A physician may order a test of the sugar level in your blood if there is a concern that you may be diabetic or have a sugar level that is either too high or too low. The test, which is also called a check of blood sugar, fasting blood sugar,...
Diabetes is a serious medical condition that, if not well controlled, can lead to heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and amputations. Diabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels get too high, however some types of diabetes can be prevented...
Glucose, which is the main source of energy for your brain and muscles, circulates throughout your body in your blood. In healthy individuals, a number of physiological processes work together to control the levels of glucose in your blood and...
Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is made when your child digests food. Her pancreas produces insulin, which helps break down the blood sugar and use it to provide her body with energy. If her body uses too much or too little insulin, the amount...
Glucose--commonly referred to as blood sugar--is a substance your child's body needs to keep his body energized. Your child's brain, organs and cells use glucose to fuel all of their varied functions. The best way to help your child maintain...
The blood sugar level is a measure of how much glucose, or sugar, is in the blood. High blood sugar levels are an indication of diabetes, a health condition characterized by the inability of the body to properly regulate blood sugar levels. Rates...
In 2010, approximately 215,000 people under the age of 20 were diagnosed with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually manifests in childhood, but due to increasing rates of obesity, more children are developing type 2 diabetes. Over the long term,...
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use the insulin that is available. This allows blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels to rise to unhealthy levels. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to...
Diabetics must control their blood sugar levels to avoid complications from uncontrolled diabetes, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. Monitor your blood sugar levels at home to take control of your diabetes...
Your body uses sugar to make energy and you get a steady supply from your diet. Your body also stores sugar for use when your blood levels are low. In normal, healthy individuals, the body regulates blood sugar levels with two chemicals released...
Most people don't really give much thought to their blood sugar levels. However, if you have diabetes, you need to monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure that your treatment plan is working, as blood glucose levels that are too high or too...
Sugar, also known as glucose, is the way your cells obtain energy for normal functioning. A regular supply of energy is through blood glucose. After you eat, especially a meal containing carbohydrates, the small intestines pass the nutrients into...
Glucose is a simple sugar that can be converted to energy by living cells. The carbohydrates you consume must be converted to glucose before they can be utilized by your body, because glucose is the preferred source of fuel for your cells. When...
As of 2007, more than 23 million Americans were living with diabetes. Of those 23 million, approximately 12 million of them are adult men. Whether you have diabetes or not, the American Diabetes Association recommends regular evaluation of your...
Blood sugar levels after meals, also called postprandial blood glucose, can tell you a lot about how well your body responds to carbohydrates, whether you are diabetic or not. Often, when a person is in a pre-diabetic state, blood sugar will rise...
Drawing a blood sample is a normal part of your child's routine physical exam. When sent to the laboratory, her blood is tested for abnormalities that may indicate disease or other potential health problems. One significant indicator is high blood...
Whether foods contain natural or added sugar, your body responds the same way. If you don't burn all the sugar calories that you consume, you store them as fat. If you have diabetes, dietary sugar can disturb your blood sugar levels. You can...
Hypoglycemia, or high blood sugar, affects those who have diabetes. Hypoglycemia causes various symptoms when glucose levels become significantly elevated. Prolonged exposure to high blood sugars can lead to severe and life-threatening...
A normal fasting sugar level is typically in the range of 60 to 110 mg/dL. In other words, this is the concentration of glucose in your blood after your body has had an opportunity to metabolize your last meal. A normal blood sugar level means...
Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is the body's main energy source. Your body converts the carbohydrates you eat into glucose. A normal blood sugar level is 70 to 100 mg/dL if you haven't eaten and less than 140 mg/dL after you eat. If you...
Glucose, or blood sugar, is the body's main source of energy. The pancreas is an organ which contains tiny clusters of tissues called islets of Langerhans. The cells found on the islets produce hormones that regulate the blood sugar levels in the...
Blood sugar is a needed nutrient provided by carbohydrates and proteins eaten from your meals. You can have high and low blood sugar levels without experiencing any type of disease, such as diabetes mellitus. Fluctuations in blood sugar are a...
Too much blood sugar can cause diabetes. Types of cholesterol evaluated by physicians to check for heart disease include low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides.
Your body needs glucose to make the energy that allows you to think straight, keep your heart beating and your muscles healthy, and much more. With the help of insulin, your cells absorb glucose from your bloodstream. The amount of glucose in your...
Insulin resistance is a condition in which insulin does not work effectively enough to keep the blood sugar level normal. The blood sugar level is not high enough to be considered diabetes. However, the dietary management of insulin resistance is...
Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is important for everyone and critical if you have a problem controlling your blood sugar. The normal sugar content of your blood falls within a somewhat narrow range. If you have a medical condition that...
Keeping your body fueled requires sugar in the bloodstream and insulin, which is created in the pancreas. Insulin regulates your blood sugar, or glucose. Blood sugar levels that are higher than normal can have serious long-term effects on your...
To diagnose diabetes, health care providers run blood tests to determine the patient's blood sugar level. Since type 2 diabetes, a condition often diagnosed in adulthood, does not always cause symptoms, so sometimes the blood sugar test is the...
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, can be a serious pathologic state leading to fatigue, coma, or death. Learn more about hypoglycemia in this health video.
