Diabetic Diet & Blood Gluecose

Actual Gcse Q: Explain how the body ensures that there is enough glucose available to its cells when there is a shortage in the blood.

When blood glucose levels rise above the ‘normal’ level, the beta cells (islets of Langerhans) of the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin.

This enables the transference of glucose from the bloodstream to enter the body’s cells where it is used for the creation of energy, or to be stored for later use as glycogen.

As this happens, blood glucose levels fall. This results in a signal being sent to the alpha cells (islets of Langerhans) which go on to produce another hormone called glucagon. Glucagon stimulates the liver to release some of it’s store of glycogen … the way it stores glucose … back into the bloodstream.

This, in a non-diabetic, is a tightly controlled sub-system that happens automatically.

I’m confused about when to do the postprandial blood glucose test. Is it two hours after I finish eating, or is it two hours after I start eating? It it’s two hours after I start eating, isn’t it possible that I would be testing before I had digested all that I ate?

You need to test your blood 2 hours after you START eating. You have to base it on start time, because your body starts processing the food at that time, and it is more accurate to check at that time. You wouldn’t have digested all that you ate because it technically takes you 2 to 6 hours to digest any food you eat depending on the size and the food you ate.

Hope this helps.

Everything I read online seems to indicate that dehydration *increases* blood glucose levels, but the instruction manual for my monitor and strips (OneTouch Ultra2) says that "You may get false *low* glucose results if you are severely dehydrated".

The kidneys help to counteract very high blood glucose levels by forcing glucose to be excreted in the urine hours after the fact, and that means more expelling of water than is optimum. So, high blood sugar causes dehydration, not the other way round. Don’t worry about the slight, non-linear effect on the blood glucose readings. You are not going to become so severely hyperglycemic that you dehydrate and that makes your blood sugar look normal falsely. Just tust me on that.

High blood sugar means too high. Take insulin. And if you are so severely dehydrated, that is a problem by itself and it may or may not be connected to the high sugar. Drink water.

What symptoms result when people are unable to regulate blood glucose? (besides possible diabetes)?

Somatostatin—inhibit glucagon release
epinephrine and thyroxine—increase glucosal release from glycogen

Symptoms: blood dips, which can result in paleness, sweating, fatigue, feeling cold

Why does blood glucose level fall after eating a meal? Is it due to the dietary glucose stimulating the release of insulin?

yup..due to homeostasis the increase in blood glucose concentration causes the secretion of the hormone insulin from the islets of langerhans in the pancreas..the latter is released in the blood..the blood transports it to the liver where the excess glucose is converted into glycogen 4 storage..

Can’t find anything on the web about the percentage of cells in the body that use Blood Glucose.
I know that skeletal muscle which comprises 40% of the body uses it.
List organs or cells that do not use blood glucose.
Thanks.

There are some tissues that do not require insulin for efficient uptake of glucose: important examples are brain and the liver. This is because these cells don’t use GLUT4 for importing glucose, but rather, another transporter that is not insulin-dependent.

Hope this helps.

Had a blood glucose test a few days ago after fasting for 12 hours, but forgot to mention that I had some Pepsi Max before the blood was taken.
The result was 5.0, would drinking Pepsi Max have altered the test significantly?

Fay Knowles,
A general rule is “nil by mouth” from midnight with the blood test being taken early the next morning. This rule may also include no liquids at all until after the blood has been taken. Certain blood tests are sensitive to any type of food or drink. When these tests are performed, it is necessary for the patient to fast for several hours before blood is drawn. Some tests require a 12-hour fast and others only for eight hours. It’s important to know which is required before blood is drawn to assure the accuracy of the results. If a patient smokes, or is on a prescribed course of medicine, the doctor will advise the patient not to indulge in that until the blood test ends. Pepsi Max is a low-calorie, (calorific value is approximately 4 which may have caused the Blood Sugar elevation) sugar-free cola. It differs from Pepsi in that it contains aspartame which is an artificial sweetener, and artificial sweeteners are used in diet sodas as replacements for sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Unlike corn syrup and sugar, these artificial replacements do not contain carbohydrates, which your body converts to glucose in your bloodstream. As a result, drinking sodas that contain these sweeteners WILL NOT directly AFFECT your blood sugar levels. Common examples of non-glucose-raising artificial sweeteners include saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, neotame and acesulfame-K. Just for interest – The normal non-diabetic’s glucose ranges from 70mg/dl- 3.9mmol/l or 126mg/dl to 6.99mmol/l when fasting. After meals, glucose levels can go up to about 146mg/dl – 8.10291mmol/l before a person is considered in the pre diabetic range. A normal blood glucose range is in the low to mid 100s. A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is made if your blood glucose reading is 146mg/dl or 8.10mmol/l to 199mg/dl or 11.04mmol/l. A diagnosis of diabetes is made if your blood glucose reading is 200 mg/dl or 11.01mmol/l or higher and you have symptoms of disease such as fatigue, excessive urination, excessive thirst or unplanned weight loss.
(Edited for spelling mistakes – sorry!)

ALL ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, IN ANY FORUM AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE. – MANY ANSWERS ARE FLAWED.

It is extremely important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before trying to find a cure. Many diseases and conditions share common symptoms.

The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Hope this helps
matador 89

Why are blood glucose levels important in body functioning and energy levels and learning?

The Importance of Blood Glucose
By Jennifer Money, eHow Contributor

Glucose is better known to many as sugar. Maintaining a normal level of blood glucose is important for brain function as well as providing the body with energy and keeping metabolism up. Glucose comes from carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cereal and fruit. During digestion carbohydrates are broken down in the stomach into glucose.

Monitoring Blood Sugar
1. Blood sugar can be tested with a blood sugar monitor or you can have your blood sugar tested by a doctor. Blood sugar ideally should be tested after waking up but before eating and also one or two hours after eating. According to ABC News Health, normal glucose levels are typically less than 100 mg/dL in the morning, when you wake up, or before eating. Normal glucose levels one or two hours after eating are typically less than 140.
Hypoglycemia
2. Hypoglycemia means having a low blood sugar level. Having a low blood sugar level can lead to passing out or seizures. Symptoms of having hypoglycemia are feeling shaky, irritable, clumsy, confused, dizzy, weak, having a headache, blurred vision, rapid heart beat and hunger. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypoglycemia is defined as blood sugar below 70 mg/dL and occurs when there is too much insulin and not enough glucose in the blood. There is a higher risk for hypoglycemia for diabetics who take insulin, or when skipping meals, doing physical activity with no food intake and alcohol consumption.
Hyperglycemia
3. Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar. According to the Mayo Clinic, blood sugar rises when individuals eat too much food or the wrong foods, don’t get enough exercise, when they are under physical stress, when they are under emotional stress, when diabetic medicine isn’t taken, or when insulin is taken incorrectly. Symptoms of hyperglycemia are frequent urination, thirst, blurred vision and fatigue.
Diabetes
4. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes previously was known as juvenile onset diabetes. Though type 1 diabetes can occur at any age it is more commonly found before age 20. According to ABC News Health, "individuals with type 1 diabetes are usually thin, and the cause of type 1 diabetes is that the pancreas, the organ that secretes insulin, is destroyed by autoantibodies, that’s why people with type 1 diabetes always need insulin. Type 1 diabetes occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of all the diabetics in the country."

Type 2 diabetes is more common. Type 2 diabetes was previously known as adult onset diabetes because it is found more often in those above the age of 35. According to ABC News Health, "type 2 diabetes is primarily a complicated medical condition called insulin resistance. In fact, in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, there’s plenty of insulin around, it just doesn’t work well."
Raising and Lowering Glucose Levels
5. Things that raise glucose levels are eating carbohydrates, not getting exercise, having a high stress level, being sick, menstruation (this can raise or lower depending on the individual) and exercising without eating enough carbohydrates to fuel the body. According to Estrella Mountain Community College, "if you are on a low-fat diet, remember you still have to pay attention to how many carbohydrates (sugars) you are eating, or your blood glucose level may rise. Also, some low fat and no fat foods contain modified forms of carbohydrate used as emulsifiers or bulking agents that can push up your blood sugar."

Things that lower glucose levels are skipping meals, exercise, alcohol consumption and, in some women, menstruation. Insulin is another factor in reducing glucose levels. Insulin is released into the blood so cells can metabolize glucose.

Blood sugar can be maintained by making good lifestyle choices such as eating vegetables and fruit and a healthy level of carbohydrates, eating consistent balanced meals and not skipping meals, reducing stressful activities and getting physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.

Hope this helps

How do i trace a blood glucose testing meter when it is stolen from a car? Are there any computer programs or online websites that can do this?

They can’t be traced but whatever meter you had should be able to be replaced without any cost to you. As for your readings you should have a seperate log of them with your readings….try "sugar stats. com".

If the diabetes educator sees a blood glucose log with numbers in the 120′s on average but there is no A1c of 8.8%, what should be considered what assessment questions should this person be asked, and what health problems are they at risk for?

The diabetes educator would need to know whether the diabetic patient is adhering to dietary guidelines, whether or not they are adhering to medication requirements as set down by the doctor … that would be insulin injections in the case of type 1 diabetes and insulin and/or medication(s) in the case of type 2 diabetes. The diabetes educator would also want to know whether the diabetic patient is adhering to the exercise regime as set out. Non-compliance in any of these areas could result in blood glucose levels being higher than they should be.

If the patient IS adhering to all of the ‘rules’ as set out in the treatment plan, it MAY be required for the medication to be reviewed. This is because treatment options are never a fail-safe, and should constantly be reviewed. There are also occasions when blood glucose levels may rise anyway, such as if there is an underlying infection, the patient is going through a particularly stressful time, or the patient has been prescribed certain medications that are known to cause elevation in blood glucose levels. Diabetes is also a progressive illness, meaning that even with the best will in the world the condition is likely to get worse.

What must also be borne in mind is that, particularly with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics, they may still be going through the ‘honeymoon period’ where their pancreas is still producing small quantities of insulin. There’s no way to determine just how long this ‘honeymoon period’ could last for so, once the remaining beta cells (islets of Langerhans) have been destroyed, insulin requirements would gradually increase.

Health problems that could ensue include neuropathies … usually beginning with diabetic peripheral neuropathy … where altered sensation or numbness occurs in the feet (and sometimes the hands); circulatory problems; kidney problems; heart attack and stroke; retinopathy (eye damage); gastroparesis (delayed emptying of stomach contents); bowel and bladder dysfunction; sexual dysfunction; blood pressure control. (I do hope I’m not painting too bleak of a picture.)