Blood sugar level

The blood sugar level, blood sugar concentration, blood glucose level, or glycemia is the measure of <a href="/facts/Glucose/oUSkoLCD">glucose</a> concentrated in the <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">blood</a>. The body tightly <a href="/facts/Blood_sugar_regulation/lYEBdPKr">regulates blood glucose levels</a> as a part of metabolic <a href="/facts/Homeostasis/rloTGAHa">homeostasis</a>.
For a 70 kg (154 lb) human, approximately four grams of <a href="/facts/Aqueous_solution/eRNr3MH2">dissolved</a> glucose (also called "blood glucose") is maintained in the <a href="/facts/Blood_plasma/oHuwwugG">blood plasma</a> at all times. Glucose that is not circulating in the blood is stored in <a href="/facts/Skeletal_muscle/en1tVYFN">skeletal muscle</a> and <a href="/facts/Liver/Rtp4Fk2b">liver</a> cells in the form of <a href="/facts/Glycogen/kWa8fPFE">glycogen</a>; in <a href="/facts/Fasting/mL2xf6C1">fasting</a> individuals, blood glucose is maintained at a constant level by releasing just enough glucose from these glycogen stores in the liver and skeletal muscle in order to maintain homeostasis. Glucose can be transported from the intestines or liver to other tissues in the body via the bloodstream. Cellular glucose uptake is primarily regulated by <a href="/facts/Insulin/oXG0myt1">insulin</a>, a <a href="/facts/Hormone/WFnBnINJ">hormone</a> produced in the <a href="/facts/Pancreas/r0WPGjAq">pancreas</a>. Once inside the cell, the glucose can now act as an energy source as it undergoes the process of <a href="/facts/Glycolysis/a5ApxLoG">glycolysis</a>.
In humans, properly maintained glucose levels are necessary for normal function in a number of tissues, including the <a href="/facts/Human_brain/qfSwSB8K">human brain</a>, which consumes approximately 60% of blood glucose in fasting, sedentary individuals. A persistent elevation in blood glucose leads to glucose toxicity, which contributes to cell dysfunction and the pathology grouped together as complications of <a href="/facts/Diabetes/2xeHXbsI">diabetes</a>.
Glucose levels are usually lowest in the morning, before the first meal of the day, and rise after meals for an hour or two by a few <a href="/facts/Millimolar/P2WL5b9q">millimoles</a> per litre.
Abnormal persistently high glycemia is referred to as <a href="/facts/Hyperglycemia/HM8eNqfX">hyperglycemia</a>; low levels are referred to as <a href="/facts/Hypoglycemia/BlAmuP6k">hypoglycemia</a>. <a href="/facts/Diabetes_mellitus/2xeHXbsI">Diabetes mellitus</a> is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia from a variety of causes, and it is the most prominent disease related to the failure of blood sugar regulation. Diabetes mellitus is also characterized by frequent episodes of low sugar, or <a href="/facts/Hypoglycemia/BlAmuP6k">hypoglycemia</a>. There are different methods of <a href="/facts/Glucose_test/2UQUR5fJ">testing</a> and measuring blood sugar levels.
Drinking <a href="/facts/Alcohol_(drug)/IeK2fVd5">alcohol</a> causes an initial surge in blood sugar and later tends to cause levels to fall. Also, certain drugs can increase or decrease glucose levels.

Blood sugar level open-in-new

Blood sugar level