Serum glucose and triglycerides refer to the levels of sugar and fatty acids in your bloodstream, respectively. Glucose and triglycerides enter your blood externally from your diet and internally from your liver. Serum glucose and triglycerides are common blood tests used to screen for various health conditions. It is normal to have a certain amount of sugar and fatty acids circulating in your blood; however, when levels become too high, it signals a problems within your body.
Diabetes
When your fasting blood glucose levels measure above 126 mg/dL on more than one occasion, it points to the disease diabetes mellitus. In diabetes, the body is unable to remove sugar from the blood, so serum glucose levels remain persistently high. Diabetes leads to many complications, such as eye problems, foot ulcers, kidney damage, nerve injury and cardiovascular disease. Serum triglycerides levels are also often higher in people with diabetes.
Hyperglycemia & Pre-Diabetes
When serum glucose is elevated above normal levels, but it's not high enough to be classified as overt diabetes, the conditions is generically called hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar. Hyperglycemia suggests that your body is progressing toward diabetes, a condition called pre-diabetes. Triglyceride levels typically rise also, because your body begins to have problems with metabolizing fats. Hyperglycemia may have no symptoms, or you may experience frequent thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger and poor wound healing.
Syndrome X or Metabolic Syndrome
When triglycerides and blood glucose are elevated, syndrome X, also called metabolic syndrome, is probable. With syndrome X, your liver produces excess triglycerides which enter the blood stream at a rate that overwhelms your body's ability to clear them. Syndrome X is often associated with elevated cholesterol, obesity, increased insulin and high blood pressure. This increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Fatty Liver
High blood glucose and triglycerides are associated with fatty liver. Fatty liver is caused by obesity, excessive intake of alcohol or prescription drugs and rapid weight loss. Fat deposits in your the liver impair the organ's ability to properly detoxify your body. Fatty liver also increases your risk of high blood pressure, syndrome X, Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, in which your body becomes unable to properly utilize the insulin needed to control blood sugar.
Other Conditions
Elevated serum glucose and triglycerides may occur for a wide variety of reasons. Aside from the above-mentioned conditions, high blood levels of glucose and triglycerides can result from stress, malnutrition, thyroid problems, adrenal malfunction, kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatic problems, infection, tumors, cardiovascular disease, obesity and pregnancy. It's best to work with a qualified health care professional to determine the underlying cause of aberrant lab values.
References
- "Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis - Clinical Laboratory Testing from a Functional Perspective"; Dicken Weatherby, N.D. & Scott Ferguson, N.D.; 2002
- Lab Tests Online: Glucose
- Lab Tests Online: Triglycerides
