Blood biochemical parameters are variable and variable. One of the main criteria for such an analysis is glucose. And quite often the question arises: "Is sugar 5.5 - is it a lot or a little?" It’s worth sorting out.
What is blood sugar?
By blood sugar, all doctors and laboratory workers usually mean glucose.
This compound is quite important for the normal functioning of our body. Glucose is used by most cells in our body. The main tissues utilizing this substance are nervous and muscle.
Brain cells use it for most energy processes. Due to a sufficient amount of glucose, the work of the brain accelerates, and the mood improves.
Muscle tissue uses sugar as its primary source of energy. Glucose refers to carbohydrates, the breakdown of which is an energetically beneficial process, so you can not come up with a better source of energy for muscles.
Normally, the minimum amount of glucose is 3.3 g / l. Reducing this amount allows us to judge hypoglycemia (lack of blood sugar). Sugar 5.5 is the upper limit of the norm (according to recent data, the norm has increased slightly - up to 6.2).
With its excess, sugar is deposited in the muscle and nerve tissues, which leads to the development of tissue lesions and systemic disorders.
Where does glucose come from? How does it appear in our body and which functions?
Glucose production pathways
As mentioned above, glucose is an energy source for many tissues and cells. Its formation can proceed both from amino acids and through biosynthesis from triglycerides (the simplest molecules of fat).
The main source of glucose for the body is food. It is with it that most of the sugar used for metabolism falls. Part of it is transported to cells and organs, and the remainder is usually deposited in the liver as glycogen, a complex carbohydrate compound.
Two hormones control the level of glucose in the blood - insulin and glucagon.
Insulin helps to reduce the amount of blood sugar and its greater deposition in the liver. Hyperactivity of insulin and its increased amount can be judged (indirectly) if, after eating, the patient begins to feel hunger pretty soon. The desire for a snack usually means that blood sugar has dropped and should be restored.
Glucagon, on the contrary, stimulates the breakdown of glycogen and increases the concentration of sugar in plasma.
Violation of these hormones in work usually leads to the development of metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypo - and hyperglycemic coma).
Why can its amount increase and what are the consequences for the body as a result of such an increase?
Increased blood glucose
It is generally accepted that sugar 5.5 is the highest limit of normal. Why can it increase?
The following conditions can lead to an increase in blood sugar :
- Diabetes.
- Pregnancy.
- Liver disease.
- Significant blood loss (relative increase in sugar due to a decrease in blood volume).
- Tumors of the pancreas.
Each of these conditions passes with its own specific clinical picture and the causes of each of them are different. Sugar, 5.5 g / l of which was a normal indicator for this person, begins to grow smoothly. With its growth, various changes in the human body are also observed.
The main goal of the doctor is the timely detection of such an increase in blood glucose levels, determining the causes of such an increase and the appointment of appropriate treatment. For example, a blood test showed that sugar is 5.5. What can this concentration of blood in it say?
The basic conditions that a doctor may encounter should be considered.
Diabetes
As a result of the development of diabetes, there is a significant increase in blood sugar concentration (the diagnosis is made when sugar is detected above 11.1 g / l).
The pathogenesis of the disease is absolute (type 1 diabetes) or relative (type 2 diabetes) insulin resistance.
In the first case, this means that there is no insulin in the blood (the main reason is pancreatitis). Glucose cannot be properly utilized, it is deposited in tissues and organs and the corresponding complications develop (nephropathy, retinopathy, diabetic foot).
In the second case, there is insulin in the blood, but for some reason it cannot react with existing glucose.
In such patients, blood sugar is constantly increased, and they are forced to be on constant treatment with either sugar-lowering drugs or insulin.
Sugar 5.5 in diabetes is the dream of almost every patient. The determination of such figures in the patient’s blood indicates a favorable course of diabetes and the effectiveness of the treatment used.
This disease is pandemic and occurs in representatives of various races. Specialists of many specialties are involved in the problem of its treatment and study, since diabetes affects all organ systems.
Pregnancy
Often, pregnancy can lead to the development of various conditions and diseases. This is due to both a physiological decrease in immunity (for the development of the fetus) and a change in many metabolic reactions.
Sugar 5.5 during pregnancy is usually an indicator of the norm. By some endocrinologists, it can be regarded as somewhat reduced (since the development of a small organism proceeds, and the mother has to share glucose with him).
In some cases, the development of diabetes in pregnant women (gestational diabetes) is judged. It takes place when, against the background of pregnancy, the development of a disease occurs that disappears after childbirth. Sugar 5.5 during pregnancy in the case of gestational diabetes is detected on an empty stomach, with the morning determination of a blood test. After eating, its amount can increase to 10 and 11, but when using adequate sugar control therapy, its level decreases again.
Typically, the condition itself stabilizes immediately after birth or in the early postpartum period. About a week later, glucose levels return to normal.
If diabetes existed before, then it is classified as secondary, requiring the use of sugar-lowering drugs or additional doses of insulin.
Before planning a pregnancy, you should consult a physician and a gynecologist, as in some cases diabetes is an absolute contraindication to conception. The danger can be both for the developing fetus, and directly for the mother.
The treatment of such patients should also be coordinated with the gynecologist and therapist to determine the risk of drug effects on the fetus.
Why is it dangerous to increase the concentration of sugar in the blood.
As mentioned above, normal sugar is 5.5. A sign of diabetes is an increase above 11, or the appearance of the following symptoms listed below.
First of all, an increase in blood sugar concentration leads to the development of microangiopathy. This condition is characterized by a decrease in blood circulation in small vessels, malnutrition of tissues, the development of their atrophy and the accumulation of metabolic products in the tissues, which leads to their destruction. Small ulcerations, foci of maceration appear at the site of the vessels. Most often, the small vessels of the feet suffer.
Deposition of sugar in the vessels of the eyes contributes to the development of retinopathy. In this case, vision is significantly impaired, up to complete blindness. In some cases, glaucoma and cataracts may develop.
If there is significant deposition of sugar in the tubules of the kidneys, then diabetic nephropathy may occur. Renal function is impaired, which leads to the development of their insufficiency. With the progression of diabetes, their complete “shutdown" is possible.
The most common complication of an increase in blood sugar is coma. With it, blood flow through the vessels of the brain worsens, because of which the patient also loses consciousness. The development of coma may be accompanied by the smell of acetone from the mouth, tachycardia and shortness of breath (they usually appear at the stage of coma precursors). All patient reflexes are disturbed, the pupil reacts poorly to light.
All these complications over time can lead to severe violations of the functions of other organs.
The danger of developing diabetes in children
Blood sugar 5.5 is normal for a child’s body. It is accepted that a single increase in glucose is not regarded as pathological, since many children like sweets. If, as a result of the transferred infectious disease, the child has a picture of hyperglycemia in the blood, then the development of type 1 diabetes should be suspected.
Blood sugar 5.5 in children with type 1 diabetes is quite rare. The minimum numbers for this pathology are 20-30 g / l.
The disease is dangerous in that it develops at lightning speed, however, its course is usually preceded by a prodromal period during which digestion, a change in feces are observed. Be sure to have a recent infection.
The danger of diabetes in children lies in its course, a sharp deterioration in the condition and impaired development. In severe cases, especially with the development of coma, a fatal outcome is possible.
The therapy is carried out under the supervision of an endocrinologist and is accompanied by a mandatory test. An indicator such as sugar 5.5 in the blood of a child indicates the correct selection of drugs and a positive reaction to the therapy.
Gender differences
Is there any difference between the concentration of blood sugar in men and women?
All doctors say that blood sugar 5.5 in women, as well as in men, is an indicator of the norm. However, this standard has been studied and developed by the world health organization. During its identification, one rather important factor was not taken into account - physical labor. Men are much more likely to be engaged in jobs requiring physical effort. To perform such an activity, their muscles need quite a lot of energy.
As said, glucose is an excellent energy substrate. That is why sugar 5.5 blood in men has the right to be regarded as normal, but not the maximum indicator. And that is why, as well as as a result of the use of some other reagents, an increase in the maximum normal blood sugar is currently observed to 6.2.
Impaired Sugar Tolerance
In modern endocrinology, there is the concept of “impaired glucose tolerance”. It is applicable in the case when several blood tests reveal such a sugar content, the level of which will be higher than the accepted norm indicators and less than necessary for the development of diabetes mellitus.
How is such a study carried out?
In the morning, on an empty stomach, the patient measured the level of sugar. After that, the patient drinks sugar syrup (75 g of sugar or glucose per 100 ml of water). After that, every half hour, a glucose level is determined.
For example, as a result of the test, it was revealed that two hours after the glucose load, sugar is 5.5. What does this indicator mean?
Obtaining such a level of sugar suggests that the pancreas has developed enough insulin to break down the incoming sugar, i.e., the glucose tolerance test did not reveal any abnormalities.
If there was a sharp increase in glucose concentration (for example, after half an hour its level was 7, and after two hours - 10.5), then we can judge about impaired glucose tolerance, which can be regarded as a prerequisite for diabetes.
Treatment of impaired tolerance is carried out with the same drugs as diabetes (with the exception of insulin, which is prescribed for strict indications).
What to do with high sugar?
Usually, patients feel if there is an increase in their blood sugar level. This is manifested by increased thirst, dry skin, frequent going to the toilet.
If such a clinical picture appears, you should first consult a doctor for a more detailed examination.
For example, at the time of treatment (provided that the patient was treated hungry, on an empty stomach), after passing the tests, sugar 5.5 was determined. This is a lot, in the morning there should be a reduced level of glucose. It is already possible to suspect some problems with the pancreas and its absorption of sugar.
If, in repeated analyzes, glucose was within normal limits, and its level did not exceed the maximum figures of the norm, then you should not worry - there is no diabetes.
In the case when increased sugar was detected in repeated analyzes, you can already think about a more difficult process.
Here an important role will play an anamnesis - the patient's age, genetics, the presence of infectious diseases.
If the patient is not 40 years old, his heredity is not burdened, but recently there has been some disease, then we can judge the development of juvenile diabetes. If the age exceeds 40, there are chronic diseases of other systems and organs, and the patient’s parents had diabetes, then most likely the patient developed type 2 diabetes.
In any of the above cases, it is necessary to prescribe sugar-regulating maintenance therapy. With properly selected dosages, as well as dieting, patients often observe positive results in treatment.