There is a lot of talk about blood glucose level nowadays. Diabetes mellitus has become a popular and affluent disease, and the blood sugar level fluctuates back and forth in this disease. Further, there are various diets that are said to be directly related to influencing blood sugar levels (e.g. the Glyx diet). What exactly is blood glucose level, what does it regulate, what does it say and how can it be influenced?
What is the blood glucose level?
A blood glucose level test is used by doctors to further diagnose various diseases. In healthy people, the blood sugar level is regulated by the pancreas. Its value tells how much sugar is in the blood at the moment. One of the tasks of the blood is to transport the sugar into the cells with the help of insulin so that it can be converted into energy there. If this is disturbed due to illness, blood sugar slips such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can occur, which can be life-threatening. A low-fat, low-sugar diet and exercise, insulin-promoting drugs and insulin injections have a blood sugar-lowering effect. Blood sugar levels rise with sweet, high-fat foods and high-carbohydrate foods (e.g., lots of pasta) and little exercise. Although diabetics primarily need to watch only the dosage of carbohydrates, fat is converted to sugar in the body (and vice versa), which can also cause blood sugar levels to rise.
High and low blood sugar levels
A guideline for blood glucose levels in the normal range is given as 80-120mg% (fasting). A maximum value of 160mg% is also still within the normal range after food intake. In young diabetics, these guideline values should be meticulously adhered to in view of long-term and late effects. Older diabetics and seniors might not have to be quite so strict with themselves, but should still pay attention to an appropriate blood glucose value. A high or low blood glucose level should not be considered pathological without exception. At night, the blood glucose level drops. A healthy person can have a blood glucose level of 40mg% during this time and still be perfectly healthy. A diabetic should take immediate action at such a blood glucose level, as such a low blood glucose level can become life-threatening for him. Even in the non-diabetic, the blood glucose level fluctuates during the day. Immediately after food intake, it rises, if no food was fed for a longer time, it drops, one feels tired and unfocused, gets ravenous hunger and desire for sweets.
Measure and evaluate blood glucose levels
Blood glucose level is measured by blood glucose meter. This is a medical device about the size of a calculator or smaller cell phone that patients should always carry with them. A new test strip (stick) is inserted each time and a small amount of blood is sprinkled on it. In this way, the blood glucose meter determines the current blood glucose level. Such devices are available in pharmacies. Furthermore, “long-term glucose values” can be tested in the laboratory. Here, a larger quantity of blood is taken and the Hba1c value is determined. This provides information on how blood glucose levels have developed over the past few weeks. Diabetics should record each reading (up to four times a day) in a book, this is important for the correct dosage of medication.
Disorders and diseases
The most notable disease related to blood glucose levels is diabetes mellitus (“honey-sweet flow”). In this disease, there are massive blood glucose slips because the pancreas (pancreas) stops working properly. It is not able to regulate the blood sugar level with enough insulin, this can also be only partially the case. It is also possible that no insulin is produced at all. With this disease, the patient is not considered chronically ill or disabled, but “limited healthy”, nevertheless, diabetes mellitus can bring serious complications and even lead to death in case of severe derailments (untreated). Since diabetes mellitus is now considered a widespread disease, it can be treated very well with dietary adjustments, exercise, special tablets and insulin injections. Nevertheless, this disease is not reversible and persists throughout life.However, the development of type II diabetes (“adult-onset diabetes”) can be effectively prevented by a balanced diet, exercise, and normal weight.
