When conducting various studies of blood samples taken from a patient, a technique is often used to measure the content of a substance. In order to understand why we need numerous tests taken from a patient with suspected diabetes, you need to know what the glucose norm for plasma is.
Carbohydrates are required by the human body to replenish energy reserves. They enter the body together with food, are absorbed in the digestive tract. Under the influence of the hormone secreted by the pancreas, they are distributed over tissues and cells.
Features of this study
Plasma glucose levels can change throughout the day. Concentration may decrease due to starvation, physical activity, work activity. Sugar level plays a huge role in diagnosing a variety of pathologies, such as diabetes, since at the initial stage the disease can proceed without symptoms, hidden.
Often the identification of the pathological process occurs during medical examination or during a physical examination, that is, by accident. If the blood plasma contains an increased amount of sugar, a specialist can recommend additional removal of the biomaterial on an empty stomach, or by definition of glucose tolerance.
We will talk about the norm of glucose in blood plasma below.
Cases in which a study is prescribed
Biomaterial for laboratory research can be taken from veins or capillaries.
A study of plasma glucose levels is necessary in the following situations:
- Pregnancy.
- Monitoring the functionality of the pancreas, insulin synthesis (carried out together with the study on the C-peptide).
- Measuring sugar levels in patients with diabetes.
- Prediabetic conditions. In this case, the study is carried out in several stages.
- Violations in the activity of the liver, for example, cirrhosis.
- Persistent hypertension with an increase in blood pressure to the level of 140/90.
- The use of diuretic drugs, corticosteroids.
- Pathology of the endocrine system.
- Determining the causes of decreased performance, weakness, blurred consciousness.
- Suspected of developing diabetes with the onset of symptoms of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia.
- Clinical observation of patients whose history is burdened by heredity, overweight.
- Age-related changes in patients older than 40 years.
Contraindications for glucose tolerance test
There are certain situations in which a glucose test in plasma is contraindicated. Among them:
- Pheochromocytoma, acromegaly.
- Periods of exacerbation of chronic pancreatic pathologies.
- Age less than 14 years.
- Third trimester of pregnancy.
- Fever, acute forms of infectious processes in the body.
How is the preparation for the study?
The collection of biomaterial for the diagnostic study of glucose in plasma is carried out in the morning, usually before breakfast.
Before the procedure, the patient is recommended to adhere to certain rules:
- Supper on the eve of the study must be no less than 12 hours.
- It is forbidden to have breakfast before taking blood samples.
- Unacceptable is the use of sour-milk drinks, dietary supplements, sweet medicinal infusions, coffee, tea. Allowed to drink a glass of water.
- Sometimes doctors do not recommend brushing your teeth to exclude the influence of toothpaste on the concentration of glucose in the blood plasma.
The result of a plasma glucose test may depend on several factors:
- Bed rest.
- ARVI.
- Stress.
- Smoking before donating blood.
- Heavy physical activity.
- Dehydration.
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Alcohol intake.
Procedure
Diagnosis of plasma glucose concentration is carried out in several stages, between which the patient should not intellectually work or walk.
The study is conducted as follows:
- The first blood sampling is carried out on an empty stomach.
- After taking the material, it is necessary to make a load of glucose. The patient should drink within 5 minutes a special solution prepared from boiled water and dry glucose. For patients weighing less than 40 kg, the solution concentration is calculated individually. If the patient is obese, up to 100 grams of glucose is added to the water.
- Repeated blood sampling is carried out after the patient has consumed the solution for 2 hours with an interval of 30 minutes. They do this in order to identify violations in the absorption of carbohydrates.
The biomaterial taken for the study on the concentration of glucose is placed in a test tube in which there is an anticoagulant and sodium fluoride. Thanks to these substances glycolysis in erythrocytes is prevented, glucose concentration is maintained. Mix blood with substances gently by turning the tubes upside down. In the process of calculating the results, it is important to remember that the concentration of glucose in the blood plasma is higher than in the capillary.
Decryption analysis
Based on the results of the examination, the specialist builds a sugar curve that reflects the state and activity of the endocrine system. Normal plasma glucose concentration is not more than 7.6 mmol / L.
An increase in the standard value to 10 mmol / L indicates the development of a prediabetes state. If the glucose concentration reaches 11 mmol / l, the specialist diagnoses the pathology - diabetes, and directs the patient for further examination. In particular, the study of blood samples for insulin is recommended.
Plasma glucose is normal
Indicators of normal concentration of sugar in the blood plasma are dependent on the age of the patient:
- 0-1 months - 2.7-4 mmol / L.
- 1 month - 14 years old - 3.33-5.55 mmol / l.
- 15-60 years old - 3.5-5.8 mmol / l.
- Older than 60 years - 6.5 mmol / L.
The normal concentration of carbohydrates can vary for a number of reasons:
- The result will be different if you conduct a study immediately after eating or an hour after it.
- Glucose may decrease gradually over a couple of hours against the background of work or emotional stress.
An increase in sugar can be triggered by:
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Drinking large amounts of high-carb foods.
- Premenstrual syndrome. During this period, many women experience an increase in blood glucose concentration.
- Using corticosteroids. These medicines can provoke steroid diabetes.
- Chronic hepatitis.
- Formations of a malignant nature in the pancreas, which provoke the death of cells responsible for the production of insulin.
- Cushing's disease - pathological changes in the pituitary gland, causing an increase in the concentration of corticosteroids in the blood plasma.
- Pheochromocytoma. This pathology is an adrenal gland tumor that stimulates glycogen synthesis.
Plasma glucose concentration may decrease for the following reasons:
- Starvation.
- Disorders of the digestive tract associated with the absorption and assimilation of carbohydrates.
- Physical overload.
- An overdose of insulin medications.
- Hypothyroidism
- Alcohol abuse.
Such a condition as hypoglycemia, characterized by a decrease in glucose in the blood plasma, provokes disorders of the NS: increased sweating, convulsions, the appearance of trembling in the limbs. If there is no help, the patient may fall into a coma, fainting. In addition, hallucinations are possible, cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest are possible.
Primary decreases in blood glucose can be diagnosed in children. In some cases, symptoms are determined if a person changes their diet. To eliminate the symptoms in such cases, it is enough to saturate the diet with complex carbohydrates.
Glycated hemoglobin test
In the course of this study, part of the circulating hemoglobin associated with glucose is studied. Indicators are measured in percent. A similar study is recommended if a specialist suspects the development of diabetes. That is, it is an additional diagnostic method.
The procedure has several positive aspects:
- Denies or confirms previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus.
- Allows you to control the sugar level for the last quarter.
- The results are more accurate, since they are not affected by stressful situations, the use of medications, stress, eaten food.
- You can take biomaterial at any time, and not just on an empty stomach in the morning.
The normal hemoglobin level is 5.7%. An increase in the indicator to 6.4% and higher indicates the development of the disease.
Using blood glucose meters
You can control the level of glucose in the blood at home using a special device: a glucometer. It is a photometric type device that allows you to determine the interaction of glucose and reagent.
The volume of capillary blood required to determine the glucose concentration using a glucometer may vary, depending on the device and the age of the patient. The device reflects the result on the display after 10 seconds.
Preventive recommendations of doctors
To prevent an increase in glucose in the blood plasma, experts recommend adhering to some rules:
- It is important to avoid lack of sleep and stressful situations.
- Physical activity should be moderate.
- It is also important to observe the correct diet, diet. Any flour products, soda, sugary drinks should be discarded.
Laboratory testing of blood samples for the level of glucose concentration in blood plasma is an informative technique that allows you to diagnose the presence of a serious pathological process in the body. Early diagnosis allows you to start therapy on time, prevent the occurrence of serious complications, contributes to a favorable prognosis. In this regard, it is recommended not to neglect this study and periodically conduct it.