When conducting various studies of blood samples taken from a patient, a technique for measuring the content of a particular substance is often used. In order to understand why the numerous tests taken from a patient with suspected diabetes mellitus are needed, you need to know what is the plasma glucose rate.
Carbohydrates are required by the human body to replenish energy reserves. They enter the body together with food, are absorbed in the digestive tract. Under the influence of a hormone secreted by the pancreas, they are distributed to tissues and cells.
Features of this study
Plasma glucose levels can fluctuate throughout the day. Concentration may decrease due to fasting, physical activity, work activities. The level of sugar plays a huge role in diagnosing various pathologies, such as diabetes, since at the initial stage the disease can proceed without symptoms, hidden.
Often, the detection of a pathological process occurs during medical examination or during a medical examination, that is,by chance. If the blood plasma contains an increased amount of sugar, the specialist may recommend additional removal of the biomaterial on an empty stomach, or to determine glucose tolerance.
We will tell about the norm of glucose in blood plasma below.
Cases in which research is ordered
Biomaterial for laboratory testing can be taken from veins or capillaries.
Plasma glucose testing is necessary in the following situations:
- Pregnancy.
- Monitoring of the functionality of the pancreas, insulin synthesis (carried out together with the study on the C-peptide).
- Measuring blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
- Pre-diabetic conditions. In this case, the study is carried out in several stages.
- Disturbances in the activity of the liver, for example, cirrhosis.
- Sustained hypertension with BP rising to 140/90.
- The use of diuretic drugs, corticosteroids.
- Pathologies of the endocrine system.
- Determining the causes of decreased performance, weakness, clouding of consciousness.
- Suspicion of the development of diabetes with the onset of symptoms of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia.
- Dispensary observation of patients whose anamnesis is aggravated by heredity, overweight.
- Age-related changes in patients over 40.
Contraindications for a glucose tolerance test
There are certain situations in which testing for glucose inplasma is contraindicated. Among them:
- Pheochromocytoma, acromegaly.
- Periods of exacerbation of chronic pathologies of the pancreas.
- Age less than 14 years old.
- Third trimester of pregnancy.
- Fever, acute forms of infectious processes in the body.
How is the preparation for the study carried out?
Sampling of biomaterial for diagnostic testing of plasma glucose is carried out in the morning, usually before breakfast.
The patient is recommended to adhere to certain rules before the procedure:
- Dinner on the eve of the study must be at least 12 hours in advance.
- Don't eat breakfast before donating blood samples.
- It is unacceptable to use fermented milk drinks, dietary supplements, sweet medicinal infusions, coffee, tea. It is allowed to drink a glass of water.
- Sometimes doctors do not recommend brushing your teeth to prevent the effect of toothpaste on the concentration of glucose in blood plasma.
The result of a plasma glucose test may depend on several factors:
- Bed rest.
- ARVI.
- Stress.
- Smoking before donating blood.
- Heavy physical activity.
- Dehydration.
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Drinking alcohol.
Carrying out the procedure
Diagnosis of plasma glucose concentration is carried out in several stages, between which the patient should not work intellectually orwalk.
Research is carried out as follows:
- The first blood draw is done on an empty stomach.
- After taking the material, it is necessary to make a load of glucose. The patient should drink a special solution prepared from boiled water and dry glucose within 5 minutes. For patients weighing less than 40 kg, the concentration of the solution is calculated individually. If the patient is obese, up to 100 grams of glucose is added to the water.
- Re-blood sampling is carried out after the patient has consumed the solution for 2 hours with an interval of 30 minutes. They do this in order to identify violations in the absorption of carbohydrates.
Biomaterial taken for testing for glucose concentration is placed in a test tube containing an anticoagulant and sodium fluoride. Thanks to these substances, glycolysis in erythrocytes is prevented, the concentration of glucose is maintained. Mix blood with substances gently by inverting the tube. In the process of calculating the results, it is important to remember that the concentration of glucose in the blood plasma is higher than in the capillary.
Transcription of analysis
According to the results of the examination, the specialist builds a sugar curve that reflects the state and activity of the endocrine system. The normal concentration of glucose in plasma is no more than 7.6 mmol / l.
Increasing the standard value to 10 mmol/l indicates the development of a pre-diabetic condition. If the glucose concentration reaches 11 mmol / l, the specialist diagnoses the pathology - diabetes, and directs the patient for further examination. In particular,testing of blood samples for insulin recommended.
Plasma glucose is normal
Indicators of the normal concentration of sugar in blood plasma depend on the age of the patient:
- 0-1 month – 2.7-4 mmol/l.
- 1 month – 14 years – 3, 33-5, 55 mmol/l.
- 15-60 years - 3.5-5.8 mmol/l.
- Over 60 years - 6.5 mmol/l.
Normal carbohydrate concentration can vary for a number of reasons:
- The result will be different if you conduct a study immediately after eating or an hour after it.
- Glucose can decrease gradually over a couple of hours on the background of work or emotional stress.
Increase in sugar can be provoked:
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Eating large amounts of high-carb foods.
- Premenstrual syndrome. During this period, many women experience an increase in blood glucose levels.
- Using GKS. These medicines can provoke steroid diabetes.
- Chronic hepatitis.
- Malignant growths in the pancreas that cause the death of cells responsible for insulin production.
- Cushing's disease - pathological changes in the pituitary gland, causing an increase in the concentration of corticosteroids in the blood plasma.
- Pheochromocytoma. This pathology is a tumor of the adrenal glands, which stimulates the synthesis of glycogen.
ConcentrationPlasma glucose may decrease for the following reasons:
- Fasting.
- Disturbances in the activity of the digestive tract associated with the absorption and assimilation of carbohydrates.
- Physical overload.
- Overdose of insulin medications.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Alcohol abuse.
Such a condition as hypoglycemia, characterized by a decrease in the content of glucose in the blood plasma, provokes disorders of the National Assembly: increased sweating, convulsions, trembling in the limbs. If there is no help, the patient may fall into a coma, faint. In addition, hallucinations are likely, and cardiac and respiratory arrest is possible.
Primary low blood glucose concentrations can be diagnosed in children. In some cases, symptoms are determined if a person changes their diet. To eliminate the symptoms in such cases, it is enough to saturate the diet with complex carbohydrates.
Research on glycated hemoglobin
This study examines the portion of circulating hemoglobin associated with glucose. The indicators are measured in percentage. A similar study is recommended if the specialist suspects the development of diabetes. That is, it is an additional diagnostic method.
The procedure has several positive aspects:
- Refuts or confirms previously diagnosed diabetes.
- Allows you to controlsugar levels for the last quarter.
- The results are more accurate, as they are not affected by stressful situations, the use of medications, exercise, food eaten.
- You can donate biomaterial at any time, and not just on an empty stomach in the morning.
The normal hemoglobin level is 5.7%. An increase in the indicator to 6.4% and above indicates the development of the disease.
Using blood glucose meters
You can control your blood glucose levels at home using a special device: a glucometer. It is a photometric type instrument that allows you to determine the interaction of glucose and reagent.
The volume of capillary blood required to determine the concentration of glucose with a glucometer may vary, depending on the device and the age of the patient. The device reflects the result on the display after 10 seconds.
Preventive advice from doctors
To prevent an increase in blood glucose levels, experts recommend following some rules:
- It is important to avoid sleep deprivation and stressful situations.
- Physical activity should be moderate.
- It is important to follow the right diet, diet. You should give up any flour products, soda, sweet drinks.
Laboratory study of blood samples for the level of glucose concentration in blood plasma is an informative technique that allows diagnosing the presence of a serious pathological disease in the body.process. Early diagnosis allows you to start therapy on time, prevent the occurrence of serious complications, and contributes to a favorable prognosis. In this regard, it is recommended not to neglect this study and to conduct it periodically.
