Insulin stops blood glucose levels from rising too high by causing glucose to move out of the bloodstream and into the cells, and by interfering with the synthesis of new glucose. Diabetics with type 1 diabetes have to use insulin to control their...
When your body breaks down the food that you eat, it converts it into glucose, a simple sugar that circulates through the blood and is fed to cells throughout your body. Glucose acts as the primary source of energy for cells in your body. Your...
Chromium is the metal that works with insulin to regulate blood glucose. The normal fasting blood glucose level is 70 to 100 mg per dl. Normal metabolism and good health are more easily maintained when plasma glucose is at normal levels. Insulin...
Glucose is the principal sugar that is made by the body and used to produce energy. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are broken down by the body into glucose. Once glucose is in the bloodstream, it requires insulin to help maintain a healthy...
As the incidence of diabetes rises in developed countries, more people are growing concerned about their blood glucose levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that 1 in every 3 Americans could have diabetes by 2050. If you...
Glucose and insulin are two chemicals found in the body. Glucose is an energy source for the body, and generally the main energy source. Insulin is a hormone, meaning a chemical that is released into the blood to make changes in other parts of the...
Your body is made for survival, which means it can store nutrients for later use. While this may have been helpful when meals were few and far between, in a society where overindulgence rules, it is not as useful. When you eat, the response to...
Coffee is a stimulating beverage enjoyed by many Americans throughout the day. Regular coffee consumption offers many health benefits that include lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels and possibly protecting against Parkinson's...
Just as we receive and act on signals from our environment, our cells also receive and act on signals from their environment, our bodies. This is a necessary biological occurrence that keeps cells alive and functioning. Insulin is a hormone...
IV insulin therapy is used in the hospital setting under certain conditions to improve glucose control and patient outcome. Current guidelines recommend maintaining glucose levels below 200 mg/dL while in intensive care, according to Battle Creek...
A low blood glucose level, or hypoglycemia, occurs when your blood sugar drops below normal and can be a concern in people with diabetes. When blood glucose levels decrease, the body typically uses stored glucose or fat to provide energy; however,...
For type I diabetics--and some type II diabetics--insulin injections are the key to better glucose control and a healthier life. Insulin injections provide your body with what your pancreas can't produce. Regular insulin injections can prevent...
Glucose is the main source of fuel for tissues in the body. Blood glucose levels are regulated by the hormone insulin; when blood glucose levels are high, the pancreas releases insulin, which causes liver, muscle and fat tissue to pull insulin out...
Dr. R. M. Wilders from Mayo Clinic developed the ketogenic diet in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy in children. When anti-seizure medications became more readily available, the high-fat low-carbohydrate diet fell out of favor. However,...
In a healthy individual, blood sugar is regulated automatically by insulin that is produced in the body. Diabetes is a blood glucose condition affecting the way the body reacts to insulin, which regulates blood sugar. In some diabetes patients,...
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin at all, notes MayoClinic.com. Previously, Type 1 diabetes was known as juvenile diabetes because it often occurs during adolescence. Managing Type 1 diabetes requires diet...
Chronically high blood glucose levels generally occur due to problems with insulin. Blood glucose levels can become high if your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or if your body does not respond properly to what insulin is produced. If you...
Blood glucose levels are regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. It tells muscle, fat and liver cells to pull glucose out of the blood. People who do not make enough insulin have a condition known as type 1 diabetes,...
Goodbye Atkins diet! Trendy, high protein diets are not sustainable and can result in long-term negative health effects. Instead, eating an abundance of high fiber foods can assist in weight loss by providing satiety, reducing overall caloric...
Glucose metabolism is a term that describes the way your body absorbs glucose, or sugar, from food sources and uses it to perform various internal functions. The efficiency of glucose metabolism in your body has marked effects on the energy levels...
Blood glucose is a term that describes the amount of sugar, or glucose, that enters your bloodstream from the various foods in your diet. Persistent high levels of glucose in your blood can expose you to serious health risks from a condition...
Insulin is a pancreas gland hormone that helps regulate your blood glucose levels by sending chemical signals to your liver and other cells throughout your body. If you regularly drink a lot of coffee, it can desensitize your body to insulin's...
Insulin is a hormone critical for regulating blood glucose levels. If you have problems making or utilizing insulin, your blood glucose levels will be chronically high, which leads to diabetes. Unusually high or low blood glucose levels can be...
Biology Online explains that the body requires glucose in order to create adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. ATP provides the energy that fuels most of the biochemical reactions in the body. Since the demand for ATP fluctuates according to exercise,...
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Beta cells in the pancreas release insulin every time you eat a meal or snack to help the simple sugar--glucose--travel to the cells throughout the body. Insulin allows the body to use foods, in the...
Insulin is released from your pancreas when excess glucose is present in your bloodstream. Glucose is mainly a breakdown product of carbohydrate digestion. If your body does not need glucose at a given moment the glucose will be stored in your...
The Carbohydrate Addict's diet was developed by Drs. Rachael and Richard Heller and first introduced in 1993, according to The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting. This method of eating requires that dieters limit...
Gin is a popular spirit for martinis and other drinks. Distilled spirits such as gin have seven calories per gram, but it's tough to know just exactly what that means to your waistline when you're trying to add up calories. You may find it easier...
Metformin is an oral prescription medication that is used to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Drugs.com notes that metformin can be used on its own or in combination with other medications. Popular brand names for...
Grains and cereals, including wheat and rice, are the foundation of a healthy diet and the food pyramid. Try these tips for buying grains and whole grain in this healthy shopping video.
Diabetes is a disease wherein the body cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar. Learn about diabetes including treatment options in this medical video.
Soluble fiber is important for maintaining regularity in digestion. Try these tips for buying soluble fiber in this healthy shopping video.
The glycemic index is used to measure how consumed carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels. Learn about the glycemic index, including uses and origins, in this video.