A type of sugar called glucose serves as the main source of your energy. When you hear references to blood sugar, it refers to glucose. You get glucose from the foods you eat, mainly carbohydrates. When your body does not use or tolerate glucose normally, blood sugar levels can become abnormal. Several medical conditions relate to your blood sugar levels. Diabetes -- the most well known -- means your blood sugar level is high, while hypoglycemia means your level is too low.
Glucose Testing
You can have your blood-sugar level determined with a simple blood test. The test involves having a small amount of blood removed from a vein, usually in your hand or arm. To remove the blood, a nurse or another trained medical professional will insert a small needle into a large and easily accessibly vein. The procedure takes just a few minutes and causes only minimal pain when inserting the needle in the vein.
Normal Glucose Levels
Measurements for glucose levels are in milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL. Normal, healthy readings fall below 100 mg/dL, Medline Plus reports. Readings between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL indicate prediabetes. These readings mean you have an impaired glucose fasting ability and you are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Readings in excess of 126 mg/dL indicate you have diabetes.
Hyperglycemia
High blood-sugar levels -- or hyperglycemia -- indicate diabetes, but other conditions can also cause high readings. More rarely, conditions such as Cushing disease, acromegaly and pancreatitis can lead to high glucose levels, among others. There are two forms of diabetes: type 1, usually diagnosed in children and adolescents, and type 2, linked to obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes usually presents with symptoms such as increased hunger and thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, fatigue and irritability, the American Diabetes Association reports. Meanwhile, people who develop type 2 diabetes often notice no symptoms. In some cases, though, you may notice frequent or recurrent infections, slow-healing wounds, blurred vision and tingling in the hands and feet. Symptoms associated with type 1 diabetes can also develop in people with type 2.
Hypoglycemia
Low glucose levels -- or hypoglycemia -- often develop as a side effect of diabetes treatment, although certain medical conditions can also cause blood sugar levels to be lower than normal. Many symptoms can develop when glucose levels drop too low, including nervousness, sweating, shaking, difficulty speaking, anxiety, weakness, confusion, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness and hunger. Some people also experience drops in blood-sugar levels while sleeping. In these cases, signs include nightmares or crying in your sleep, being confused or tired when waking and awakening to damp or wet pajamas or sheets from excessive perspiration.
