Glucose is a type of sugar that is found in various foods that we eat and is a source of energy for the body. Glucose levels are maintained by the body within a range that allows the body to function normally. One might experience a change in glucose levels after eating or after heavy exercise. Low glucose levels lead to what is known as hypoglycemia, whereas high glucose levels lead to hyperglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a condition that is characterized by excessive sweating, hunger and poor mental cognition. It can also be characterized by mildly impaired motor function which may be a result of giddiness or feeling faint. Low sugar can cause tremors in the hands and one may not be able to hold a cup of coffee without shaking, for example. Extreme hypoglycemia could lead to fainting, low heart rate and lack of blood supply to the essential organs of the body.
Hyperglycemia, meanwhile, is responsible for feelings of incredible thirst, extreme fluctuations between feeling energetic and feeling fatigued, blurred vision, and increased need to urinate. When uncontrolled, hyperglycemia can cause other problems to occur in the body and can, in serious cases, damage the kidneys or even the liver due to the excessive concentration of sugar in the blood. This will cause water to be drained out of neighboring cells in order to dilute the blood sufficiently which can cause those cells to die.
Diabetes is a condition where the body's ability to regulate the sugar levels in the blood is impaired. This is caused due to the lack of insulin production or the failure of the insulin to effectively act as an agent to regulate the sugar level. In order to diagnose diabetes, a blood test will be conducted to check the level of blood sugar. This is done on a fasting or empty stomach first. A subsequent test is conducted after feeding the patient in order to judge the intake of sugar in the person's body. The results of such a test can help diagnose the absorption rate as well as the rate at which the sugar is being metabolized in the body.
Glucose levels can now be monitored by a simple test kit that is portable. This test kit requires a drop of blood to be placed on the kit's sensor and the reading will be shown from this sample. Test kits are of great use to those suffering from fluctuating sugar levels and are particularly important for diabetics.
Submitted by M T on April 14, 2010 at 12:22