In the event you’ve ever had a blood take a look at the place they requested you to not eat for twelve hours beforehand, then they had been in all probability testing your fasting blood glucose stage. This week, I acquired an electronic mail from a reader who’d not too long ago had such a take a look at and discovered that her fasting glucose was too excessive. She’s questioning precisely what meaning and what—if something—she ought to do about it.
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What Does Glucose Do?
It’s regular to have a specific amount of glucose—or sugar—in your blood. It’s there as a result of it’s on its option to your cells the place it will likely be transformed into the vitality that powers all your physique’s capabilities. No glucose = no vitality = no life.
It’s additionally regular to your blood sugar to rise after you eat. Blood sugar ranges go up because the meals you’ve eaten is digested and transformed into glucose. Then, as that glucose is taken up by your cells, blood sugar ranges fall again to baseline. No less than they’re imagined to.
Medical doctors take a look at your glucose after you haven’t eaten for eight to 12 hours with a view to see the place your baseline is. In case your fasting glucose ranges are excessive, it’s kind of like having an elevator that solely comes all the way down to the fifth ground as an alternative of returning all the way in which to the bottom ground.
What Is Excessive Glucose and Why Does It Matter?
Fasting glucose readings within the high-normal vary—whereas they’re not an emergency—are thought-about an early warning signal that you could be be headed for bother.
Though there are just a few various things that may trigger excessive fasting glucose, this take a look at is often achieved to display screen for diabetes. In case your glucose ranges are actually excessive, your physician will in all probability order further exams to verify a prognosis and start remedy. Readings within the high-normal vary—whereas they’re not an emergency—are thought-about an early warning signal that you could be be headed in that route. Take into account it a wake-up name. And I don’t advocate that you simply hit the “snooze” button.
The Home Name Doc has a terrific description of precisely what Sort 2 diabetes is and why it’s undoubtedly one thing you need to keep away from.
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