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Glucose

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Carbohydrates from food provide 60% of the energy needed by the body. In the gastrointestinal tract, complex carbohydrates (primarily starch polysaccharides) are broken down by enzymes into simple molecules—monosaccharides, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. Glucose makes up 80% of these monosaccharides.

Most human cells can store a limited amount of glucose. However, the primary storage sites for glucose are three types of cells:

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

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

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

The blood glucose concentration typically ranges between 3.5 mmol/L and 8 mmol/L throughout the day.

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose Levels

Hormone

Organ of Secretion

Response Trigger

Effect on Blood Sugar

Insulin

Pancreas (beta cells)

Increased glucose levels

Lowers

Glucagon

Pancreas (alpha cells)

Decreased glucose levels

Raises

Adrenaline (epinephrine)

Adrenal glands (medulla)

Stress

Raises

Cortisol

Adrenal glands

High glucose levels/stress

Raises

Growth Hormone

Anterior pituitary gland

Low glucose levels/stress

Raises

 

Glucose and Pregnancy

In healthy pregnant women, fasting glucose levels may be lower than in non-pregnant periods due to the growing fetus's glucose needs. Hormonal adaptations during pregnancy increase maternal insulin sensitivity, facilitating glucose transfer to the fetus. However, in some cases, relative insulin deficiency can lead to gestational diabetes.

Pregnant women should be screened for gestational diabetes between 24–28 weeks of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes typically resolves after delivery.

Risks of Abnormal Glucose Levels

Severe forms of hyperglycemia (high glucose) or hypoglycemia (low glucose) can be life-threatening, causing organ failure, brain dysfunction, or coma.

  • Chronic hyperglycemia damages the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels, and nervous system.
  • Chronic hypoglycemia can impair brain and nervous system function.

Type of Biomaterial: Venous and capillary blood.

It is not recommended to eat for 12 hours before the test (minimum of 8 and maximum of 14 hours).

Physical and emotional stress should be avoided 30 minutes before the test.

Do not smoke 30 minutes prior to the analysis.

Avoid overeating the day before the examination

Diagnostics and Monitoring

  • Diagnosis and monitoring of insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy in patients with obesity or excess body weight
  • Pathologies of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland
  • Liver diseases
  • Glucose tolerance testing in patients predisposed to diabetes
  • Preventive screening for non-diabetic patients (over 45 years old)
  • Episodes of fainting or weakness
  • Examination of patients with a genetic predisposition to diabetes

Elevated Glucose Levels (Hyperglycemia):

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

Reduced Glucose Levels (Hypoglycemia):

  • Pancreatic diseases (beta-cell hyperplasia, adenoma or carcinoma of Langerhans islets), insulinoma, alpha-cell deficiency (glucagon deficiency)
  • Addison’s disease, adrenogenital syndrome, hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism
  • Use of high doses of hypoglycemic drugs and insulin
  • Severe liver diseases: cirrhosis, hepatitis, carcinoma, hemochromatosis
  • Malignant non-pancreatic tumors
  • Enzyme deficiencies (enzymopathies)
  • Prolonged fasting, malabsorption syndrome, dumping syndrome
  • Poisoning with arsenic, chloroform, salicylates, antihistamines, or alcohol intoxication
  • Severe physical stress or elevated body temperature
  • Use of anabolic steroids, propranolol, amphetamines, acetaminophen
  • Mild hypoglycemic states in obesity or mild type II diabetes (3–4 hours after meals during peak insulin effect)
  • Central nervous system diseases: acute purulent meningitis, tuberculous meningitis, cryptococcal meningitis, encephalitis caused by mumps, non-bacterial meningoencephalitis, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
  • Spontaneous hypoglycemia in sarcoidosis