Blood sugar is considered one of the important indicators of health. Any deviation up or down threatens with serious complications. A feature of the carbohydrate indicator is that this unit is unstable, due to internal and external factors it changes daily, and at certain periods of life. In medicine, generally accepted normal indicators of human blood sugar are distinguished, on the basis of which it is possible to judge possible diseases. Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out what is the norm, what verification methods exist and what to do to stabilize the condition.
Glucose in human blood
When sugar enters the body, it cannot be assimilated in its pure form. For the normal functioning of internal systems and organs, its splitting is necessary. This natural process occurs under the influence of enzymes, united under the general name - glycosidases or sucrose. They are produced by the small intestine and pancreas. In the same organs, glucose is absorbed into the blood.
Its main source is foods high in carbohydrates. The normal blood sugar level in women and men is very important, being a kind of indicator, it reports that the cells receive nutrition in the required volume for functioning. This indicator is especially important for bone and muscle tissue, as well as for the brain and heart, which need much more energy than other organs.
Danger of deviation of normal blood sugar:
- A decrease in glucose causes starvation of cells. If the necessary energy is not received, their functionality is violated. In chronic deficiency, the brain and nervous system are affected.
- Excess component is localized in tissue proteins. This ultimately leads to damage to the kidneys, heart, blood vessels and nerve cells.
In order to prevent pathological changes in the body, it is necessary to carefully control the level of glucose. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with what blood sugar indicators are considered normal, how to identify the first alarming signs and prevent irreversible processes. But before taking the sugar test, you should prepare for it. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully study the information that will help to obtain the most accurate results.
What is a normal blood sugar
To obtain data on the sugar content, a blood test is necessary. In the presence of a glucometer, a person can do this research himself. The data obtained can only be verified with normal indicators.
The table below shows the normal blood sugar levels of an adult and a child:
| Age category | Fasting glucose in mmol / L |
| up to 1 month | 2.8 - 4.4 |
| from 1 month under 14 years old | 3.3 - 5.5 |
| from 15 to 60 years old | 4.1 - 5.9 |
| In pregnant women | 4.6 - 6.7 |
Deviation from the norm indicates violations in the body, which requires adjustment.
Permissible deviations from normal blood sugar
The body's aging processes also affect blood glucose. This is due to the fact that throughout life there is wear of all functionally important organs and systems. Therefore, a natural deviation from normal blood sugar levels of an adult over 65 years is allowed.
A change is considered acceptable - up to 4.6-6.7 mmol / l.
Exceeding these indicators is the first sign of the development of diabetes.
At the age of over 50, it is recommended to regularly conduct a blood test for sugar level once every six months. This will allow you to control deviations and identify existing pathologies before irreversible processes begin.
Signs and causes of high sugar
Abnormal changes in normal blood sugar in an adult, in medicine it is customary to call hyperglycemia. Their temporary excess is most often associated with excessive physical exertion, overwork. But if the values โโare kept at such a level constantly, then diseases of the endocrine system can provoke this state, as a result of which the production of glucose in the body significantly exceeds its consumption.
Short-term excess does not negatively affect overall health. But if the deviation is fixed for a long period, then this leads to a violation of metabolism at the cellular level, weakened immunity, decreased blood circulation, dysfunction of organs and systems, death.
The following diseases can be the cause of a steady excess of the normal blood sugar index:
- diabetes;
- hyperthyroidism;
- failure of the functionality of the hypothalamus, which regulates the functioning of the endocrine glands;
- pituitary disease;
- infectious hepatitis.
Characteristic signs of hyperglycemia:
- insatiable thirst;
- increased dryness in the oral cavity;
- frequent urination;
- drowsiness;
- causeless fatigue;
- weight loss;
- decreased visual acuity;
- causeless irritability, short temper;
- rapid breathing;
- deep breaths;
- taste of acetone;
- regular infectious diseases;
- sensation of goosebumps and trembling in the limbs.
The presence of several of the signs listed above is the reason for checking blood sugar. Normal indicators of a blood test can dispel all fears of a person, and a deviation will help slow down the pathological process and put it back.
Causes and characteristic symptoms of low levels
A stable violation of normal blood sugar, accompanied by hypoglycemia, negatively affects the general well-being of a person. The pathological process continues to develop, since glucose is an energy "fuel" for all systems and organs.
The reasons for the decline may be as follows:
- acute, chronic diseases;
- overfatigue, which provoked a breakdown;
- emotional stress;
- low carb diet
- non-observance of food intake;
- violation of the function of the pancreas, responsible for the synthesis of insulin;
- kidney disease
- failure of the hypothalamus functionality;
- pathological changes in the adrenal glands.
Hypoglycemia can be recognized by the following signs:
- sudden general weakness;
- increased sweating;
- tremor in the limbs and throughout the body;
- causeless concern;
- nervous excitability;
- irritability;
- hunger;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness;
- confusion of thoughts;
- lack of concentration.
People with glycemia are recommended to always have on hand foods containing carbohydrates in an accessible form: sweets, chocolate. With a decrease in blood sugar, it is necessary to adjust the diet, avoid physical and psycho-emotional stress, observe the daily routine and eight-hour sleep.
How to prepare for the analysis
To get the most reliable result of a study on blood sugar, you should first prepare.
Biological material should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. In this case, the last meal should be at least 8 hours before. In addition to food, a person should not drink liquid. Only a small amount of clean water is allowed.
This is due to the fact that when food enters the body, insulin synthesis occurs, which significantly increases the level compared to the normal fasting blood sugar. The glucose concentration after 1 hour after a meal is about 10 mmol / L; after 2 hours, this indicator drops to 8 mmol / L.
The results of the study are affected by the composition of the products. When eating foods high in carbohydrates, you must pause at 14 o'clock, otherwise the analysis may turn out to be erroneous.
Glucose levels also change under the influence of physical activity, emotional imbalance and associated infectious diseases. You should not donate blood for examination after massage, training, a long walk, x-rays and other physiotherapeutic procedures.
It is strictly forbidden to take alcohol for 48 hours and smoke 6 hours before analysis. Ignoring these rules will lead to the futility of the procedure, as its results will be incorrect.
If at the time of the study a person is prescribed medication, then it is worth informing the doctor in advance.
Verification Methods
A deviation from normal cholesterol and blood sugar can be detected using several types of laboratory tests. Each of them has certain rules of conduct. Identifying the exact concentration of glucose allows you to diagnose various pathologies in the body.
Fasting blood test.
An analysis should be done that helps to identify a pathological deviation from normal blood sugar, on an empty stomach. That is, it is carried out 8-14 hours after eating.
The basis for the conduct are:
- routine inspection;
- obesity;
- dysfunction of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, liver, adrenal glands;
- the appearance of alarming signs of deviation;
- as a monitoring of the patient's condition in the detection of diabetes and the prerequisites for its development;
- to exclude the gestational form of this disease in a pregnant woman at 24-28 weeks.
Study with glucose load.
If the previous results cause a number of doubts in the doctor, then a special glucose tolerance test is used. This procedure is necessary to detect diabetes and a failure of carbohydrate metabolism in the body.
This study is prescribed for:
- clinical symptoms of diabetes mellitus in combination with normal glucose readings;
- periodic appearance of glucose in the urine;
- causeless retinopathy;
- increased daily urine volume;
- hereditary predisposition to diabetes.
During the study, the patient takes blood on an empty stomach. Then he is given 75 g of glucose with tea. For children, this norm is determined at the rate of 1.75 g per 1 kg of weight.
If a repeated analysis after 1-2 hours shows a sugar level within 7.8 mmol / l, then there is no need to talk about deviations. If the results of the study showed a glucose level of 11.1 mmol / l and higher, then this is a confirmation of the development of diabetes mellitus. With a slight excess in numbers of 7.8, but less than 11.1 mmol / l, we can judge the violation of tolerance to the component.
Glycated hemoglobin.
This study measures the concentration of erythrocyte hemoglobin with glucose in the blood. This allows you to identify the presence of deviations from the norm over the past 2-3 months.
To conduct an analysis, a patient is sampled after a 2-3-hour fast. The main advantage of the method is that its results are not affected by the presence of infection, stress and medication during this period.
The study is assigned:
- with suspected prediabetes and diabetes;
- in order to monitor the condition of a patient suffering from diabetes;
- to determine the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy.
The level of glycated hemoglobin is measured as a percentage of the total protein in the blood. The norm is considered less than 6%. Its excess confirms the development of diabetes.
Fructosamine.
This study allows you to establish the level of connection of glucose with proteins. This makes it possible to determine the dynamics of deviations over the past 2-3 weeks. To obtain a result, blood is drawn from a vein after a break in food lasting 8 hours. The norm is considered an indicator in the range up to 319 ฮผmol / l.
The basis for the study is:
- a sharp change in therapy for diabetes;
- monitoring the status of a pregnant woman with diabetes;
- anemia.
C peptide.
This component is an integral part of pancreatic secretion. Determining the level of c-peptide in the body helps determine the synthesis of hemoglobin. Measurement also allows the diagnosis of diabetes and the effectiveness of its treatment. The concentration of c-peptide in the body is a constant unit, so this makes it possible to obtain the most accurate data on hemoglobin.
Normal fasting rates range from 260โ1730 pmol / L. Food can provoke an increase, the intake of hormonal drugs, glucocorticosteroids, and the use of contraceptives. With the exclusion of these factors, an excess of the level indicates the development of beta-cell hypertrophy, a pituitary tumor, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and renal failure.
Deviation of the indicator to a smaller side may indicate stress, alcohol hypoglycemia, an overdose of insulin.
If sugar is more than normal, what to do
If a deviation is detected to a greater extent from normal blood sugar levels after meals and before meals, it is recommended to take certain actions that will help stabilize the situation:
- You should exclude from the diet foods that differ in the content of carbohydrates and fats in an accessible form (sweets, sugar, flour products, potatoes, soda, jam, chocolate).
- If possible, instead of sugar, use its substitute, if you canโt completely refuse.
- Take food in small portions 5-6 times a day.
- Increase dietary fiber.
- Reduce salt intake.
- Increase protein content.
- To spend more walks in the fresh air in a moderate rhythm.
- Introduce a large amount of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs into the diet.
How to raise a low level
To increase glucose levels, you should follow simple recommendations:
- Eat regularly at least 4-5 times a day.
- Introduce marine fish, beans, nuts, olive oil, cottage cheese into the diet.
- Do not lean on sweets, sweets, chocolate, as this will provoke a sharp jump in glucose and adversely affect overall health.
- 10 minutes before the start of the workout, it is recommended to drink a glass of fruit juice.
- Limit the use of alcohol, strong coffee and completely stop smoking.
conclusions
A careful attitude to your health will help not only to identify pathological changes at an early stage, but also help to minimize the risk of developing diabetes.
Blood sugar levels can be constantly monitored. To do this, you need to purchase a glucometer and, with suspicious signs, measure.