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Glucose is the primary source of energy in the body.
It can be absorbed directly from dietary glucose, or obtained from other
sources (eg, splitting complex carbohydrates into individual glucose
molecules).
Glucose in the blood doesn't actually provide for any energy needs: The
glucose must cross into the cell (an insulin-dependent process) before it
can be metabolized. Diabetics, who are insulin-deficient, usually have
plenty of glucose, but they can't metabolize it within the cells because
they don't have enough insulin.
Glucose levels may rise in the presence of:
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
- Acute stress reactions
- Pheochromocytoma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Brain injury
- Liver disease
Glucose levels may fall in the presence of:
- Excessive insulin administration
- Hypothyroidism
- Sepsis
- Addison's disease
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Normal Values*
Fasting
| Men |
70-110 mg/dl |
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Women
|
75-115 mg/dl |
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Pregnancy
|
60-105 mg/dl |
2-Hour Post-Prandial
Pregnancy - Post 50 G Glucose Load
Pregnancy - Post 100 G Glucose Load
| Fasting |
95 mg/dl |
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1-Hour
|
180 mg/dl |
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2-Hour
|
155 mg/dl |
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3-Hour
|
140 mg/dl |
If two or more of these values are exceeded,
gestational diabetes is present.
*These are general values taken from a variety of
sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one
type of testing protocol to another.
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