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Glucose Express

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60% of the energy required by the body is provided by carbohydrates consumed through food. In the gastrointestinal tract, complex carbohydrates (mainly the polysaccharide starch) are broken down into simple molecules—monosaccharides—by enzymes and absorbed into the bloodstream. Glucose accounts for 80% of monosaccharides.

Most human cells can store glucose in limited amounts. However, three types of cells serve as the primary glucose storage:

  • Liver cells (hepatocytes)
  • Muscle cells (myocytes)
  • Fat tissue cells (adipocytes)

Unlike other tissues, the brain cannot synthesize or store glucose. For normal brain function, the minimum blood glucose concentration should be 3 mmol/L.

Hepatocytes and myocytes store glucose as glycogen, a high-molecular-weight polymer of glucose.

During the day, blood glucose levels typically range between 3.5 mmol/L and 8 mmol/L.

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose Levels:

Hormone

Secretion Organ

Response Trigger

Main Effect on Blood Sugar

Insulin

Pancreas (beta cells)

Increased glucose levels

Decreases

Glucagon

Pancreas (alpha cells)

Decreased glucose levels

Increases

Adrenaline

Adrenal glands (medulla)

Stress

Increases

Cortisol

Adrenal glands

Elevated glucose levels and/or stress

Increases

Growth Hormone

Pituitary gland (anterior)

Decreased glucose levels and/or stress

Increases

 

In healthy pregnant women, fasting blood glucose levels may be lower due to the developing fetus's glucose needs. Hormonal adaptations during pregnancy increase insulin sensitivity, facilitating glucose transport to the fetus. However, some women may develop gestational diabetes due to a relative insulin deficiency. Pregnant women should be screened for gestational diabetes between 24–28 weeks. This condition usually resolves after childbirth.

Severe hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia can be life-threatening, leading to organ dysfunction, brain issues, or coma. Chronically elevated glucose levels can damage the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels, and nervous system. Prolonged hypoglycemia can harm the brain and nervous system.

 

  • Sample Type: Venous and capillary blood.
  • Do not eat for 12 hours before the test (minimum of 8 and a maximum of 14 hours).
  • Avoid physical and emotional stress 30 minutes before the test.
  • Refrain from smoking 30 minutes before the test.
  • Avoid overeating the day before the examination.
  • Diagnosis and monitoring of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
  • Gestational glucose tolerance testing in pregnant women with obesity or excess weight.
  • Thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary gland disorders.
  • Liver diseases.
  • Glucose tolerance testing for individuals predisposed to diabetes.
  • Preventive screening for individuals over 45 without diabetes.
  • Symptoms of fainting or weakness.
  • Evaluation of patients with a genetic predisposition to diabetes.

Increased Glucose Levels (Hyperglycemia):

  • Diabetes in adults and children.
  • Physiological hyperglycemia (stress, physical exertion, emotions, smoking, adrenaline surge during injections, trauma, or pain).
  • Pheochromocytoma, thyrotoxicosis, acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, somatostatinoma.
  • Pancreatic diseases: acute and chronic pancreatitis, mumps, cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, pancreatic tumors.
  • Chronic liver and kidney diseases.

Decreased Glucose Levels (Hypoglycemia):

  • Pancreatic diseases (beta-cell hyperplasia, islet adenoma or carcinoma, insulinoma, alpha-cell deficiency—glucagon deficiency).
  • Addison's disease, adrenogenital syndrome, hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism.
  • Excessive doses of glucose-lowering drugs and insulin.
  • Severe liver diseases: cirrhosis, hepatitis, carcinoma, hemochromatosis.
  • Non-pancreatic malignant tumors.
  • Enzyme deficiencies.
  • Prolonged fasting, malabsorption syndrome, dumping syndrome.
  • Poisoning (arsenic, chloroform, salicylates, antihistamines, alcohol intoxication).
  • Physical stress or fever.
  • Use of anabolic steroids, propranolol, amphetamines, acetaminophen.
  • Mild hypoglycemic states: in obesity or mild Type 2 diabetes (3-4 hours after meals when insulin peaks).
  • CNS disorders: acute purulent meningitis, tuberculosis meningitis, cryptococcal meningitis, encephalitis (e.g., mumps-related), nonbacterial meningoencephalitis, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
  • Spontaneous hypoglycemia in sarcoidosis.