What should a person's blood sugar be? What are normal blood sugar levels?

Collapse

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and incurable disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels in women, men or children (sometimes it can also change dramatically). At the same time, elevated sugar in the body is more common in the fair sex; women are more likely to suffer from diabetes. In addition, this disease is transmitted more actively through the maternal line than through the paternal line. For this reason, it is important to know what women’s blood glucose levels are at a given age and how to return sugar to normal in cases of deviation.

The Importance of Sugar Control

Although diabetes is a disease that is equally dangerous for both men and women, and monitoring blood sugar levels from a vein is important for people of any gender and age, nevertheless, women should be more careful for the following reasons:

• Sugar in pregnant women increases as a result of the natural accumulation of ketone bodies. It is important to return sugar to normal so that glucose from the body does not affect negative impact on mother and child and so that type 2 diabetes does not develop. For this purpose, at 28 weeks, expectant mothers need to donate blood from a vein for sugar;
• The number of sick women is higher than men. Although in general the course of the disease is more favorable in them and the mortality rate is lower;
• Diabetes is inherited more strongly on the maternal side than on the paternal side.

The list shows that representatives of the fair sex are at risk for this disease V to a greater extent than men. Therefore, condition control is more important for them.

Control methods

In order not to think about how to return elevated sugar to normal, it is important to prevent the development of diabetes (even if you have increased indicators sometimes diagnosed with prediabetes). In any case, the sooner it is determined that the patient is suffering high sugar blood and the earlier the diagnosis is made, the less the disease and its complications will develop.

For this reason, blood testing for sugar from a vein or finger should be taken regularly (and also be careful possible symptoms diseases). Sugar norm in women can increase according to various reasons(pregnancy and childbirth, heredity, age, poor nutrition, changes and metabolic disorders). On average, normal blood sugar levels are considered to be between 3.3 and 5.5 mmol per liter. This is the norm on an empty stomach. With age normal indicators(normal sugar) increase, sugar normally can reach 6.9.

1. The easiest way to monitor blood sugar levels, the norm of which is given above, is to buy a home glucometer and take periodic random measurements of sugar after meals and on an empty stomach (the norm for a finger prick test is up to 8.2);
2. It is important to donate blood from a vein for sugar at least once a year to conduct a glucose tolerance test, with which you can diagnose prediabetes (for blood from a vein, the glucose norm is slightly lower);
3. It is important to take a glucose tolerance test during pregnancy - this difference in monitoring the state of the blood is fundamental for the fair sex.

It is important to measure both blood sugar and cholesterol periodically, as increases in these indicators may be associated. Sugar in women can be elevated during pregnancy.

Sugar norm - table

Many people predisposed to diabetes are wondering what blood sugar level is not a cause for concern, what should be the norm from a vein or finger? The acceptable level is different for a diabetic and a healthy person. Also, the norm for women by age may differ significantly. The normal sugar level of a 40-year-old woman is lower than that of a 5-9-year-old woman or a 65-70 year old patient. On average, there is a tendency that upper limit the norm increases as age increases, i.e. in a child of 7 years the normal value is much lower than in older people (62 years or older).

The table by age for older people and young people is given below. You need to rely on it when determining your own upper sugar limit and ideal indicator.

Sugar norm in women after a certain age (norm sugar)

These indicators (norm sugar) are average and are not always suitable for everyone. So, some time after giving birth limit rate in a venous sample it can be either increased or decreased. Only an endocrinologist or a pregnancy manager can determine which indications are considered normal in in this case.

Blood glucose levels in children under 6 years of age (and sometimes longer) do not differ depending on gender. It makes sense to measure the baby's sugar after 1 month. Before this age, the standards are not applicable because the level of glucose in the blood of a newborn is not stable.

-FOOTNOTE-

Until the age of 6, the indicator is often not very stable either. Usually doctors call normal boundaries from 2.5 to 3.3. But in each specific case, indicators may change.

Deviations

The level indicator should be relatively constant. However, fasting blood glucose should be significantly lower than after a meal. The values ​​in these cases may differ by several mmol/l and this is normal for a healthy person. But if jumps in indicators are observed in women after 50 years of age and younger, this is a reason to say that diabetes is developing, especially in cases where other subtle symptoms are present.

In addition to diabetes, there may be other reasons why the indicator in older people, as well as in young people, may differ from the norm in women by age. Inflated sugar readings in a sample occur for several reasons:

1. A long absence of physical activity before testing for sugar from a finger or vein, as a result of which the patient’s blood glucose was not processed, but accumulated, which made its level indicators overestimated;
2. The fasting sugar level is the most informative, but if taking a sample from a vein on an empty stomach is impossible and was carried out after a meal, then the blood glucose level readings will be overestimated;
3. Some diseases, such as nervous and digestive system may also be affected by the fact that sugar levels in the body after 30 years are high;
4. For some time after childbirth, the norm of glucose in the venous blood may be exceeded, since during pregnancy ketone bodies accumulate and gestational diabetes may develop, which can develop into type 2 diabetes.

Besides, normal sugar in venous blood on an empty stomach in a person over 10 years of age is slightly lower than when a sample is taken from a finger. In laboratories, samples are collected from both a vein and a finger. There will be no fundamental difference in the amount of sugar in the blood in the morning on an empty stomach, but it is important that this is taken into account in all subsequent tests. However, a violation occurs not only when the sugar norm is exceeded, but also when it is underestimated. The lower limit can be traced in the following cases:

1. There is not enough glucose in the blood from a finger or vein because the patient is malnourished or on a diet;
2. Sometimes blood glucose from a vein is low and in alcoholics as a result of metabolic disorders;
3. For diseases gastrointestinal tract and absorption disorders, even 1 mg of carbohydrates takes longer to be absorbed, therefore the level of sugar in the venous blood may be underestimated;
4. Blood sugar in people 40 years of age and older, the value of blood glucose levels may be underestimated and in case of serious physical activity before measuring your blood sugar in the laboratory.

Prevention

It is quite possible to maintain normal levels in women. However, for this you need to perform a number of procedures daily and make some changes to your lifestyle. Basic rules for the risk group, that is, for women after 40, when the likelihood of developing diabetes increases and for those who have the disease hereditary predisposition, are as follows:

• It is important to carefully control your weight at any age, but this is especially important for women after 60, when age-related changes and slow metabolism lead to weight gain. Insulin receptors, which bind to glucose in human blood and transport it into cells, preventing it from accumulating, are located mainly in adipose tissue. As it grows, the receptors lose sensitivity and are destroyed, stop working, as a result, glucose accumulates in the blood and type 2 diabetes develops. On the other hand, diabetes can also cause weight gain, so if you lose control over your body weight, you should consult a doctor;
• Blood glucose in women 30 years of age and older may increase due to a decrease in receptor activity, which occurs after the onset of average age. In people aged 60, the receptors function so poorly that type 2 diabetes develops. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a home glucometer and regularly measure blood glucose using a finger stick. Once a year, it is worth taking blood measurements from a vein and doing a glucose tolerance test in a medical facility. If the glucose level is exceeded, you should immediately consult a doctor;
• Support normal content Physical activity will also help. They ensure that glucose in the blood is quickly converted into energy necessary for muscle function and does not accumulate in the body. As a result, normal levels (normal sugar levels) are maintained. But you should be careful with physical activity - those that are suitable for 35-year-olds can cause health problems in women after 60 years of age. Therefore, for women over 40 years of age, a training program should be developed by a doctor;
• Also, the norm in women after 30–45 years can be maintained at a normal level with the help of a low-carbohydrate diet. It is carbohydrates that are converted into glucose and cause an increase in sugar (for example sweet tea sugar increases). Reducing their consumption and uniform intake into the body throughout the day leads to the fact that the normal level in women at any age will not be exceeded;
• To maintain the norm in women 50 – 55 and younger, it is necessary to comply healthy image life. Bad habits and unhealthy food cause metabolic disturbances and disruptions, which can result in the development of diabetes, since it is an endocrine disease. And if at the age of 14 a single use of preservatives does not have a destructive effect, then at the age of 50 in women such a diet can cause problems with metabolism.

At the age of 56 years and older, it is important to regularly, at least once every six months, carry out a test from a vein in a laboratory, since the likelihood of developing the disease at this age is high. Normal level fasting (normal sugar) must be maintained very carefully and if the level deviates from the norm, you need to consult a doctor.

One of the main elements of metabolism is sugar, and to be more precise, sucrose is its main component. During the digestion process, sucrose is broken down into two carbohydrates - glucose and fructose, which supply the body with energy. Lack of glucose in the body leads to drowsiness, lethargy, and loss of performance. Excess, in turn, leads to many problems that can result in diabetes.

Consequences of excess sugar

Amount of glucose in human body It is regulated by insulin, an enzyme produced by the pancreas. Glucose enters first the digestive system and then into the blood, which leads to an increase in the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas in order to convert glucose into energy. Excess energy can be converted into glycogen, again under the influence of glycogen. If there is a sufficient amount of glycogen in the human body, or there is no insulin in the body, glucose is transformed into fat or processed using insulin-dependent organs, for example, the brain.

If there is an excess amount of sugar in the blood, diabetes may occur. Moreover, this disease often occurs in children. Treatment of such a disease is very complex; there are a number of variations that allow you to quickly cope with the problem.

Diagnostics of sugar levels

You can check your blood sugar levels in a variety of ways, but today there are three most popular: laboratory, using a glucometer and express analysis. Analysis using a glucometer configured for plasma can overestimate the actual result by 12%.

Glucometer. This device is used to analyze the sugar level in existing organic liquid. Usually, in the human body this is blood (urine, which cannot always give an accurate result). Using a glucometer is very simple: you prick your finger with a lancet, apply a drop of blood to a test strip with a certain solution, and place it in the machine for analysis. There, the information from the strip is analyzed, and the final result is displayed on the device screen. Glucometers are capable of analyzing data and can be Romanov, electrometric, optical and photometric. The first are the most modern, not requiring a finger puncture.

The accuracy of the glucometer readings is sufficient for use at home, however, in the case of a detailed medical examination, laboratory research is necessary. It allows you to provide the doctor with more detailed and accurate results, which allows you not only to identify the sugar level in the body, but also to prevent the development of diabetes.

Laboratory tests without load

The analysis is carried out in the same way as using a glucometer. A person's blood is taken from a vein or finger, after which a test is done on a laboratory glucometer - more accurate and powerful. After the result is received, it is compared with a table of normal indicators and sent to the observing or attending physician for certification of the result and expert assessment.

Laboratory tests under load

This technique is used in controversial cases when it is necessary to understand whether a person has a predisposition to diabetes. Such a study includes a number of tests. The first is done on an empty stomach. The patient is then given 300 milliliters of water with 76 grams of glucose and blood is drawn every 30 minutes for analysis to determine the rate of absorption of glucose in the blood.

Other types of analysis

Biochemical analysis of glycated hemoglobin, subsequent interpretation. The greater the amount of hemoglobin in a person’s blood, the greater the amount of unprocessed glucose in the body over several last months. A blood test taken from a vein can also show results that are 10-11% higher than those for capillary blood. Such tests should only be taken on an empty stomach, so that the analysis is not influenced by third-party carbohydrates. You should also not smoke or expose yourself to psychological or physical stress.

It should be understood that glucometer readings cannot give a 100% guarantee that a person has diabetes - it is likely that an increase in blood sugar levels resulted from natural causes or characteristics of the body. If you guess about the problem, it is better to visit a doctor who will give you a referral for the necessary tests.

General indicators

Which permissible norm in the blood sugar of a healthy person? Previously, it was determined that it ranges from 3.4 to 5.6 mmol/l, regardless of physical condition, age and gender of the person. In addition to this official norm, there are other, much more accurate norms, but not recognized by all doctors.

The age of the patient can directly influence such indications. So, for example, if a person is from 15 to 60 years old - 5.8 mmol/l, from 61 to 90 years old - 4.6-6.3 mmol/l, 91 or more years old - 4.1-6.6 mmol/l. These data are indicated if the analysis is carried out on an empty stomach. If the test is carried out after eating, then the following norms are taken as the standard: one hour after eating - less than 8.8 mmol/l, two hours after eating - less than 6.8 mmol/l.

In the late afternoon and under stress, when energy in the body is produced from glycogen, such indicators can be significantly higher. Maximum rate fasting blood sugar under stress can be 11.2 mmol/l.

Among women

A woman’s hormonal system is able to control the level of glucose that enters the blood plasma. A failure can occur when a woman reaches menopause, when there is a significant decrease in the body’s regulatory activity; doctors often observe extreme levels of sugar in the urine and blood. This is not a cause for alarm; if fluctuations in glucometer readings are in the range of 7-10 mmol/l, then this is normal.

If the indicator is more than 10, it is critical. You just need to monitor the situation and regularly donate blood for sugar. It is believed that if for 10-13 months after the onset of menopause, the amount of sugar in female body elevated and does not return to the normal level, then you can worry about the likelihood of developing diabetes symptoms and pass laboratory research, And preventive measures described below.

If a woman is pregnant, then usually the sugar level is lower than standard values ​​and can be 4-5.1 mmol/l on an empty stomach. If the test is carried out an hour or two after eating, then the limit may not exceed 6.3 mmol per liter. It is imperative to monitor the blood sugar levels of a pregnant woman, especially if there is a predisposition - otherwise, there is a possibility that as a result of the stress associated with pregnancy, gestational diabetes may begin, which over time can turn into type 2 diabetes.

In men

Among representatives of the stronger sex, the sugar norm is considered identical to that of women. According to statistics, an increase in the norm of indicators can occur when a man abuses alcohol, spicy and high-calorie foods. Also, as a result of severe wear and tear on the man’s body as a result of maintaining active image life, as well as problems with the pancreas. Sugar levels in modern men are often elevated in the late afternoon, after a hard day of work.

In children

Organisms of newborns and young children school age tend to slightly reduce sugar from the given norm. This is not a reason to worry.

Diet and prevention

There are two deviations from the norm - high blood sugar and low blood sugar (typical for people living in underdeveloped regions of the planet and people often taking certain medications). If your sugar level is too low, then everything is extremely simple - you need to raise it and maintain it. This can be done by consuming foods containing glucose or sugar. To do this, it is recommended to consume the following products:

• candies, chocolate and other sweets. This will allow you, albeit briefly, to greatly increase your sugar level;
• fruits, in particular, are sweet. A slower but longer-term solution;
• hot tea. It must be sweet - otherwise the sugar level, on the contrary, will decrease.

If your blood sugar level is too high, you should do the following:

• exclude flour, sweets and fatty foods from the diet. However, sweets and baked goods were created especially for diabetics;
• consume a large number of water and drinks that do not contain sugar (for example, those containing sweeteners - aspartame);
• steam food, avoid many seasonings and spices;
• get rid of extra pounds, this will reduce the likelihood of the formation and development of diabetes;
• avoid abnormal physical activity and stress;
• do not self-medicate. Only a doctor can prescribe medication.

In summing up

A slight increase or decrease in the amount of sugar in the body is not a cause for concern. The presence of modern devices allows you to control your sugar level even at home, and simple rules will allow you to independently increase or decrease it, if necessary.

Diabetes mellitus is very dangerous and insidious disease. The first symptoms of diabetes mellitus, people may confuse it with a slight illness, the action infectious disease. For many people, diabetes can be silent. As a preventative measure, it is necessary to check your blood sugar levels every six months, this will help detect the disease in early stage, especially people who are at risk. Glucose levels can also be measured at home, for example, using a special device called a glucometer. A blood test in a clinic is usually taken from a finger, but can also be taken from a vein. At home, a glucometer can determine the level from a drop of blood.

Within 5 seconds, the device will show the exact result. If a glucometer test shows a deviation in your sugar level from the norm, you need to take a blood test from a vein at the clinic, as directed by your doctor. This way you can find out whether you have diabetes or not.

To obtain reliable test results, it is necessary to measure blood glucose levels strictly on an empty stomach for several days. It is best to examine blood from a vein and finger in the laboratory of a medical institution.

Some men and women make the mistake of suddenly changing their diet before the analysis, starting to eat right, or “going on a diet.”

You can't do that!

This leads to the fact that the true state of affairs with the pancreas is hidden and it will be more difficult for the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. When taking tests for sugar, take into account your emotional state and other factors.

Fatigue, pregnancy, chronic diseases, all this can significantly affect glucose levels and their deviation from the norm. It is not recommended for men and women who will take tests, work at night, or go to bed late. Before the test, you must first get a good night's sleep.

Video: Diabetes. Three early signs

Remember!

In a healthy person, blood sugar levels are always measured on an empty stomach, with the exception of clarifying tests, when blood can be taken after a meal.

Men and women who are over 40 years old should be tested for sugar, as they are at risk.

In addition, women during pregnancy, as well as overweight people, need to monitor their blood sugar levels.

Table of blood sugar norms for women by age

The sugar intake for women and men is basically the same, but there are differences.

The result will depend on some parameters:

1. The test was taken on an empty stomach or after eating
2. Sugar levels change with age; after 60 years, the level may increase in women and men

If a person eats normally, leads an active lifestyle, does not abuse alcohol, is not a drug addict, and the analysis shows elevated glucose levels, then the patient can be suspected of developing diabetes mellitus.

The unit of measurement for this blood parameter is millimoles per 1 liter of blood (mmol/l). An alternative unit is milligram per deciliter of blood mg/100 ml (mg/dL). For reference: 1 mmol/l corresponds to 18 mg/dl.

Normal glucose levels depend on the age of the patients.

Regardless of gender, both men and women should always take care of their health and monitor their sugar levels, undergoing professional tests on time. examinations, blood and urine tests.

Sugar levels in older women

Check your blood sugar levels!

This is especially true for blood sugar levels in women after 40 - 50 - 60 - 70 years of age.

Typically, in elderly women, glucose levels rise exactly two hours after eating, and fasting glucose remains near normal.

Reasons for increased blood sugar levels in women

This phenomenon has several causes that act synchronously on the body.

Firstly, it is a decrease in the sensitivity of tissues to the hormone insulin, a decrease in its production by the pancreas. In addition, in these patients the secretion and action of incretins weakens. Incretins are special hormones that are produced in digestive tract in response to food intake. Incretins also activate the production of insulin by the pancreas. With age, the susceptibility of beta cells decreases several times, this is one of the mechanisms of diabetes development, no less important than insulin resistance. Due to the heavy financial condition older people are forced to grub on cheap, high-calorie foods.

Such food contains: an extraordinary amount of quickly digestible industrial fats and light carbohydrates; flaw complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber.

The second reason for increased blood sugar in old age is the presence of chronic concomitant diseases, treatment with potent drugs that have a detrimental effect on carbohydrate metabolism.

The most risky from this point of view are: psychotropic drugs, steroids, thiazide diuretics, non-selective beta blockers. They can cause the development of disturbances in the functioning of the heart, lungs, and musculoskeletal system.

Causes of hyperglycemia

The sugar limit may be exceeded due to:

• Because of junk food when a person abuses sweets
• alcohol abuse, smoking
• because of nervous tension, stress
• because of increased activity thyroid gland and others endocrine diseases
• diseases of the kidneys, pancreas and liver.

Blood glucose levels may sometimes increase after taking steroids, diuretics, or certain contraception. Women's sugar levels increase during pregnancy.

When the test shows elevated glucose levels (hyperglycemia), the patient is next given 200 ml of water with sugar to drink, and tested again 2 hours later. It happens that a person’s blood glucose level can rise due to the fact that he ate a sweet apple.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia in men and women:

• thirst
• dry mouth
• skin problems, severe itching
• the patient suddenly loses weight
• blurred vision
• worried about frequent painful urination
• difficulty breathing, it becomes loud and uneven

For women over 60 years of age, type II diabetes mellitus, defined as benign, is most common. It mainly comes in a trivial form and is not characterized severe symptoms. Moreover, a significant proportion of older women do not even suspect that they have the disease, which is why it is diagnosed late and most often by coincidence.

A distinctive feature that can lead a doctor to believe that his elderly patient has diabetes mellitus is that she is obese, which indicates disturbances in the process of lipid metabolism.
Between the onset of the development of the disease and the formulation of a systematic diagnosis, years would pass, during which the elderly madam would experience the torment of erased symptoms arising from time to time, but would not turn to a medical professional.

The classic symptoms accompanying diabetes in the elderly are:

• pathology of sensitivity in the limbs;
• the appearance of pustules on skin;
• decreased visual acuity;
• the appearance of pain in the heart area;
• swelling of the face and neck;
• development of various fungal disorders, etc.

In the interests of older women, the development of trophic changes in the limbs and the appearance of signs of “diabetic foot” are also inherent. Trophic changes develop due to the effect of glucose on the blood walls.

For older representatives of the fairer sex, the development of an unexpected and dangerous diabetic coma is also common. Usually sudden onset coma caused by high level glucose in the blood, ends in death, if we are talking about elderly people.

In more than half of the people whose analysis showed an increase in blood sugar, latent pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) was detected. The insidiousness of the disease is that the symptoms of pancreatitis may not give obvious signs, masquerade as other diseases and gradually destroy pancreatic tissue.

How to lower blood glucose levels

Helps significantly reduce sugar levels balanced diet and diets. It is important to follow a diet if you already have elevated blood glucose levels. Eliminate from your diet: animal fats, sweets, fast foods, juices, bananas, persimmons, figs, sweet sodas, alcohol.

To normalize metabolism in the future, in order to maintain normal gluco levels, it is necessary to include in the menu: seafood, fish, beef, rabbit meat, vegetables, herbal teas, mineral water.

Video: Diabetes mellitus in the elderly

Why is diabetes so dangerous for older women?

The reason is that patients tolerate it unusually poorly cardiovascular complications, have every chance of dying from a stroke, heart attack, blockage of blood vessels by a blood clot, or acute heart failure.

There is also a possibility of staying incapacitated disabled person when irreparable brain damage occurs.

A similar complication may occur in at a young age, but a much older person tolerates it very difficult. When a woman’s blood sugar level rises quite often and unpredictably, this becomes the basis for falls and injuries.

Insulin is known as a hormone of the pancreas. When glucose concentration rises, the pancreas increases insulin secretion. In the case when there is no insulin, or there is not enough of it, glucose does not begin to transform into fat. If a large amount of glucose accumulates in the blood, diabetes develops.

At this moment, the brain can begin to actively use excess glucose, partially ridding us of excess fat.

Over time, sugar can be stored in the liver (fatty liver). It is also dangerous when large amounts of sugar begin to interact with skin collagen, which is necessary for the smoothness and elasticity of our skin.

Gradually, collagen is disrupted, which leads to aging of the skin and the appearance of premature wrinkles.

Elevated glucose levels can lead to vitamin B deficiency. In general, vitamins, and minerals poorly absorbed by the body diabetes mellitus.

High blood sugar speeds up metabolism, causing people to develop problems with their kidneys, heart, and lungs.

Sugar gradually destroys the immune system, a person is exposed to more and more infections, viral diseases, the body loses its ability to effectively fight infection.

Thus, in both older women and men, increased glucose levels are quite common.

In order to prevent the development of diabetes, you have time to pay attention to changes in indicators in the analysis and take appropriate measures. To prevent the disease, it is important to adhere to a diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Video: normal blood sugar in women, table by age

It is important to understand that usually the blood glucose levels in women and men have the same normal values. The level may vary depending on age, the presence of a particular disease, and feminine characteristics body. Blood sugar levels may also be affected by the time of the test and the conditions observed..

We are used to saying “blood sugar”; it would be more correct to say “blood glucose level”. The pancreas produces special hormones insulin And glycogen responsible for maintaining glucose levels within normal limits. With any failure in the system, the body does not receive enough energy, and fast fatiguability and weakness. Such processes are dangerous, primarily because during improper functioning of the pancreas, the load on the kidneys increases, which requires an increased fluid content in the body. Next, the vessels suffer, because the thickened blood physically cannot get into the small capillaries, and this already causes irreversible reactions in all organs and systems.

The norms for women and men do not differ; there is only a slight increase in sugar levels with age. Blood for analysis must be donated in the morning, on an empty stomach. The ideal interval between the last meal and analysis is 10-14 hours. The day before, it is not recommended to eat fatty and fried foods, drink or be nervous.

If all conditions are met, then the glucose level in blood taken from a finger (capillary) should be 3.3-5.5 mmol/l. if blood was taken from a vein, the norm increases by 12% and is 5-6.1 mmol/l. IN different time The indicators will not be the same throughout the day, which is why it is recommended to take the test in the morning.

Most often, blood sugar levels need to be monitored in order to diagnose diabetes in time - an insidious disease that can be asymptomatic for a long time, or resemble ordinary seasonal ailments. This is especially true for those who have relatives with diabetes, elderly and obese people, sedentary lifestyle life.

Glucose levels cannot increase simply from scratch if a person adheres to proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, then an increase in sugar indicates the presence of diseases.

The main reasons for increased blood sugar levels are:

• Excessive consumption of food, especially easily digestible carbohydrates;
• Smoking and consumption;
• Stress and nervous tension;
• Diabetes;
• Diseases endocrine system: thyrotoxicosis, Cushing's disease, etc.;
• Diseases of the pancreas, liver and kidneys;
• Reception of some steroid drugs, contraceptives or diuretics;
• Premenstrual syndrome in women.

If the analysis reveals increased content sugar, the patient is given a solution to drink and the analysis is repeated two hours later. Sometimes a regular meal before donating blood (the person spent a lot of time traveling to medical institution and ate ) can cause an increase in sugar.

Elevated sugar levels lead to hyperglycemia, which can be recognized by the following signs:

• Constant feeling of thirst;
• Feeling of dry mouth;
• Frequent urination, often painful;
• Arrhythmia;
• Fatigue;
• Weight loss with excellent appetite;
• Skin itching;
• Non-healing wounds;
• Deterioration of vision;
• Noisy, uneven breathing.

Of course, the appearance of several of these reasons is a reason for an urgent visit to the doctor and an immediate sugar test.

It is important to know the symptoms of hypoglycemia and identify them in time:

• headache;
• hunger;
• weakness and feeling of weakness;
• dizziness;
• cardiopalmus;
• sweating;
• trembling in the body;
• Bad mood;
• tearfulness;
• irritability;
• decreased concentration.

How to lower blood sugar levels

A balanced diet will help reduce blood sugar levels that have not reached a critical level. The diet is based on excluding from the diet foods containing “fast” carbohydrates, which immediately give you a feeling of fullness, but are absorbed too quickly.

These products include:

• Animal fats;
• , butter and ;
• Fast food;
• Marinades, smoked and fried foods;
• Packaged juices;
• Carbonated and

The blood sugar level in women is an indicator that reflects the progress of carbohydrate metabolism in the body. Doctors of various specialties rely on it when diagnosing health conditions, and deviations from normal values may indicate not only, but also a number of other ailments.

Blood glucose - what is it?

Blood sugar (glucose) is a substance whose function is to provide cells and tissues with the energy necessary for proper metabolism. Glucose is supplied from the outside - along with food products containing carbohydrates. If glucose enters the body in excess, then in the digestive tract, thanks to enzymes, it is converted into glycogen and deposited in the liver, where there is a kind of depot for this substance. When there is not enough sugar in food, the body uses up the existing reserves.

Basically, the concentration of glucose in the blood is regulated by pancreatic hormone, which helps cells absorb this substance, and the liver – to form glycogen (a form of reserve glucose) based on it. In addition, the central nervous and autonomic system, pancreatic hormone glucagon, adrenal hormones (adrenaline, glucocorticoid hormones), thyroid hormone. If everything works smoothly, the level of glucose in the bloodstream is maintained approximately the same.

Short-term physiological “jumps” in glucose levels during the day can occur under the influence of the following factors:

• eating;
• long absence of meals;
• physical exercise;
• emotional outbursts.

Blood sugar test

A study of the amount of sugar in the blood is carried out as part of preventive examinations, as well as in diagnostic purposes in the presence of certain complaints and pathologies. The following symptoms may be the reason for diagnosis:

• constant feeling of thirst;
• frequent excessive urination;
• dry mouth;
• rapid weight gain or loss;
• increased sweating;
• skin itching;
• cardiopalmus;
• decreased visual acuity;
• long-term general weakness.

A blood glucose test is performed regularly for patients with diabetes mellitus and those who are at risk of developing this pathology:

• persons with close relatives suffering from diabetes;
• people over 40 years old;
• obese.

In addition, the study is required for pregnant women and may be necessary for such identified diseases as:

• pancreatitis;
• thyroid diseases;
• pathologies of the adrenal glands;
• etc.

This analysis is carried out in several ways, for which blood can be taken from a finger or from a vein. Two main methods in laboratory diagnostics:

• determination of fasting blood glucose;
• determination of sugar indicator with glucose load.

Blood sugar test - how to prepare?

To ensure that donating blood for glucose brings the most reliable results, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. 8-12 hours before blood sampling, do not eat (only still water is allowed).
2. The day before the test, do not drink alcohol.
3. If possible, do not take any medications the day before the procedure.
4. Do not brush your teeth or chew gum before the test.
5. Do not change your usual diet specifically before the analysis.
6. Reschedule the test date if you have an acute cold or an injury the day before.

Fasting blood sugar test

If the doctor prescribed this analysis, you should first ask how to donate blood for glucose correctly and come to the laboratory early in the morning. It is advisable that the last dinner on the day before the study is not heavy and no later than 20 hours. The analysis can be carried out within biochemical research blood, and then the material is taken from a vein in the elbow. For separate study For sugar testing, blood is often taken capillary - from a finger. Results are provided within a few hours or the next day.

There is an express method for determining blood sugar, available for use at home. In this case, a portable glucometer and special test strips are used, the presence of which is recommended for all people suffering from diabetes. The result thanks to this method becomes known in a few seconds. When using the device, you must follow a number of rules and monitor the period and storage conditions of the test strips, otherwise the result will be erroneous.

Load blood sugar test

The second type of study is often prescribed if the norm of fasting blood sugar in women is exceeded (diabetes mellitus is suspected) or the person has already been diagnosed with carbohydrate metabolism disorders. Load analysis shows how fully glucose is absorbed and broken down in the body. The procedure lasts longer - at least two hours, during which blood is drawn at least three times:

• the first time - on an empty stomach;
• the second time - an hour after consuming the glucose solution, which is prepared at the rate of 1.75 g per kg of the patient’s weight;
• the third time - another hour later.

This analysis is also called glucose tolerance test, and measuring the indicator after drinking a glucose solution approximately reflects the picture of how the patient’s blood sugar increases after eating. 60 minutes after drinking a sweet liquid, the blood sugar level rises sharply compared to the result on an empty stomach, but should not exceed certain limits. After 120 minutes, the glucose concentration should decrease.

Blood sugar level is normal

The established norm of glucose in blood taken from a finger on an empty stomach does not go beyond the following levels: 3.3-5.5 mmol/l. If tested deoxygenated blood, differing in hematological parameters, the blood sugar norm in women and men is determined within the range of 3.5-6.05 mmol/l. As for the glucose tolerance test, healthy people after drinking a glucose solution, two hours later the indicator should not exceed 7.8 mmol/l (normal blood sugar after eating).

Blood sugar levels - table by age

People have different age categories permissible level glucose in the bloodstream varies slightly, which can be explained by physiological hormonal changes in the body, some abnormalities in work internal organs. In this case, the gender of the person being examined does not matter - the indicators are the same for women and men. The age-specific table below can tell you what the normal blood glucose level is.

Increased blood sugar

If the blood sugar norm in women is exceeded, it is important to know how much this value has been increased. Pathological deviation observed when blood glucose is characterized by the following values:

• 5.5-6.05 mmol/l from a finger and 6.05-7.05 mmol/l from a vein – pre-diabetic state;
• more than 6.05 mmol/l from a finger and more than 7.05 mmol/l from a vein – diabetes mellitus.

High blood sugar - causes

In addition to being associated with the development of diabetes, blood glucose levels may be elevated due to the following factors:

• severe stress, psychoemotional disorder;
• premenstrual syndrome;
• alcohol abuse;
• acute or chronic pancreatitis;
• pancreas cancer;
• dysfunction of the kidneys, adrenal glands, liver;
• hyperthyroidism;
• Itsenko-Cushing syndrome;
• epilepsy;
• acromegaly;
• stroke;
• myocardial infarction;
• brain injuries;
• unbalanced diet;
• taking certain medications (diuretics, corticosteroids, antidepressants, salicylates, lithium preparations, etc.).

How to lower blood sugar?

The blood sugar level in women who suffer from diabetes is regulated with medication:

• for type 1 diabetes mellitus - insulin-containing drugs;
• for type 2 diabetes mellitus - with agents that reduce the absorption of carbohydrates or completely regulate carbohydrate metabolism (biguanides, sulfonylureas, etc.).

When wondering how to lower blood sugar with minor deviations from the norm, it is worth reviewing your diet. You should limit your intake of carbohydrates from food. You need to avoid the following products:

• White bread;
• pasta;
• sweets;
• potato;
• wine;
• carbonated drinks, etc.

• pumpkin;
• tomatoes;
• cucumbers;
• spinach, etc.

Under various conditions characterized by increased level glucose in the bloodstream, there are situations when you need to lower blood sugar at home. In addition to medications prescribed by your doctor, this can be done using folk methods. Here are a few recipes for those who are looking for how to quickly lower blood sugar without medications.

Low blood sugar

There are also cases when it is noted low glucose in blood. With this laboratory indicator the following are often felt clinical symptoms: general malaise, weakness, depression, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, trembling, etc. Against the background low sugar in the bloodstream, the organs and systems of the body do not receive enough nutrients, which immediately affects the functioning of the brain.

Low blood sugar - causes

Low blood glucose may be a consequence of the following factors:

• prolonged fasting;
• dehydration;
• feverish condition;
• hypothyroidism;
• Gierke's disease;
• cancer;
• heart failure;
• severe liver damage;
• poisoning with alcohol, certain chemicals;
• meningitis, etc.

How to increase blood sugar?

To raise your blood sugar levels at home, you can do the following:

1. Take a glucose tablet.
2. Drink a mug of weak, sweet, warm tea.
3. Drink a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice with pulp.
4. Eat a couple of spoons of honey or jam, candy.
5. Eat a few slices of dried apricots and figs.
6. Eat a banana.