Anatomy-Lexicon

Blood sugar

Synonyms

Blood sugar level
Blood sugar level
Blood glucose
Plasma glucose

English: blood sugar

definition

The term blood sugar refers to the concentration of the sugar glucose in the blood plasma. This value is given in units of mmol / l or mg / dl.

Glucose plays one of the most important roles in the human energy supply, both as a direct energy supplier and as a raw material for energy storage in the form of fats or glycogen.

In order to be able to guarantee a continuous supply of energy to the body, the blood sugar must be on a reasonably constant level in the blood be kept that sober in between 60 and 100 mg / dl (corresponding 3.3 and 5.6 mmol / l) should be. If blood sugar levels are above this one speaks of a Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), with values below that of one Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).

Especially brain and Red blood cells are dependent on a sufficient blood sugar concentration, since they cannot or only to a small extent cover their energy needs from other energy suppliers (e.g. through fat breakdown).

regulation

For the Adjustment of blood sugar levels Two hormones in particular are important in the organism:

insulin
and
Glucagon

As the main actors in a complex mechanism, these regulate the Concentration of blood sugar.
Is now with the food glucose, which is in most Carbohydrates is included, fed and gets into blood, so the rises Blood sugar level first of all. Above a certain threshold stimulus, this increase has a release of insulin from the pancreas result. The insulin now causes the newly absorbed glucose to enter the cells (only Neurons are completely independent of insulin), especially in Muscle and liver cellswhere it is either metabolized directly or, with the help of insulin, is converted into forms of energy storage.

During a phase of hunger, on the other hand, the blood sugar level drops, which Glucagon, also released from the pancreas.
Glucagon acts as an antagonist to insulin and causes an increased release of glucose from the Energy storage in the bloodto increase the level and thus ensure an adequate supply of glucose.

Also the "Stress hormones" adrenaline and Norepinephrine as Adrenal cortex hormones like cortisol cause a rapid increase in blood sugar (hyperglycaemia).

Hyperglycemia

An increase in blood sugar above the normal value is referred to as hyperglycaemia.
It is usually triggered by diabetes mellitus, but it usually occurs for a short time after a meal containing carbohydrates.
Among other things, the following are shown to a strong extent:

increased need to urinate
increased feeling of thirst
dry skin and mucous membranes
dizziness
up to, in the worst case, hyperglycemic coma.

Hypoglycemia / low blood sugar

Hypoglycaemia in the laboratory-chemical sense is referred to as a value below 45 mg / dl. The symptoms of a drop in blood sugar vary greatly from person to person.
Signs of this can be: