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Blood Sugar (Glucose) is the primary energy source for all
body tissues. The sugars and carbohydrates you eat are ordinarily converted into
glucose, which can be either used to produce immediate energy or stored as
"Glycogen" in the liver or as fat throughout the body. Glycogen and fat thus
serve as sources of reserve energy. The body can also manufacture glucose from
fats and amino acids. Glucose can be measured in either the blood or the urine.
When you wish to have your blood tested, we recommend that you have fasted for
12-14 hours (fasting blood sugar, or FBS).
Another useful measurement of your blood sugar is two hours after your main
meal. (2-hour postprandial blood sugar, or 2-hour pp).
When neither a fast nor a special meal is observed prior to the test, it is
called a random blood sugar (RBS).
Urine normally contains very little or no sugar. A positive urine test for sugar
requires that you check your blood glucose. However, when the blood sugar level
is very high, as in diabetes, the ability of the kidney to keep sugar out of the
urine may be exceeded. The level of blood glucose at which glucose spills into
the urine is called the "renal threshold", and is usually between 160 and 180
milligrams per deciliter. Sugar that spills into the urine carries a large
volume of water with it, producing the two classic symptoms of diabetes:
excessive urination and thirst.
MILD ELEVATION of your blood sugar (120 to 150 mg/dl) may be caused by diabetes,
pregnancy, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, excessive pituitary function,
excessive adrenal function, obesity, thiazide diuretics, or a recent heavy meal.
MODERATE ELEVATION of your blood sugar (150 to 500 mg/dl) may be caused by
diabetes, recent anesthesia, carbon monoxide poisoning, infectious disease, or
disease of the central nervous system.
HIGH LEVELS of blood sugar are always associated with diabetes.
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