Nowadays, the frequency of blood tests for sugar (glucose) has increased significantly. And not in vain, because its results can tell about many disorders in the body, about diseases associated with the endocrine system, diseases of the kidneys, pancreas, liver, hypothalamus, inflammatory processes in the body, tumors in the stomach and poisoning with toxic substances. The most common disease, the symptom of which is an increased concentration of sugar in the blood, is diabetes.
Every six hours in the world, a person dies from this disease. More than 400 million people have diabetes. And this figure is constantly growing. Moreover, every third of them does not know about the disease. This is due to the fact that initially the disease is asymptomatic, and people are not aware that irreversible changes began to occur in their body.
It is possible to diagnose diabetes at an early stage by passing an analysis on the level of glucose in the blood. Then severe consequences can be avoided by establishing a diet and observing a healthy lifestyle.
In general, the delivery of this analysis does not cause much trouble, but its benefits are invaluable. Therefore, every person (even one that feels just fine) should donate blood for glucose for prevention. This will not hurt young children.
Which blood sugar standards from a vein in women, men and children are considered acceptable, and which indicate a disease; what types of analyzes exist and how to prepare for them in order to achieve maximum accuracy of indicators; how to understand that it is necessary to pass this analysis is discussed in this article.
What is a sugar test?
What is popularly called a sugar test, doctors call it a blood glucose test. The carbohydrate food consumed by humans is broken down into monosaccharides, 80% of which are glucose (this is what they mean when talking about blood sugar). It is found in fruits, berries, honey, chocolate, beets, carrots, etc. It enters the bloodstream from the intestines and liver. Insulin helps to absorb glucose. This substance is in the blood before eating, but in a minimal amount. After eating, its concentration rises, and then decreases again (until the next meal).
Glucose is very important for human health, because it is the main source of energy, fuel for cells, tissues and organs. Glucose provides 50% of all energy derived from food.
Glycemia is a measure of glucose concentration. It significantly affects the well-being and human health.
Low blood sugar
A condition in which glucose is low is called hypoglycemia. It comes from physical or emotional overstrain, non-compliance with diet, chronic diseases. In this case, short-term hypoglycemia does not lead to serious consequences.
People with low blood glucose should always carry foods or drinks that quickly deliver glucose, such as sweets, sweetened water, etc. You should also avoid stress, stress, relax more, observe the daily regimen and diet, eat less complex carbohydrates.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia
If a person has lowered blood sugar concentration, then he periodically overcomes a strong feeling of hunger. Palpitations - rapid, sweating - increased, mental state - restless (excitability, irritability, uncontrolled anxiety). In addition, tiredness, weakness, lethargy are constantly felt, there is no strength for labor. Sometimes there are dizziness and fainting.
High blood sugar
Cases of increased plasma glucose concentration - hyperglycemia - are much more common than hypoglycemia.
High concentration is also temporary due to the loads and stress that fill the life of a modern person. With the normalization of the rhythm and lifestyle, mental state, the glucose concentration returns to normal, without causing significant harm to the body.
Symptoms of Hyperglycemia
With hyperglycemia, as with hypoglycemia, fatigue and drowsiness, an unstable mental state are felt. In addition, people with a high concentration of glucose note dry mouth, imaginary tactile sensations, dry skin, rapid breathing. The clarity of vision decreases, the wounds heal poorly, purulent inflammation appears on the skin, and weight decreases sharply. Hyperglycemia is also evidenced by frequent urination, constant thirst, and a tendency to infectious diseases. In severe cases, nausea and vomiting are observed.
Causes of an imbalance in blood sugar
Long-term hypoglycemia occurs due to malnutrition with the use of sweets, large amounts of empty carbohydrates. In this case, the pancreas produces an excessive amount of insulin, and glucose accumulates in the tissues.
Diseases of the hypothalamus, kidneys, adrenal glands can also lead to hypoglycemia.
The cause can also be impaired pancreatic insulin production function or its tumor (since the proliferation of gland cells and tissues contributes to its greater production of insulin).
Long-term hyperglycemia indicates diseases of the endocrine system associated with hyperthyroidism (the rate of insulin release is higher than the rate of absorption), problems of the hypothalamus, persistent inflammatory processes in the body, and less commonly, liver problems. Often hyperglycemia is a symptom of diabetes.
Recommendations for preparing for the analysis
As already noted, an analysis for prevention should be given to everyone at least once every six months. However, if symptoms of hyper- or hypoglycemia are present, blood glucose levels should certainly be measured.
In order for the results to reflect the real state of health, and in the event of an imbalance of glucose, it was possible to prescribe the correct treatment, certain rules must be observed.
Blood for sugar is always given on an empty stomach (both from a vein and from a finger) after an eight-hour abstinence from food (minimum). A break can be from 8 to 12 hours, but no more than 14, because food leads to an increase in glucose levels. It is more convenient to donate blood in the morning.
Before analysis, it is not recommended to lean on sweets and on foods rich in carbohydrates (you can not significantly change your diet). Diets should be discarded in three days.
Emotional experiences also affect the results of the analysis, so you need to visit the medical institution in a calm, balanced state.
Even brisk walking to the hospital can distort the results, therefore, sports and any active types of recreation are contraindicated before analysis: an elevated level may decrease, and hyperglycemia can not be determined.
Bad habits should also be discarded: do not smoke at least two hours before analysis, do not drink alcohol for two days.
After infectious diseases (for example, SARS, flu, sore throats) two weeks should pass. If, nevertheless, it is necessary to pass the analysis earlier, then you need to warn the doctor, the laboratory assistant, so that this fact is taken into account when decoding.
Even massage, x-rays, physiotherapy change performance in the analysis.
You should also warn about taking medications (even such as oral contraceptives), and if you can refuse them for a while, it is better not to take them two days before analysis.
A long trip, work on the night shift contribute to a false result. Need to sleep.
Some doctors do not even recommend brushing your teeth and chewing gum, as sugar is absorbed into the body through the oral cavity, increasing the concentration of glucose.
Risk group
The risk group includes those people who are more likely than others to develop diseases provoked by a reduced or increased concentration of glucose in the blood plasma.
These include overweight patients and those who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). Also, people whose relatives (especially parents) have diagnoses associated with impaired carbohydrate metabolism and endocrine system problems are at risk of getting sick. In this case, the hereditary tendency plays a role.
Women in position are also at risk. In pregnant women, the norms of sugar from a vein differ from the generally accepted ones.
Types of blood glucose tests
Nowadays, you can take a blood test for glucose without any restrictions. It’s not even necessary to go to the doctor for a referral; you can, if you wish, go immediately to the laboratory and conduct a study.
You should take this analysis with a general examination of the body, because with its help you can detect not only diabetes, but also many other diseases.
There are a lot of laboratory methods, the purpose of which is to determine the concentration of sugar in blood plasma. Consider their purpose in more detail.
1) Biochemical analysis to determine the level of glucose in the blood.
This method is considered basic and is the most common. Such an analysis has been used for a long time (more than several tens of years), therefore it is reliable. Blood sampling is done from a vein or from a finger (from a vein it is considered more reliable).
This analysis is an initial study. If the sugar level from the vein is normal, then no more types of tests will be required.
If there are any deviations in the direction of hypo- or hyperglycemia, then the doctor prescribes additional tests for a more accurate picture.
2) Determination of the concentration of fructosamine (a mixture of glucose and protein).
In this analysis, blood is drawn from a vein and a study is performed using a special analyzer. This test allows you to identify the level of glucose that was in the blood from 1 to 3 weeks ago. It is carried out to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for hyperglycemia and with blood loss, anemia, to identify how many red blood cells are lost.
3) Analysis of the level of glycated hemoglobin associated with glucose.
For analysis, venous blood is required. The percentage of glycated hemoglobin in it directly depends on the amount of glucose in it. This analysis comes with a long monitoring of the effectiveness of the treatment of patients with diabetes. It is considered quite accurate, because it does not depend on the emotional and mental state, physical activity, meals, unlike all other types of sugar tests.
4) Glucose tolerance test.
This test is also called the sugar load test. This name is explained by the research procedure. It is carried out in 3 stages: an empty blood sample is taken, then the patient drinks glucose dissolved in water. Then the analysis is submitted twice more: after 1 hour and after 2 hours. In this way, the response to glucose intake is monitored. The norm is an increase and a subsequent decrease in the level of glucose, and in the case of diabetes, it remains the same. The test reveals a violation of carbohydrate metabolism.
This type of analysis has contraindications: it can not be taken to children under 14 years old, to those who have recently undergone surgery, heart attack, childbirth.
5) Glucose tolerance test with the definition of C-peptide.
This analysis allows you to count the cells that produce insulin, to determine the type of diabetes (insulin-dependent or not). It is also used to correct prescribed therapy.
6) Determination of the concentration of lactate (lactic acid) in the blood.
With this type of study, oxygen saturation of the tissues is determined. Blood taken from a vein reveals problems with blood circulation.
7) Glucose tolerance test during pregnancy.
When a woman is registered for pregnancy, she passes a biochemical basic blood test or analysis for glycated hemoglobin. This is done for prevention purposes, because about 10% of pregnant women experience gestational diabetes, as a result of which the fetal weight increases excessively due to the excess of normal sugar from fasting veins in women. If required at 6-7 months, a glucose tolerance test is done.
In addition to laboratory tests, there are also portable glucometers. They are convenient in that the sugar level can be measured at any time, without spending a lot of time on it, but their error is up to 20%.
Deciphering the results of the analysis: fasting sugar standards from a vein
The indicators depend on age, blood characteristics and sampling methods. The rates of sugar from a vein and from a finger are different, because venous blood is denser than capillary blood, and therefore it is more saturated with glucose.
The permissible level of glucose from a vein is 3.5-6.1 mmol / l (millimol per liter). It is in such units that the glucose level in the countries of the former Soviet Union is measured. With such a normal indicator, glucose goes to all systems and organs, is absorbed, is not excreted in the urine.
If the level is below the norm of blood sugar from a vein (3.5 mmol / L), then hypoglycemia is detected, if higher - hyperglycemia (higher than 6.1 mmol / L - prediabetes state; higher than 7.0 mmol / L - diabetes). Prediabetes is a condition in which the fasting body is able to regulate glucose levels with insulin, and then not. That is, there is no diabetes yet, but it’s worth taking measures to reduce glucose levels.
The rate of analysis for sugar from a vein in children is different. From birth to year, the norm is 2.8–4.4 mmol / l; from a year to five - 3.3–5.0 mmol / l, in children from 5 years and older - the same as in adults. In other analyzes, the glucose level should be different.
When determining the concentration of fructosamine, the norm of fasting vein sugar in men and women is 205–285 µmol / L, and in children 0-14 years old - 195–271 µmol / L. If the indicators are defined above, this may indicate diabetes mellitus, injuries or brain tumors, a decrease in thyroid function, and if lower, a nephrotic syndrome.
If with this type of analysis, such as a glucose tolerance test, the indicators exceed the norm of sugar from a vein and fluctuate in the range from 7.8 to 11.0 mmol / l, this indicates a violation of glucose tolerance, and if they exceed 11.0 mmol / l - about diabetes.
The permissible glucose level during the test for the determination of C-peptides is 0.5-3 ng / ml before loading, 2.5-15 ng / ml after it. When determining the concentration of lactate, the sugar norm from the vein in men and women is 0.5-2.2 mmol / l, in children it is slightly higher. Higher rates indicate anemia, lower ones indicate cirrhosis, heart failure.
In general, glucose indicators are not dependent on gender, but during pregnancy, the norm of sugar from a vein should be higher - 4.6–6.7 mmol / l. With indicators above the data, a diagnosis is made - gestational diabetes, arising from endocrine disorders. If the prescribed level is exceeded, therapy is required to maintain the health of the mother and baby, and constant monitoring of blood counts.
Both increased and decreased plasma glucose concentrations can indicate serious diseases and lead to serious complications if they are not diagnosed and treated on time. Each person is able to prevent this by simply passing a blood sugar test and controlling its level.