Glucose

Glucose

Glucose is a carbohydrates containing six carbon atoms and the main carbohydrate found in your blood. Regulation of blood glucose concentration is largely done through the endocrine hormones. Hormones involved in regulating glucose concentration and metabolism include insulin, growth hormone, glucagon, cortisol, and somatostatin. Insulin is the most important and only hormone that can lower blood glucose, the rest of these hormones increase glucose. The brain and nervous system can only function in the presence of sufficient glucose in the blood. Normally, glucose levels rise after eating. Accordingly, insulin is secreted from the pancreas and binds to its specific protein receptor, causing glucose uptake by cells and lowering plasma glucose levels. If the feedback and interaction of glucose and insulin works properly, glucose will be in the normal range. Hyperglycemia is seen in diabetes, acromegaly, acute stress, chronic renal failure, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis and its reduction in adrenal insufficiency, pituitary insufficiency, advanced liver disease, malnutrition, alcohol consumption, strenuous exercise and insulinoma. Serum glucose is used to evaluate and monitor blood glucose, evaluation carbohydrate metabolism in various diseases, as a checkup, detect hypoglycemia in infants, pancreatic cancer, evaluation of the condition of diabetic patients, and follow up on treatment and evaluation of insulin.