<<

Blood

What is glucose? Glucose is a type of found in . It is the main source of used by the body. is a that helps the body use and control the amount of glucose in the . Insulin is produced in the and released into the blood when the amount of glucose in the blood rises.

Normally, your blood glucose levels increase slightly after you eat. This increase causes your pancreas to release insulin so that your blood glucose levels do not get too high. Blood glucose levels that remain high over time can cause damage to your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels.

What is your blood glucose level? The is the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is also known as glucose level.

Normally blood glucose levels stay within narrow limits throughout the day: 70 – 110. But they are higher after meals and usually lowest in the morning.

Blood glucose tests are done to: Diagnose Monitor treatment of diabetes Determine whether an abnormally low blood sugar level () is present. A test to measure blood levels of a called C-peptide may be done along with a blood to determine the cause of hypoglycemia.

The standard for diagnosing diabetes is an elevated blood sugar level after an overnight fast (not eating anything after midnight). A value above 126 mg/dL on at least two occasions typically means a person has diabetes. Normal people have sugar levels that generally run between 70 – 110 mg/dL.

Patient Education PO Box 1120 • Danville, VA 24543 • 1-877-846-8930 www.gatewayhealth.com

What is a normal blood glucose level? Blood glucose levels change due to the interaction among what we eat, our physical activity and insulin. Normal values of blood glucose levels (for a person without diabetes) are between 70 and 110 mg/dL before a meal, or below 120 mg/dL 2 hours after eating a meal.

Why control blood sugar levels? For reasons that are not well understood, when very high levels of blood glucose are present for years, it to damage of the small blood vessels.

This in turn increases your risk of developing late-stage diabetes complications such as: Retinopathy (eye disease) Nephropathy ( disease) Neuropathy (nerve disease) , such as attack, , , and problems caused by poor circulation, e.g. gangrene in the worse cases.

Know your blood sugar numbers Everyone has some sugar in his or her blood. The normal amount or sugar in the blood ranges from about 70 to about 110 in people who don’t have diabetes. Blood sugar goes up after eating, but returns to normal range within one to two hours.

A good blood sugar range for most people with diabetes is from about 70 to 110. This is before a meal – like before breakfast – or four to five hours after your last meal. Your blood sugar should be less than 180 about two hours after your last meal. However, these goals vary depending on the person. For an elderly person, it might be better to have higher blood sugar and not worry so much about complications than risk having low blood sugar. You’ll need to work out your personal goal with your care team.

Remember, the fact that you feel fine doesn’t mean you can skip testing your blood sugar. You can feel fine and still have high blood sugar.

Please check with your physician regularly if your blood glucose level is above normal.

Patient Education PO Box 1120 • Danville, VA 24543 • 1-877-846-8930 www.gatewayhealth.com