What Is the Meaning of Blood Glucose Levels?

Obtained mainly from food sources, glucose provides the brain and body with its main source of energy. Sometimes things may go awry and blood glucose concentrations may drop or elevate.

Identification

• Blood glucose levels can be tested using a fasting glucose test or random glucose test.

Normal Levels

• Normal fasting glucose levels should fall below 110mg/dl. Random glucose levels should fall between 100mg/dl and 150 mg/dl.

Abnormal Levels

• Blood glucose levels indicate when there is too much glucose circulating through your blood (hyperglycemia) or when there is too little (hypoglycemia, levels below 50mg/dl).

Diabetes

• Two consecutive fasting blood glucose tests that have results above the 126 mg/dl may (above 200mg/dl for random glucose) indicate that you have diabetes.

Hyperglycemia

• In addition to diabetes, hyperglycemia may be caused by gestational diabetes (diabetes that presents itself only during pregnancy, illness, kidney disease, liver disease or an inflamed pancreas.

Hypoglycemia

• Hypoglycemia may be attributed to problems with the thyroid or adrenal glands. It may also show that you're not consuming enough food.