The normal functioning of the body largely depends on the stability of the sugar level in our blood. When consuming carbohydrates, sweets, processes occur that turn them into glucose. It is used by our body as energy. Glucose includes a variety of functions, including processes that occur in the body at the cellular level. Knowing how sugar is indicated in a blood test, you can control its level and in time to recognize problems that arise with an increase or decrease in this indicator.
Glucose level
First of all, it should be noted that from a medical point of view it is correct to say “glucose level”. Sugar consists of a whole group of substances, but glucose is determined in the blood. But the very term “blood sugar” has so confidently entered the pace of speech that it is used in this form not only in conversations, but also in medical literature. Sugar is indicated in a blood test in Latin letters GLU, from the word "glucose".
First of all, this indicator informs us about the state of carbohydrate metabolism in the body. Glucose arrives with complex carbohydrates that break down in the digestive tract and enter the bloodstream. Hence the conclusion - with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, glucose absorption may be impaired. Glucose received in the blood is only partially used by the body, most of it in the form of glycogen is deposited in the liver. Further, in emergency cases (emotional, physical exertion), glycogen breaks down and glucose is released into the blood.
Conclusion - the liver is a custodian of glucose, therefore, with its diseases, blood sugar levels can also change. The neuroendocrine system, adrenal glands, and pancreas are responsible for exiting the liver, synthesis, and glucose uptake. Therefore, the pathology of any of these organs causes a malfunction in blood sugar.
Body regulation
It is very important that the sugar level in the body is always normal. Having found out how sugar is indicated in a blood test, you can now control this indicator. If it has become lower or higher, the following consequences may occur:
- Dizziness, possible loss of consciousness, as a result - coma.
- With an increase in sugar, severe fatigue is observed. It is getting dark, the picture is blurring before my eyes.
How blood sugar is regulated in the body, consider the principles of the mechanism:
- As sugar levels rise, the pancreas recognizes a signal for insulin production. The liver begins to process excess glucose into the glucagon element. In this case, the sugar level drops.
- With low sugar, the pancreas receives a signal to stop the production of insulin, while glucose from glucagon begins to be synthesized. The liver temporarily stops the processing of glucose into glucagon. Blood sugar levels rise in the body.
- With normal sugar, when you eat food, the pancreas produces insulin, which helps glucose enter the cell and provide it with energy. The liver is at rest at this time.
How is sugar indicated in a blood test?
Most of the blood counts are read thanks to analyzes performed on hematological analyzers. They allow you to immediately read 24 parameters, including the "blood sugar", which is indicated here by GLU. Indicators are determined only when conducting a biochemical blood test or a special medication to determine the level of glucose.
Many are trying to find out how sugar is indicated in a general blood test. So, be aware that a general blood test only decrypts some parameters, such as hemoglobin, red blood cells, the number of blood cells, and some others. You will not know the blood sugar level from the general analysis. General analysis is carried out in order to determine the overall condition of the body. The only thing that can be said is that an indicator such as RBC or hematocrit can indicate the presence of diabetes, it indicates the ratio of blood plasma to red blood cells. For a more accurate diagnosis, for additional examinations, the doctor will prescribe a biochemical detailed blood test. To the question of how sugar is designated in a biochemical blood test, we give the answer in Latin letters GLU.
Measuring glucose at home
Modern medical equipment allows you to determine your sugar level yourself. In any pharmacy for this purpose you can buy a glucometer. To do this, it is not necessary to understand how the level of sugar in a blood test is indicated. The standard set of any device includes a starter pack of special test strips and sterile lancets. The treated surface of the skin on the finger must be punctured with a lancet, then a drop of blood should then be transferred to the test strip. By inserting it into the device itself, you can find out the result, which will be displayed in numbers.
Some types of glucometers are able to read information from capillary blood from anywhere on the body, whether it is the forearm, shoulder, or thigh. However, be aware that your fingertip has the highest blood circulation, so you can get the best results at home from here. This is very important because sugar can change rapidly with various emotional, physical stress, as well as after eating.
Norm
Now knowing how sugar is indicated in a blood test, take a look at the result of the test and make sure your indicators are normal. What should they be? On an empty stomach in the morning from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol / L. The numbers from 5.6 to 6.6 indicate a violation of tolerance to blood sugar, this condition can be called borderline between pathology and the norm.
The indicator of 6.7 mmol / l gives reason to suspect the presence of diabetes in the patient. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor should prescribe a glucose tolerance test - an analysis after two hours after a sugar load. With such a test, the norm should increase to 7.7 mmol / L, impaired tolerance will be detected at 7.8 - 11.1 mmol / L. Confirmation of diabetes is an indicator of 11.2 mmol / L.
Signs of High Sugar
After explaining what letters indicate sugar in a blood test, we will introduce you to the symptoms of high glucose:
- Feeling of thirst. Perhaps this suggests that the level of glucose is increased. And this can be a sign of diabetes. When the body's ability to maintain normal sugar levels disappears, the kidneys work more actively, they take extra moisture from the body. Frequent desires, dehydration occur. There is a signal to replenish water supplies.
- Fatigue. If sugar is not converted into energy, it simply settles in the blood, fatigue sets in, sometimes you even want to lie down and take a nap.
- Dizziness. Frequent dizziness - a signal to consult a doctor. Possible increase in blood sugar.
- Legs and arms swell. Pressure and diabetes lead to kidney problems, then - improper fluid filtration, as a result - edema.
- Tingling, numbness. When the temperature changes, tingling in the limbs is felt.
- Loss of vision. Sensitive nerve endings in the eyes are damaged as a result of high sugar and pressure. There is a deterioration in the function of the vessels of the eyes, diabetic retinopathy occurs.
Ways to lower blood sugar
If you are familiar with the decoding of signs in a blood test, then you can easily determine if your blood glucose level is elevated. What are some ways to lower sugar levels and keep them in check?
- Maintain optimal weight.
- Follow a diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fiber, fruits, few calories. Exclude alcohol completely.
- Spend more time relaxing. Get enough sleep. Fall asleep and get up at the same time.
- Do not drink coffee at night.
- Exercise for at least half an hour a day.
Can diabetes be cured?
It is impossible to completely cure diabetes. Modern science has not yet come up with such methods. By controlling the level of glucose, knowing how sugar is indicated in a blood test, it is quite possible to alleviate the course of the disease.
In type 1 diabetes, the cells responsible for insulin production are completely destroyed. Patients constantly need to inject insulin into the body. In the second type, insulin resistance occurs. This is when the body does not know how to use insulin.
With infrequent jumps in blood sugar, the correct diet, exercise can control glucose and live a normal life.
Low rate
In what cases can there be a decrease in blood glucose? In the following:
- Malabsorption syndrome, when glucose absorption into the blood is difficult.
- Severe toxic liver damage, fulminant necrosis. When glucagon release cannot occur.
- Endocrine pathologies: with a decrease in the synthesis of contrinsular hormones; with Addison's disease (the adrenal cortex does not produce enough hormones); with insulinoma - increased synthesis of insulin.
The danger of low glucose
What are the signs of low sugar and what is the danger of lowering blood glucose?
- With a lack of glucose, cells feel energy hunger. The brain is most sensitive to this. The main signs of energy starvation are damage to the central nervous system.
- Signs in the early stages: trembling, hunger, nausea, sweating, palpitations, peeling of the skin around the lips, anxiety.
- Late signs include: impaired attention, confusion, difficulty communicating, drowsiness, headaches, visual impairment, inadequate perception of what is happening, disorientation.
- With early signs, the patient should help himself, consult a doctor on time, find out the reason. At later stages, close ones should connect, since it is difficult for the patient to cope with the situation on his own. If untreated, irreversible processes can occur, up to a hypoglycemic coma, irreversible brain damage.
The consequences of low blood sugar can be very dire. Inadequate behavior of the patient can lead to various incidents - domestic or road traffic. In this case, you just need to seek help from a medicine.