Most people enjoy a large slice of cake from time to time. What you may not realize is that after you finish that slice of cake, your blood sugar, also called your blood glucose level, starts to rise.
Your blood glucose level is a number that indicates how much glucose, an important energy source for your body, is in your bloodstream. Your blood glucose level rises when you eat foods that contain sugar and/or carbohydrates, which turn into glucose in your body.
A healthy body releases certain hormones to help regulate your blood glucose level. You eat the slice of cake, and your body adapts. But if you have diabetes or other certain health conditions, your body may not be able to regulate your blood glucose level.
The experts at Main Line Health offer blood glucose testing to help determine if you have diabetes, or another health condition, and to help you monitor your blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of a problem regulating your blood glucose level include:
Diabetes is the most common cause of problems with blood glucose levels; however, other conditions can also cause higher or lower than normal levels, including:
If your doctor suspects you have a problem controlling your blood glucose levels, he or she will order a blood glucose test. You may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking anything except water for at least eight hours before the test. In some cases, you may be asked to consume a special glucose drink and wait two hours before having the test.
The test to check your blood glucose level is simple and fast. A medical professional will draw your blood and send it to the lab to determine the amount of glucose present in your bloodstream.
Everyone’s body is different. In some cases, low glucose levels are lower in women who have low body weight. Any medicine you take may also affect the results of your test, so be sure to tell your doctor before the blood glucose test.
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