Blood sugar is one of the most important constants, which indicates the constancy of the internal environment in the body. However, speaking about this element, they most often mean the level of glucose, since “sugar” includes a whole group of substances.
So, this indicator shows, first of all, how good is in the body
carbohydrate metabolism is carried out, since glucose is a kind of fuel for cells of all tissues and organs. It enters the body in complex carbohydrates, which are then subject to digestion in the digestive tract, and after that they enter the bloodstream. Accordingly, the sugar content in the blood depends on the presence of gastrointestinal diseases, due to which there is a decrease in glucose absorption. At the same time, part of it is consumed by the body, and most of it is deposited in the liver as glycogen.
Insulin is the main hormone through which blood sugar is regulated. It regulates glucose uptake by cells, as well as glycogen synthesis in the liver. The main antagonist of insulin is glucagon,
being a pancreatic hormone. When the blood sugar level falls below the required level, its increased secretion occurs. It enhances the breakdown of glycogen, which contributes to the release of glucose from the depot. The hormone produced by the adrenal glands - adrenaline - has the same effect.
How much blood sugar should be?
Ideally, in the morning on an empty stomach, the blood sugar should be at least three and a half and not more than five and a half mmol / l. In the event that from 5.5 to 6.6 mmol / l is detected, then doctors talk about the borderline condition, which indicates glucose tolerance. In the event that its amount is 6.7 mmol / L or higher,
doctors conduct a thorough examination for the presence of a disease such as diabetes.
In this case, some features should be taken into account in which blood sugar levels can be increased or decreased. For example, in infants, the amount of sugar is reduced. This fact is due to the physiological characteristics of babies. In infants, blood sugar levels range from 2.8 to 4.4 mmol / L. Women in position have physiological insulin resistance, so they have pedagogical packages for the development of a special type of diabetes mellitus (gestational). Most often, a sugar index above 7.8 mmol / L is observed between the fourth and eighth months. As a rule, the condition returns to normal after childbirth.
An increase in glucose occurs after eating, as well as during intense mental and physical stress. For a short time, this level can increase in pathological conditions, for example, with pain, with burns, epileptic seizure, heart attack, angina pectoris. A prolonged increase in the amount of glucose in the blood leads to glucosuria - its appearance in the urine. In this case , diabetes is diagnosed , and the doctor decides on how to reduce blood sugar.
In some diseases, on the contrary, a decrease in glucose levels occurs. This may be due to damage to the liver parenchyma, endocrine pathologies, and even dietary errors. In the event that the cells are constantly in a state of energy hunger, damage to the central nervous system can occur.