674 Cornell LH Duffield DS Joseph BE Stark B April 1988 Hematology and serum chemistry values in the beluga Delphinapterus leucas Journal of Wildlife Diseases 24 2 220 4 doi 10 7589 0090 3558 24 2 220 PMID 3373628 Seal U S Barton R Mather L Gray C W 1976 Baseline Laboratory Data for the White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum PDF The Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine 7 1 11 17 JSTOR 20094341 Boily F Beaudoin S Measures LN January 2006 Hematology and serum chemistry of harp Phoca groenlandica and hooded seals Cystophora cristata during the breeding season in the Gulf of St Lawrence Canada Journal of Wildlife Diseases 42 1 115 32 doi 10 7589 0090 3558 42 1 115 PMID 16699154 S2CID 21875860 Lehninger A Nelson D Cox M 2017 Lehininger Principles of Biochemistry New York W H Freedom p 934 ISBN 9781319117689 Tortora G December 2016 Principles Anatomy and Physiology 15 ed New York John Wiley amp Sons Inc pp Chapter 18 ISBN 9781119343738 Lehninger A Nelson D Cox M 2017 Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 7th ed New York W H Freeman p 930 ISBN 9781319117689 Excess sugar linked to cancer Science Daily Diabetic ketoacidosis Symptoms and causes Mayo Clinic Retrieved 30 January 2018 Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs The Oral Diabetes Drugs Treating Type 2 Diabetes PDF Best Buy Drugs 2 Retrieved 18 September 2012 Steroid medications and diabetes fact sheet NDSS www ndss com au Somogyi M May 1948 Studies of arteriovenous differences in blood sugar effect of alimentary hyperglycemia on the rate of extrahepatic glucose assimilation PDF The Journal of Biological Chemistry 174 1 189 200 doi 10 1016 S0021 9258 18 57386 5 PMID 18914074 Roe J Glucose Concentration Difference Between Arterial Capillary and Venous Blood Best Thinking Archived from the original on 4 December 2014 Cox DL Nelson MM 2013 Lehninger principles of biochemistry 6th ed New York W H Freeman p 950 ISBN 9781429234146 a b Cox MM Lehninger AL Nelson DL 2017 Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry New York W H Freeman pp 248 49 ISBN 9781319117689 Ginsberg BH July 2009 Factors affecting blood glucose monitoring sources of errors in measurement Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 3 4 903 13 doi 10 1177 193229680900300438 PMC 2769960 PMID 20144340 Renschler HE Weicker H von Baeyer H December 1965 The upper limit of glucose concentration in the urine of healthy subjects Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 90 53 2349 53 PMID 5851934 Tankasala D Linnes JC November 2019 Noninvasive glucose detection in exhaled breath condensate Translational Research 213 1 22 doi 10 1016 j trsl 2019 05 006 PMC 6783357 PMID 31194942 Neocuproine MSDS hazard comFurther reading EditHenry JB 2001 Clinical diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods 20th ed Philadelphia Saunders ISBN 978 0721688640 Levine R 1986 Monosaccharides in health and disease Annual Review of Nutrition 6 211 24 doi 10 1146 annurev nu 06 070186 001235 PMID 3524617 Roder PV Wu B Liu Y Han W March 2016 Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis Experimental amp Molecular Medicine 48 3 March e219 doi 10 1038 emm 2016 6 PMC 4892884 PMID 26964835 External links Edit Media related to Blood sugar level at Wikimedia Commons Glucose blood serum plasma analyte monograph The Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blood sugar level amp oldid 1138425880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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