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Blood glucose: the norm, the reasons for the increase and decrease in sugar levels in the human body. Blood sugar level - normal, measurement, low or high blood sugar, regulation methods

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The site provides background information for information only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. A specialist consultation is required!

What is blood sugar?

First of all, it should be noted that it would be more correct to say "blood glucose level", since the concept "sugar" includes a whole group of substances, and it is precisely glucose... However, the term "blood sugar" has become so ingrained that it is used both in colloquial speech and in the medical literature.

Then, if necessary (increased physical or emotional stress, lack of glucose intake from gastrointestinal tract), glycogen is broken down, and glucose enters the bloodstream.

Thus, the liver is a depot of glucose in the body, so that in case of severe diseases, violations of the blood sugar level are also possible.

It should be noted that the flow of glucose from the capillary bed into the cell is a rather complex process that can be disrupted in some diseases. This is another reason for abnormal changes in blood sugar levels.

The release of glucose from the depot in the liver (glycogenolysis), the synthesis of glucose in the body (gluconeogenesis) and its uptake by cells are controlled by a complex neuroendocrine regulation system, in which the hypothalamic-pituitary system (the main center of neuroendocrine regulation of the body), pancreas and adrenal glands are directly involved. The pathology of these organs is often the cause of abnormal blood sugar levels.

How is the acceptable blood sugar level regulated?

The main hormone that regulates the permissible blood sugar level is the pancreas hormone, insulin. With an increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood, the secretion of this hormone increases. This occurs both directly as a result of the stimulating effect of glucose on the receptors of pancreatic cells, and indirectly, by activating the parasympathetic nervous system through glucose-sensitive receptors in the hypothalamus.

Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose by the cells of the body, and stimulates the synthesis of glycogen from it in the liver - thus the blood sugar level decreases.

The main insulin antagonist is another pancreatic hormone - glucagon. With a decrease in blood sugar levels, its increased secretion occurs. Glucagon enhances the breakdown of glycogen in the liver, facilitating the release of glucose from the depot. The same effect is exerted by the adrenal medulla hormone - adrenaline.

Hormones that stimulate gluconeogenesis - the formation of glucose in the body from simpler substances - also contribute to an increase in blood glucose levels. In addition to glucagon, this effect is exerted by the hormones of the cerebral (adrenaline, norepinephrine) and cortical (glucocorticoids) substances of the adrenal glands.

The sympathetic nervous system, which is activated during stresses requiring increased energy consumption, increases blood glucose levels, while the parasympathetic nervous system decreases. Therefore, late at night and early in the morning, when there is a predominance of the influence of the parasympathetic nervous system, the level of glucose in the blood is the lowest.

What tests are done to determine the level of sugar in the blood?

There are two methods of measuring blood sugar most popular in clinical medicine: in the morning on an empty stomach (with a break in food and liquid intake for at least 8 hours), and after glucose loading (the so-called oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT).

Oral glucose tolerance test consists in the fact that the patient takes 75 grams of glucose dissolved in 250-300 ml of water, and after two hours the blood sugar level is determined.

The most accurate results can be obtained with the combined conduct of two analyzes: after three days of a regular diet in the morning on an empty stomach, the blood sugar level is determined, and after five minutes a glucose solution is taken in order to measure this indicator again after two hours.

In some cases (diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance), constant monitoring of blood sugar levels is necessary in order not to miss serious pathological changes fraught with threat to life and health.

Can blood sugar be measured at home?

Blood sugar can be measured at home. To do this, you should purchase a special device at the pharmacy - a glucometer.

A traditional blood glucose meter is a device with a set of sterile blood collection lancets and special test strips. Under sterile conditions, a lancet is used to puncture the skin at the tip of the finger, a drop of blood is transferred to a strip of strips, which is subsequently placed in a blood sugar meter.

There are glucometers that process capillary blood obtained from other places (shoulder, forearm, base of the thumb, thigh). But remember that the blood circulation in the fingertips is much higher, therefore, using the traditional method, you can get more accurate blood sugar results in this moment time. This can be very important, since this indicator in some cases changes rapidly (physical or emotional stress, food intake, development of a concomitant disease).

How to correctly measure blood sugar at home?

To correctly measure the blood sugar level at home, you should carefully read the instructions for the purchased device, and in doubtful cases, seek clarification from a specialist.

When measuring blood sugar at home, some general rules must be followed:
1. Wash hands thoroughly before taking blood. warm water... This should be done not only to ensure cleanliness, but also to improve blood circulation. Otherwise, the puncture on the finger will have to be made deeper, and it will be more difficult to take blood for analysis.
2. The puncture site must be well dried, otherwise the resulting blood will be diluted with water and the test results will be distorted.
3. For blood sampling, the inner surface of the pads of three fingers of both hands is used (the thumb and forefinger are traditionally not touched, like workers).

4. In order for the manipulation to bring as little painful sensations as possible, it is best to make a puncture not in the center of the pad, but slightly from the side. The puncture depth should not be too great (2-3 mm for an adult is optimal).
5. With regular measurement of blood sugar, the place of blood sampling should be constantly changed, otherwise inflammation and / or thickening of the skin will occur, so that it will become impossible to take blood for analysis from the usual place later.
6. The first drop of blood obtained after a puncture is not used - it should be carefully removed with a dry cotton swab.
7. Do not squeeze the finger too much, otherwise the blood will mix with the tissue fluid, and the result will be inadequate.
8. You must remove the blood drop before it is smeared as the smeared drop will not absorb into the test strip.

What is the normal blood sugar level?

The normal blood sugar level in the morning on an empty stomach is 3.3-5.5 mmol / l. A deviation from the norm in the range of 5.6 - 6.6 mmol / l indicates impaired glucose tolerance (a state bordering between norm and pathology). An increase in fasting blood sugar to 6.7 mmol / L and above gives reason to suspect the presence of diabetes mellitus.

In doubtful cases, blood sugar levels are additionally measured two hours after glucose loading (oral glucose tolerance test). The indicator of the norm in such a study rises to 7.7 mmol / L, indicators in the range of 7.8 - 11.1 mmol / L indicate impaired glucose tolerance. In diabetes mellitus, the sugar level reaches 11.2 mmol / L and higher two hours after glucose loading.

What is the normal blood sugar level for a child?

In young children, there is a physiological tendency to lower blood sugar levels. The rates of this indicator in infants and preschoolers are slightly lower than in adults.

So, in children infancy The fasting glucose level is normally 2.78 - 4.4 mmol / l, in preschoolers - 3.3 - 5.0 mmol / l, in schoolchildren - 3.3 - 5.5 mmol / l.

If the fasting blood sugar level exceeds 6.1 mmol / L, then they speak of hyperglycemia (an increase in blood sugar). Readings below 2.5 mmol / L indicate hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

In the case when the fasting sugar level is in the range of 5.5 - 6.1 mmol / l, an additional oral glucose tolerance test is indicated. Glucose tolerance in children is significantly higher than in adults. Therefore, normal blood sugar levels two hours after a standard glucose load are slightly lower.

If a child's fasting blood sugar level exceeds 5.5 mmol / L, and two hours after glucose load reaches 7.7 mmol / L or higher, then they speak of diabetes mellitus.

How does blood sugar change during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, a complex restructuring occurs in a woman's body, leading to physiological insulin resistance. The development of such a state is naturally promoted by a high level of ovarian and placental steroids (counterinsular hormones secreted by the ovaries and placenta), as well as increased secretion of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal cortex.

In some cases, physiological insulin resistance exceeds the capacity of the pancreas to produce insulin. In this case, the so-called gestational diabetes mellitus, or pregnancy diabetes mellitus, develops. In most cases, after childbirth in women with pregnancy diabetes, all blood sugar levels return to normal. However, further caution should be exercised, since about 50% of women who have had gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes mellitus within 15 years after pregnancy.

In gestational diabetes, as a rule, there are no clinical manifestations of hyperglycemia. However, this condition poses a danger to the development of the child, since in the absence of compensatory therapy, an increased level of glucose in the mother's blood in 30% of cases leads to fetal pathology.

Gestational diabetes usually develops in the middle of pregnancy (between 4 and 8 months), and women at risk should be especially careful about blood sugar readings during this time.

The risk group includes women with increased body weight, unfavorable heredity (diabetes mellitus in pregnancy or type II in the next of kin), aggravated obstetric history (large fetus or stillbirth during previous pregnancies), as well as suspected large fetuses in the current pregnancy.

The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus is made when the level of sugar in blood taken on an empty stomach rises to 6.1 mmol / L or more, if two hours after glucose loading this figure is 7.8 mmol / L or more.

Elevated blood sugar

When is high blood sugar?

Distinguish between physiological and pathological increases in blood sugar levels.

Physiological increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood occurs after a meal, especially easily digestible carbohydrates, with intense physical and mental stress.

A short-term increase in this indicator is typical for such pathological conditions as:

• severe pain syndrome;
• epileptic seizure;
• acute myocardial infarction;
• severe attack of angina pectoris.

Reduced glucose tolerance is observed in conditions caused by operations on the stomach and duodenum, leading to accelerated absorption of glucose from the intestine into the blood.
With traumatic brain injury with damage to the hypothalamus (there is a reduced ability of tissues to utilize glucose).
With severe liver damage (reduced synthesis of glycogen from glucose).

A long-term increase in blood sugar levels, leading to the appearance of glucosuria (excretion of glucose in the urine) is called diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus).

Due to the occurrence, primary and secondary diabetes mellitus is distinguished. Primary diabetes mellitus is called two separate nosological units (type 1 and type 2 diabetes) that have internal causes of development, while the causes of secondary diabetes are various diseases leading to severe disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.

First of all, these are severe lesions of the pancreas, characterized by absolute insulin deficiency (pancreatic cancer, severe pancreatitis, organ damage in cystic fibrosis, removal of the pancreas, etc.).

Secondary diabetes mellitus also develops in diseases accompanied by an increase in the secretion of counterinsular hormones - glucagon (hormonally active tumor - glucagonoma), growth hormone (gigantism, acromegaly), thyroid hormones (thyrotoxicosis), adrenaline (tumor of the cerebral-medullary substance) adrenal glands (Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome).

Quite often, there is a reduced glucose tolerance, up to the development of diabetes mellitus, caused by prolonged use of medications, such as:

• glucocorticoids;
• thiazide diuretics;
• some antihypertensive and psychotropic drugs;
• estrogen-containing drugs (including oral contraceptives);

According to the WHO classification, gestational diabetes mellitus (pregnant women) is distinguished as a separate nosological unit. It does not apply to either primary or secondary types of diabetes mellitus.

What is the mechanism of increasing blood sugar levels in type 1 diabetes?

An increase in blood sugar in type I diabetes mellitus is associated with an absolute insufficiency of insulin. It is an autoimmune disease in which the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas undergo autoimmune aggression and destruction.

The causes of this pathology are still not fully understood. Type I diabetes mellitus is considered a disease with a hereditary predisposition, but the influence of the hereditary factor is insignificant.

In many cases, there is a connection with the transferred viral diseases that triggered the autoimmune process (the peak incidence occurs in the autumn-winter period), however, a significant part of type I diabetes mellitus diseases is idiopathic, that is, the cause of the pathology remains unknown.

Most likely, the disease is based on a genetic defect, which is realized when certain conditions(viral disease, physical or mental trauma). Type I diabetes mellitus develops in childhood or adolescence, less often in adulthood (up to 40 years).

The compensatory capabilities of the pancreas are large enough, and symptoms type I diabetes mellitus manifests itself only when more than 80% of insulin-producing cells are destroyed. However, when the critical limit of compensatory capabilities is reached, the disease develops very quickly.

The fact is that insulin is necessary for the consumption of glucose by the cells of the liver, muscles and adipose tissue. Therefore, with its lack, on the one hand, the level of sugar in the blood rises, since glucose does not enter some of the cells of the body, on the other hand, the cells of the liver, as well as muscle and adipose tissue, experience energy hunger.

Energy starvation of cells triggers the mechanisms of glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen with the formation of glucose) and gluconeogenesis (the formation of glucose from simple substances), as a result, the blood sugar level rises significantly.

The situation is complicated by the fact that enhanced gluconeogenesis occurs with the breakdown of fats and proteins necessary for glucose synthesis. Decay products are toxic substances, therefore, against the background of hyperglycemia, general poisoning of the body occurs. Thus, type I diabetes mellitus can lead to the development of life-threatening critical conditions (coma) already in the first weeks of the development of the disease.

Because of rapid development Symptoms in the pre-insulin era type I diabetes mellitus were called malignant diabetes. Today, when there is the possibility of compensatory treatment (administration of insulin), this type of disease is called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

Energy hunger of muscle and adipose tissue causes a rather characteristic appearance patients: as a rule, these are thin people of asthenic physique.

Type I diabetes mellitus accounts for about 1-2% of all cases of diseases, however, the rapid development, the risk of complications, as well as the young age of most patients (the peak incidence occurs at 10-13 years old) attract special attention of both physicians and public figures.

What is the mechanism of increasing blood sugar levels in type II diabetes?

The mechanism of increasing blood sugar levels in type II diabetes mellitus is associated with the development of target cell resistance to insulin.

This disease belongs to pathologies with a pronounced hereditary predisposition, the implementation of which is facilitated by many factors:

• stress;
• unhealthy diet (fast food, drinking a lot of sweet soda water);
• alcoholism;
  some concomitant pathologies (hypertension, atherosclerosis).

The disease develops after the age of 40, and with age, the risk of pathology increases.

In type II diabetes, the insulin level remains normal, but the level of glucose in the blood is increased, since glucose does not enter the cells due to a decrease in the cellular response to the hormone.

The disease develops slowly, since for a long time the pathology is compensated by an increase in the level of insulin in the blood. However, in the future, the decrease in the sensitivity of target cells to insulin continues, and the depletion of the compensatory capabilities of the organism occurs.

The cells of the pancreas can no longer produce insulin in the amount necessary for this condition. In addition, due to the increased load in the cells that produce the hormone, degenerative changes occur, and hyperinsulinemia is naturally replaced by a reduced concentration of the hormone in the blood.

Early detection of diabetes mellitus helps to protect the cells that secrete insulin from damage. Therefore, people at risk need to have an oral glucose tolerance test on a regular basis.

The fact is that, due to compensatory reactions, fasting blood sugar remains normal for a long time, but already at this stage, reduced glucose tolerance is expressed, and OGTT allows it to be detected.

What are the signs of high blood sugar?

Classic diabetes mellitus is manifested by a triad of clinical symptoms:
1. Polyuria (increased urine output).
2. Polydipsia (thirst).
3. Polyphagia (increased food intake).

High blood sugar levels lead to glucose in the urine (glucosuria). To remove excess glucose, the kidneys need to use more fluid to form urine. As a result, the volume of urine increases, and with it the frequency of urination. Hence the old name for diabetes mellitus - diabetes mellitus.

Polyuria naturally leads to increased water loss, which is clinically manifested by thirst.

Target cells do not receive enough glucose, so the patient constantly feels hungry and absorbs more food (polyphagia). However, with severe insulin deficiency, patients do not recover, because adipose tissue not getting enough glucose.

In addition to the triad characteristic exclusively for diabetes mellitus, a clinically elevated blood sugar level is manifested by a number of nonspecific (characteristic of many diseases) symptoms:

• increased fatigue, decreased performance, drowsiness;
• headache, irritability, sleep disturbances, dizziness;
• itching of the skin and mucous membranes;
• bright blush of the cheeks and chin, the appearance of yellow spots on the face, and flat yellow formations on the eyelids (symptoms of concomitant lipid metabolism disorders);
• pain in the limbs (most often at rest or at night), nocturnal cramps of the calf muscles, numbness of the limbs, paresthesia (tingling, creeping sensation);
• nausea, vomiting, pain in the epigastric region;
• an increased tendency to infectious and inflammatory diseases that respond poorly to treatment and turn into chronic form(especially often the kidneys and urinary tract, skin, oral mucosa are affected).

Acute complications of high blood sugar

High blood sugar levels inevitably cause complications, which can be divided into:

1. Acute (arising when the sugar level rises to critical numbers).
2. Late (typical for a long course of diabetes mellitus).

An acute complication of high blood sugar levels is the development of a coma, which is a lesion of the central nervous system, clinically manifested by progressive disturbance of nervous activity, up to loss of consciousness and extinction of elementary reflexes.

Acute complications of high blood sugar levels are especially characteristic of type I diabetes mellitus, which often manifests with severe manifestations close to the terminal states of the body. However, comatose states also complicate other types of diabetes mellitus, especially when several factors combine to predispose to the development of a sharp increase in this indicator.

The most common predisposing factors for the development of acute complications in diabetes mellitus are:

• acute infectious diseases;
• other acute stress factors for the body (burns, frostbite, trauma, surgery, etc.);
• exacerbation of severe chronic diseases;
• errors in the treatment and regimen (skipping the introduction of insulin or drugs that correct the level of sugar in the blood, gross violations of the diet, alcohol consumption, increased physical activity);
• taking certain medications (glucocorticoids, diuretics, estrogen drugs, etc.).

All types of coma with elevated blood sugar levels develop gradually, but are characterized by a high degree of lethality. Therefore, it is especially important to know the early signs of their manifestation in order to seek help in time.

The most common common precursors of coma with elevated blood sugar are:
1. An increase in the amount of urine excreted up to 3-4, and in some cases - up to 8-10 liters per day.
2. Constant dry mouth, thirst, leading to the consumption of large quantities of fluids.
3. Fatigue, weakness, headache.

If, with the appearance of early signs of an increase in blood sugar levels, adequate measures were not taken, then gross neurological symptoms continue to grow.

First, there is a deafening of consciousness, manifested by a sharp inhibition of the reaction. Then stupor (hibernation) develops, when the patient from time to time falls into a dream close to loss of consciousness. However, it can still be removed from this state with the help of super-strong influences (pinching, shaking by the shoulders, etc.). And finally, in the absence of therapy, coma and death naturally occur.

Different types of coma with elevated blood sugar levels have their own mechanisms of development, and, therefore, distinctive clinical signs.

Thus, the development of ketoacidotic coma is based on the breakdown of proteins and lipids caused by hyperglycemia with the formation of a large number of ketone bodies. Therefore, in the clinic of this complication, specific symptoms of ketone body intoxication are expressed.

First of all, it is the smell of acetone from the mouth, which, as a rule, even before the development of a coma, is felt at a distance from the patient. Later, the so-called breathing of Kussmaul appears - deep, rare and noisy.

The late precursors of ketoacidotic coma are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract caused by general intoxication with ketone bodies - nausea, vomiting, pain in the epigastric region (sometimes so severe that it causes suspicion of an "acute abdomen").

The mechanism of development of a hyperosmolar coma is completely different. Elevated blood glucose levels cause the blood to thicken. As a result, according to the laws of osmosis, fluid from the extra- and intracellular environment rushes into the blood. Thus, dehydration of the extracellular environment and body cells occurs. Therefore, with a hyperosmolar coma, there are clinical symptoms associated with dehydration (dry skin and mucous membranes), and there are no signs of intoxication.

Most often, such a complication occurs with concomitant dehydration of the body (burns, massive blood loss, pancreatitis, vomiting and / or diarrhea, taking diuretics).

Lactic acid coma is the most rare complication, the mechanism of development of which is associated with the accumulation of lactic acid. It develops, as a rule, in the presence of concomitant diseases occurring with severe hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Most often it is respiratory and heart failure, anemia. Alcohol intake and increased physical activity in old age can provoke the development of lactacidotic coma.

A specific precursor to lactacidotic coma is pain in the calf muscles. Sometimes there is nausea and vomiting, but there are no other symptoms of intoxication characteristic of a ketoacedotic coma; there are no signs of dehydration.

Late complications of high blood sugar

If the blood sugar level is not corrected, complications in diabetes mellitus are inevitable, since all organs and tissues of the human body suffer with hyperglycemia. However, the most common and dangerous complications are diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic foot syndrome.

If the patient is unconscious, or his behavior is inadequate, it is necessary to call an emergency medical assistance... While waiting for the arrival of the doctor, you should try to persuade the patient with inappropriate behavior to take the sweet syrup. The behavior of people in a state of hypoglycemia is often aggressive and unpredictable, so it is necessary to show maximum patience.

Lowered blood sugar

How to lower blood sugar levels?

To effectively lower your blood sugar, you need to know the reason for the rise.

In many cases of secondary diabetes, the cause of the pathology can be eliminated:
1. Cancellation of drugs that caused an increase in blood sugar levels;
2. Removal of a tumor producing contrainsular hormones (glucagonoma, pheochromocytoma);
3. Treatment of thyrotoxicosis, etc.

In cases where it is impossible to eliminate the cause of an increase in blood sugar levels, as well as in primary type I and II diabetes mellitus, compensatory treatment is prescribed. This can be insulin or drugs that lower blood sugar levels. With gestational diabetes mellitus, it is possible to achieve a decrease in this indicator, as a rule, with the help of diet therapy alone.

Treatment is selected strictly individually (not only the type of diabetes is taken into account, but also general state specific patient), and is carried out under constant medical supervision.

The general principles for the treatment of all types of diabetes mellitus are:

• constant monitoring of blood sugar levels;
• implementation of all recommendations for ongoing compensatory treatment;
• strict adherence to diet, work and rest;
• inadmissibility of alcohol and smoking.

In the case of diabetic coma (ketoacidotic, hyperosmolar or lactacidotic), emergency medical attention is required at any stage of its development.

When is low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar levels are observed:
1. For diseases that impede the absorption of glucose into the blood (malabsorption syndrome).
2. With severe lesions of the liver parenchyma, when glucose cannot be released from the depot (fulminant hepatic necrosis in infectious and toxic lesions).
3. With endocrine pathologies, when the synthesis of contrainsular hormones is reduced:

• hypopituitarism (hypofunction of the pituitary gland);
• Addison's disease (lack of adrenal cortex hormones);
• increased insulin synthesis (insulinoma).

However, in the clinical practice of a physician, the most common episodes of hypoglycemia caused by poorly corrected therapy for diabetes mellitus.

The most common cause of hypoglycemia in such cases is:

• overdose of prescribed drugs, or their incorrect administration (intramuscular injection of insulin instead of subcutaneous injection);
Early signs of low blood sugar:
• excessive sweating;
• hunger;
• shiver;
• increased heart rate;
• paresthesia of the skin around the lips;
• nausea;
• unmotivated anxiety.
Late signs of low blood sugar:
• difficulty concentrating, communication difficulties, confusion;
• headache, weakness, drowsiness;
• visual impairment;
• violation of adequate perception of the environment, disorientation in space.
When the first signs of a drop in blood sugar appear, the patient can and should help himself. In the event of the development of late signs, he can only hope for the help of others. In the future, in the absence of adequate therapy, hypoglycemic coma develops.

In medical practice, low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia, and this pathological condition develops when glucose levels fall below 3.2 units. In diabetics, the term "hypo" is used, meaning that the sugar has decreased.

A decrease in glucose levels in the body refers to an acute form of complications against the background of a "sweet" illness. And the manifestation of this phenomenon may differ depending on the degree: mild or severe. The last degree is the most severe and is characterized by hypoglycemic coma.

V modern world the criteria for compensation of sugar disease were tightened, as a result of which the likelihood of developing a hypoglycemic state increases. If this is noticed in time and stopped in a timely manner, then the risk of complications is reduced to zero.

Episodes of low glucose concentration are a kind of payment for diabetics to maintain normal sugar levels in order to avoid the negative consequences of the underlying disease.

Blood sugar 2: causes and factors

Before you know what sugar 2.7-2.9 units means, you need to consider what sugar norms are accepted in modern medicine.

Numerous sources provide the following information: indicators with variability from 3.3 to 5.5 units are considered to be the norm. When there is a deviation from the accepted norm in the range of 5.6-6.6 units, then we can talk about a violation of glucose tolerance.

Tolerance disorder is a borderline pathological condition, that is, something in between normal performance and disease. If the sugar in the body rises to 6.7-7 units, then we can talk about a "sweet" disease.

However, this information applies exclusively to the norm. In medical practice, there are increased and decreased sugar levels in the body of a sick person. A low concentration of glucose occurs not only against the background of diabetes mellitus, but also with other pathologies.

The hypoglycemic state can be conditionally divided into two types:

• Low sugar on an empty stomach when the person has not eaten for eight hours or more.
• A responsive hypoglycemic state, observed two to three hours after a meal.

In fact, in diabetes mellitus, many factors can affect sugar values ​​that change them in one direction or another. Why does blood sugar drop to 2.8-2.9 units?

The reasons for low glucose are as follows:

1. An incorrectly prescribed dosage of medications.
2. A large dose of the injected hormone (insulin).
3. Strong physical activity, overload of the body.
4. Chronic renal failure.
5. Correction of treatment. That is, one medication was replaced with a similar remedy.
6. A combination of several medications to lower blood sugar.
7. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

It should be noted that a combination of traditional and traditional medicine... For this case, an example can be given: a diabetic takes medications in the dosage recommended by the doctor.

But additionally decides to control glucose with the help of alternative medicine. As a result, a combination of medication and home treatment leads to a marked decrease in blood sugar to 2.8-2.9 units.

Clinical picture

Sugar level

When blood sugar drops to: two and eight units, then this condition does not pass without a trace for the person himself. Often, a decrease in sugar is detected in the morning, and in this case, it is enough for a diabetic to eat to improve their well-being.

It so happens that a response hypoglycemic state occurs, which is noted a couple of hours after a meal. In this situation, a low glucose concentration may indicate the development of sugar disease.

It can be divided into mild and severe. The symptomatology of this condition does not differ in any way in men and women. If the sugar drops to 2.5-2.9 units, the following symptoms will be observed:

• Tremors of the limbs, chills of the whole body.
• Enhanced sweat separation, tachycardia.
• Acute hunger, intense thirst.
• An attack of nausea (may be up to vomiting).
• The tips of the fingers are cold.
• Headache develops.
• The tip of the tongue is not felt.

If you do not take any measures, when sugar is at the level of 2.3-2.5 units, then over time the situation will become extremely aggravated. A person is poorly oriented in space, coordination of movement is disturbed, the emotional background changes.

If at this moment carbohydrates do not enter the human body, then the condition of the diabetic worsens even more. There are cramps in the limbs, the patient loses consciousness and falls into a coma. Then the swelling of the brain, and then death.

Sometimes it happens that the hypoglycemic state occurs at the most inopportune time, when the patient is completely defenseless - at night. Symptoms of low blood sugar while sleeping:

1. Heavy sweating (the sheet is wet "through and through").
2. Conversations in a dream.
3. Lethargy after sleep.
4. Increased irritability.
5. Nightmares, sleepwalking.

These reactions are dictated by the brain, because it lacks nutrition. In this situation, it is necessary to measure the concentration of sugar in the blood, and if it is less than 3.3 or even 2.5-2.8 units, then you must immediately eat carbohydrate food.

After nocturnal hypoglycemia, the patient most often wakes up with a headache, feeling overwhelmed and lethargic all day.

Low sugar: children and adults

In fact, practice shows that each person has a certain threshold of susceptibility to low sugar in the body. And it depends on the age group, the duration of the course of sugar disease (its compensation), as well as the rate of decrease in glucose.

As for age, at different ages, a hypoglycemic state can be diagnosed at completely different values. For example, a small child is not as sensitive to low scores as an adult.

In childhood, indicators of 3.7-2.8 units can be regarded as a decrease in sugar, while typical signs are not observed. But the first symptoms of deterioration occur at rates of 2.2-2.7 units.

In a child who is just born, these indicators are even much lower - less than 1.7 mmol / l, and premature babies feel a hypoglycemic state at a concentration of less than 1.1 units.

In some children, there may be no sensitivity at all to a decrease in glucose concentration. In medical practice, there have been cases when sensations manifested themselves only when the sugar level fell "below low".

As for adults, they have a different clinical picture. Already with a sugar of 3.8 units, the patient may feel bad, he has many signs of a drop in glucose.

The following individuals are particularly susceptible to low sugar concentrations:

• Persons aged 50 and over.
• People with a history of heart attack or stroke.

The fact is that in these cases, the human brain is highly sensitive to a lack of sugar and oxygen, which in turn is associated with a high probability of developing a heart attack or stroke.

A mild hypoglycemic state, with certain actions, can be quickly stopped without probable consequences. However, you should not allow a decrease in sugar in the following persons:

1. Aged people.
2. If there is a history of cardiovascular pathology.
3. If the patient has diabetic retinopathy.

You should not allow a decrease in sugar in people who are not sensitive to this condition. They may have a coma suddenly.

Disease Compensation and Sugar Drop Rate

Surprising but true. The more "experience" of pathology, the less sensitive a person has to the initial symptoms of a hypoglycemic state.

In addition, when an uncompensated form of diabetes is observed for a long time, that is, sugar indicators are constantly at around 9-15 units, then a sharp decrease in its level, for example, to 6-7 units, can lead to a hypoglycemic reaction.

In this regard, it should be noted that if a person wants to normalize his sugar indicators and stabilize them within acceptable limits, this must be done gradually. The body needs time to get used to new conditions.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia are also manifested depending on the rate of drop in glucose in the body.

For example, a patient has sugar at around 10 units, he injected himself with a certain dosage of the hormone, but, unfortunately, he calculated it incorrectly, as a result of which, within an hour, the sugar dropped to 4.5 mmol / l.

In this case, the hypoglycemic state was the result of a sharp decrease in glucose concentration.

Low sugar: a guide to action

And the second type of diabetes mellitus must be carefully controlled in order to avoid deterioration of health and the development of pathological conditions. With a sharp drop in sugar, every diabetic should know how to stop this circumstance.

A mild form of hypoglycemia can be removed independently by the patient. Most often, patients use food, because this is the easiest way to solve problems. However, how much is needed to normalize the indicators?

You can eat 20 grams of carbs (four teaspoons of sugar), as many advise. But there is a nuance here that after such a "meal" it will take a long time to reduce the subsequent transcendental glucose in the blood.

A few tips:

• To raise your sugar, you need to eat foods with a high glycemic index.
• After taking the food "medicine", after 5 minutes you need to measure the sugar, and then after 10 minutes.
• If after 10 minutes the sugar is still low, then eat something else, measure again.

Generally speaking, you need to experiment several times to find out the right dosage of carbohydrates for yourself, which will increase the sugar to the required level. In the opposite situation, without knowing the required dose, sugar can be raised to high values.

In order to prevent a hypoglycemic state, you need to constantly carry a glucometer and fast carbohydrates (foods) with you, since you cannot buy what you need everywhere, and you never know when low blood sugar will "come".

A blood sugar test is a well-known expression, because everyone periodically takes it and experiences so that everything is in order. But this term is not entirely correct and goes back to the Middle Ages, when doctors thought that the feeling of thirst, frequency of urination and other problems depend on the amount of sugar in the blood. But now everyone knows that it is not sugar that circulates in the blood, but glucose, the readings of which are measured, and this is popularly called a sugar test.

Blood glucose is referred to as glycemia. This indicator is very important, because it allows us to determine many components of our health. So, if glucose in the blood has low values, then it is observed, and if there is a lot of it, hyperglycemia. The correct amount of this monosaccharide in the blood is very important, because with a lack of it, the threat to life is no less than with an excess.

In case of hypoglycemia, the following symptoms are observed:

• severe hunger;
• a sharp loss of strength;
• fainting, lack of consciousness;
• tachycardia;
• excessive sweating;
• irritability;
• tremor of the limbs.

It is quite simple to fix the problem - you need to give the patient something sweet or inject glucose. But you need to act quickly, because in this state, the count goes on for minutes.

Hyperglycemia is more often a temporary condition than a permanent one. So, it is observed after eating, with a strong load, stress, emotions, sports and hard work. But if, with several tests from a vein on an empty stomach, an increase in sugar is present, then there is a reason to worry.

For the following symptoms, a blood test should be done, as they indicate hyperglycemia:

• frequent urination;
• thirst;
• weight loss, dry mouth;
• vision problems;
• drowsiness, constant fatigue;
• the smell of acetone from the mouth;
• tingling in the legs and other symptoms.

The analysis for sugar should be done often and seek the help of doctors, since it may be not only temporary problems or diabetes mellitus. Glucose increases or decreases in many serious pathologies, therefore, a timely visit to endocrinologists will help to start treatment as early as possible.

How to find out the sugar rate for yourself

There is no one size fits all. Yes, the gold standard is 3.3-5.5 mmol / l, but after 50 years this figure in the absence of pathologies becomes higher, and after 60 years - even higher. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between the norms of sugar at least by age. But there is practically no gender difference. That is why the rate of blood sugar in women and men is the same, but there are exceptions.

It is worth highlighting several factors on which the glucose indicator may depend:

• the age of the patient;
• the influence of some physiological processes in women;
• depending on the meal;
• depending on the place of blood sampling (vein, finger).

So, in adult men and women on an empty stomach, glucose should be 3.3-5.5 mmol / l, and if blood from a vein is used, the indicator rises to 6.2 mmol / l. Also, the rate of blood sugar after a meal rises and is up to 7.8. But after 2 hours, the values ​​should return to natural.

If, on an empty stomach, a blood test shows a glucose level of more than 7.0, it comes about prediabetes. And this is already a pathology in which insulin is still produced, but there is already a problem with the assimilation of monosaccharides. As you know, the problem lies not in the inability of the body to produce insulin, but in the violation of glucose metabolism.

If the result obtained raises suspicions of prediabetes, it is necessary to repeat the analysis on an empty stomach again, then take water solution glucose and take measurements in an hour and again in an hour. If the body is healthy, it will quickly normalize the amount of glucose in the body. Therefore, after an hour, the result may be even higher, but if after two hours the results are still in the range of 7.0-11.0, prediabetes is diagnosed. Then it is necessary to begin the examination and identify other signs of diabetes, which may be hidden.

Sugar rate and age

The rates of 3.3-5.5 mmol / L are average and are particularly suitable for people 14-60 years old. In children, the indicators are slightly lower, and in the elderly, they are higher. For different ages, the norm is as follows:

• in newborns - 2.8-4.4;
• in children under 14 years old - 3.3-5.6;
• for persons 14-60 years old - 3.3-5.5;
• in the elderly (60-90 years old) - 4.6-6.4;
• in the very elderly (over 90 years) - 4.2-6.7 mmol / l.

Whatever the type of disease, even on an empty stomach, glucose in the blood will be more than normal. And now the patient has a need to prescribe food, take medicines, comply with physical activity and doctor's prescription. There are special tables according to which doctors can establish diabetes with a high degree of probability even after a fasting blood test. So, it is present in adult women and men with the following values:

• if the blood is from a finger, then the indicators should be higher than 6.1 mmol / l;
• for blood from a vein - over 7 mmol / l.

Sugar norms in women

Although in both sexes the amount of glucose in the blood should be within the general limits, there are a number of situations in women when this indicator can exceed the normal value, and at the same time, there is no need to worry about the presence of pathologies.



A slight excess of sugar is typical for pregnant women. If the values ​​do not exceed 6.3 mmol / L, this is the norm for a similar condition. With an increase in indicators to 7.0, you need to additionally be examined and adjust your lifestyle. In the case of an increase in this limit, gestational diabetes is diagnosed and treated. But you don't need to worry, because after giving birth, the disease will go away.

Menstruation can also seriously affect the test results. Doctors advise to refrain from going to diagnostics when critical days are coming, if there is no urgency in the analysis. The ideal time to donate blood for glucose is in the middle of the cycle.

Another reason for incorrect blood sugar readings is menopause. At this time, the body hormones changes some of the processes that relate to the metabolism of glucose. Therefore, during this period, doctors recommend not to lose sight of sugar control and come to the laboratory every 6 months for tests.

Diabetes mellitus: glucose readings

It has already been mentioned in the article that in the case of an analysis on an empty stomach with values ​​above 7.0, the presence of diabetes mellitus is suspected. But in order to accurately diagnose, it is necessary to confirm the suspicions with additional procedures.

One method is to perform a carbon-load glucose test. It is also called a tolerance test. If, after the introduction of a monosaccharide, the level of the glycemic index rises in the region of 11.1 mmol / l, they say that there is a diagnosis.

Sometimes this test is not enough, so additional examinations are started. One of them is. Its purpose is to find out how many erythrocytes have pathologically changed under the influence of excessive concentration of plasma glucose. Thanks to the examination of pathologies of erythrocytes, it is also possible to find out the growth rate of the disease, the time of its onset and the stage at which the body is now. This is valuable information that will help you choose the right treatment for pathology.



Normal indicators of such hemoglobin should be no more than 6%. If the patient has compensated diabetes mellitus, then they grow to 6.5-7%. With rates of more than 8%, if treatment was previously carried out, we can say that it is absolutely ineffective (or the patient does not comply with the required conditions), therefore, it must be changed. As for glucose in compensated diabetes, it should be 5.0-7.2 mmol / l. But during the year, the level can change both downward (summer) and upward (winter), depending on the insulin sensitivity of the cells.

Since there are many tests for sugar, you need to prepare for them in a completely different way. For example, if you need to donate blood on an empty stomach from a finger and a vein (classic analysis), you cannot eat for 8 hours before manipulation. You can also not take liquid at this time, since the blood volume will increase, the glucose concentration will be diluted, so the results will be unreliable.

When the patient takes food, insulin is released in order to normalize the amount of monosaccharides in the blood as soon as possible. After an hour it is about 10 mmol / l, after 2 hours - less than 8.0. It is also very important to choose the right diet before analysis. If you eat high-carbohydrate and fatty foods, then even 10-12 hours after ingestion, the glucose level will be excessive. Then a break of 14 hours is taken between meals and analysis.

But not only these factors (the time between meals and analysis, as well as the nature of the food) can influence the result of the classical analysis. There are other indicators - the level of physical activity of the body, stress, emotional component, some infectious processes.

The results change insignificantly, even if you take a walk before going to the clinic, and training in the gym, playing sports and other loads greatly distort the test, so they refrain from all this for the day before the analysis. Otherwise, the results will show the norm, but this will be a lie, and the patient will not be able to know that he has a prediabetic condition. The night before the tests, you need to rest well, sleep well and feel calm - then the chance for accurate results will be high.



You do not need to wait for a planned appointment, but it is better to go for tests ahead of schedule if there are disturbing symptoms. So, multiple itching of the skin, abnormal thirst, frequent urge to use the toilet, sudden weight loss, for which there are no prerequisites, multiple skin rashes in the form of boils, multiple folliculitis, abscess, fungal infections (thrush, stomatitis) - all this may indicate a developing secretly diabetes. The body weakens every day, so these symptoms appear more and more often.

In case of suspicion of incipient diabetes, it is better to conduct not just a glucose test, but also to quantify glycated hemoglobin. This indicator characterizes better than others whether pathological processes for the development of diabetes mellitus begin in the body.

Every six months (especially for the elderly) it is necessary to come to the clinic and be tested for sugar. If the patient is overweight, in the family someone had diabetes, pregnancy, hormonal disruptions, it is necessary to carry out tests.

It should be a good habit for a healthy person to go to the lab twice a year. But for those who are already sick with diabetes, you need to carry out tests very often, even several times a day. In particular, it is necessary to calculate the correct dose of insulin, to correct your own diet, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, it is better to purchase one that you can use yourself at home.

Conclusion

Evaluation of blood sugar is a very important diagnostic procedure. Without it, it is difficult to assess whether diabetes is developing and whether the patient is in danger of getting serious problems in the near future. This is a painless procedure that should be carried out as often as possible.

Norms of sugar in blood globally depend only on age and are within certain limits. This means that everyone can monitor their condition and consult a doctor in case of a deviation from the norm. The earlier a patient seeks a doctor with diabetes, the more chances he has to help and cure him completely.



Bolgova Lyudmila Vasilievna

Moskovsky State University them. M.V. Lomonosov

Blood sugar norms in men and women, preparation for testing

4.7 (93.2%) 50 votes


Content

The hypoglycemic index affects the functioning of most organs and systems of the human body: from intracellular processes to the functioning of the brain. This explains the importance of ensuring that this indicator is monitored. Determination of the norm of sugar in the blood allows you to identify any deviations in the level of glucose in women and men, thanks to which it is possible to diagnose in a timely manner such a dangerous pathology as diabetes mellitus. Glycemic balance in different people may differ as it depends on many factors, including age.

What is blood sugar

When taking blood, it is not the amount of sugar as such that is determined, but the concentration of glucose, which is the ideal energy material for the body. This substance ensures the functioning of various tissues and organs, glucose is especially important for the brain, which is not suitable for substitutes for this type of carbohydrate. A lack of sugar (hypoglycemia) causes the body to use up fat. As a result of the breakdown of carbohydrates, ketone bodies are formed, which pose a serious danger to the entire human body, but especially to the brain.

Glucose enters the body as a result of eating food and a large amount of it is involved in the active work of organs and systems. A small proportion of carbohydrates are deposited in the liver as glycogen. With a lack of this component, the body begins to produce special hormones, under the influence of which various chemical reactions are triggered and the conversion of glycogen into glucose is carried out. The hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, is the main hormone that keeps sugar in the body.

An important factor that, through a special study, helps to timely identify many different diseases or prevent their development, is the rate of blood sugar levels. Laboratory tests carried out in the presence of such indications:

• frequent urge to empty Bladder;
• lethargy, apathy, drowsiness;
• cloudy eyes;
• increased thirst;
• decreased erectile function;
• tingling, numbness of the limbs.

The listed symptoms of diabetes mellitus may also indicate a pre-diabetic condition. To avoid the development of a dangerous disease, it is imperative to periodically donate blood to determine the glycemic level. Sugar is measured using a special device - a glucometer, which can be easily used at home. For example, the new OneTouch Select® Plus color-guided meter. He has a simple menu in Russian and high measurement accuracy. Color cues tell you at a glance if your glucose is high, low, or in the target range. further action... Ultimately, diabetes management becomes more effective.

The blood sugar rate is determined by taking measurements several times for several days in a row. So you can track the fluctuations in the glucose indicator: if they are insignificant, then there is nothing to worry about, but a large gap indicates the presence of serious pathological processes in the body. However, fluctuations in the normal range do not always indicate diabetes, but may indicate other disorders that can only be diagnosed by a specialist.

Official blood glucose levels range from 3.3 to 5.5 millimoles per liter. High blood sugar usually indicates prediabetes. Glucose levels are measured before breakfast, otherwise the readings will be unreliable. In a pre-diabetic state, the amount of sugar in a person varies in the range of 5.5-7 mmol. In diabetic patients and people on the verge of developing the disease, the glycometer shows from 7 to 11 mmol (with type 2 diabetes, this figure may be higher). If the sugar is below 3.3 mmol, then the patient has hypoglycemia.



Table of blood sugar norms by age

Normal blood sugar values ​​can only be obtained by donating blood in the morning on an empty stomach. You can conduct an examination in the laboratory of a medical institution or at home using a glycometer. The study suggests the ability to donate biological fluid from a vein. If at the same time the glycometer shows increased values, it is recommended to donate blood again. Deoxygenated blood gives a more reliable result, however, it is somewhat more painful to pass it than a capillary one. Doctors recommend using this diagnostic method if there is an initial stage of diagnosis.

To find out your normal blood sugar level, you shouldn't change your diet to a more balanced, wholesome menu ahead of your lab visit. A sudden change in diet is likely to distort the study results. In addition, the indicators of the glycometer can be influenced by:

• severe fatigue;
• pregnancy;
• nervous strain, etc.



In men

The test is carried out on an empty stomach ( the best time- 8-11 hours), the sample is taken from the ring finger. How much blood sugar should be in the stronger sex? An acceptable result is an indicator in the range of 3.5-5.5 mmol. At other times - in the afternoon, in the evening - these numbers may increase, so it is important not to eat anything before taking measurements for at least 8 hours. If venous fluid or blood plasma is taken from the capillaries, then such indicators are considered normal - from 6.1 to 7 mmol.

Because age affects glucose levels, blood sugar levels in men may differ. Below is a table with acceptable test results for representatives of the stronger sex of different age categories. Deviations from these norms indicate the development of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. The first pathological condition is characterized by an excess of sugar, while possible reasons increasing its amount - a violation of water, carbohydrate, salt or fat balances. This leads to kidney and liver diseases.

A low glucose value causes a decrease in tone, as a result of which a man quickly gets tired. Normal glucose metabolism is considered one in which the following indicators are recorded in the patient:

Among women

On the women Health is influenced by many different factors, including glycemic levels. At each age, the permissible norms change, while their sharp increase or decrease leads to the development of all kinds of pathologies. In this regard, doctors recommend periodic tests for glucose levels, which helps to timely detect the symptoms of dangerous diseases. The blood sugar norms for women of different ages are as follows:

For pregnant women, the figures given may differ slightly. During this period, glycemia has higher rates - 3.3-6.6 mmol. Carrying out tests for women carrying a child inside the womb is shown regularly in order to diagnose any complication in a timely manner. In the period before childbirth, there is a high risk of developing gestational diabetes, which can transform into type II diabetes in the future.

In children

If the baby's body for any reason reduces the production of hormones, this can lead to diabetes mellitus - a serious disease that causes dysfunction of systems and organs. In children, the norm of blood glucose differs from those in adults. So, 2.7-5.5 mmol is considered an acceptable figure for a child under 16 years old, but the rate changes with age.

	Glycemic level (mmol)
Up to a month
1-5 months
6-9 months

Blood sugar rate

Healthy people are tested, as a rule, in the morning and on an empty stomach. This helps to establish the most reliable indicators that affect an accurate diagnosis. Patients over 40 years of age must be periodically subjected to biochemical blood tests. In addition, such an analysis is recommended for the following categories of citizens:

• obese people;
• pregnant women;
• patients with liver disease.

On an empty stomach

The optimal time for taking the test is in the morning, before meals. This is due to the fact that after the intake of calories in the body, the physiological norm of glucose changes. Each organism is different, so its reactions to food can also change. The fasting sugar norm when taking capillary blood is 3.3-3.5 mmol, and the indicators depend on the age of the patient.

After meal

At night and in the morning, the glycemic balance is different, which is mainly due to the consumption of foods that stimulate sugar surges. So, immediately after eating, the indicators increase, and after a certain time, when the food is absorbed by the body, they decrease. In addition, emotional state and physical activity affect glucose levels. If you measure your glycemic level after eating, then the following numbers will be normal:

From the vein

There are several methods for determining glucose levels, including taking from a vein. Doctors believe that this method of diagnosing diabetes is as reliable and reliable as possible. At the same time, the sugar content in the fluid from the vein exceeds that when collecting blood from a finger. A venous sample is more sterile than a capillary sample, which is also an advantage of the method. Normal blood sugar varies with the age of the patient.

From the finger

The most common way to draw blood is to have a finger punctured. The use of capillary fluid does not provide the same reliable data as the study of venous fluid, however, it is the simplest and most painless option for taking a sample. What indicators are considered normal:

With load

To carry out a complete diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, an additional analysis with a glucose load is needed. The norm of this text shows the effect of insulin on the body, helping to identify the development of the disease in the early stages. This test is especially important for pregnant women and children, since often pathology at the beginning of its development can be successfully compensated for by diet. Thus, a test for glucose with a load provides an opportunity to do without the use of medications and taking insulin regularly.

With diabetes

If a person adheres to the basics of a balanced diet, following a low-carb diet, then he can stabilize his own glycemic index even if he has type 1 diabetes. Thanks to this approach to the problem, you can minimize the amount of carbohydrates consumed and control your disease by maintaining pancreatic function without insulin or by greatly reducing its use. For children and adults with diabetes, the sugar levels will be the same.

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Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can diagnose and recommend treatment based on individual characteristics specific patient.

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Discuss

Elevated insulin levels cause several problems at once.
First, its release into the bloodstream can be too sharp - this causes severe bouts of hunger, increased irritability, nervousness and an immediate desire to eat something sweet to calm down.
Blood glucose either falls too low or rises above normal.

Second, regulation of blood glucose is far from the only function of insulin.
One of them is to promote the deposition of fat reserves. Scared already?
I will repeat it again. It is much easier for someone with high insulin levels to gain excess weight and it is more difficult to lose weight than a person with a normal level.

A failure in the system leads to its self-destruction, albeit very slowly. However, at this stage, everything can still be restored, returned to its original position, however, also not very quickly.


In the body, everything is tied, everything works as a single orchestra, as a well-established mechanism in which each cog plays its role.
High insulin levels interfere with the elimination of salt (sodium) from the body, which can cause fluid retention and may cause swelling. The more salty food the owner of this body eats, the worse the situation.

Insulin opens doors to more than just glucose. The mineral magnesium is also one of his wards. But if cells lose their sensitivity to insulin, then magnesium, instead of entering the cell, is lost and excreted from the body.
Magnesium has the ability to relax blood vessels. With a lack of it, blood vessels constrict, and a person's blood pressure rises.

The increased pressure, in turn, causes damage and inflammation of the vessel walls.
Vessels emit help signals into the bloodstream. In response to these signals - indicators of inflammation - the adrenal glands release the stress hormone cortisol.

Cortisol reduces inflammation, but at a terrible cost - one of its functions is to preserve ammunition in the body in case of war or famine - fat in general, and in the abdomen in particular.

Fatty tissue in the abdomen tends to release fatty acids into the bloodstream in response to any stress. In the blood of the owner of such a body - traffic: a lot of glucose, insulin, fatty acids, stress hormones - all this includes a chain of other reactions that - alas - accelerate the aging process and contribute to excess weight.

And the higher the weight, the worse the insulin sensitivity of the cells.

The group of these indicators: slightly high blood pressure (135/90), fasting glucose at the upper limit (110-120 mg / dl), high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, is called Syndrome X, which can be read in more detail online.

Hammers have been knocking for years.
But you can do nothing - after all, the state of health is normal. And outwardly everything is in order, well, except that the waist circumference is> 102 cm for men and> 88 cm for women.
But the flood is still far away.