Glucose Levels

Glucose is a type of sugar that your body uses for energy. It’s carried to every cell of your body through your bloodstream.
The amount of glucose in your bloodstream is controlled by hormones, which are chemical messengers produced by your endocrine system.
One of these hormones is insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is released when your blood glucose level is high, such as after eating. It allows glucose to move from your bloodstream into your cells, thus lowering your blood glucose level.
If your blood glucose level drops too low - for instance, if you haven’t eaten for a while - another hormone, glucagon, is released by the pancreas. This hormone causes your liver to convert stored glycogen back into glucose and release it into your bloodstream, thus raising your blood glucose level.
Normally, these two hormones - insulin and glucagon - work together to keep your blood glucose level stable. This is called glucose homeostasis.
In certain medical conditions, like diabetes, the body’s control of blood glucose can be out of balance. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin, so glucose can’t move into the cells and blood glucose level becomes too high. In Type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to insulin, again leading to a high blood glucose level.
Maintaining a stable blood glucose level is crucial to your health. Your brain, for example, needs a constant supply of glucose to function properly.
Normal blood glucose levels are typically between 4.0 to 6.0 mmol/L before meals, and less than 7.8 mmol/L two hours after eating.
Various factors can affect blood glucose levels, including diet, physical activity, illness, stress, and the effects of medication.
If you’re unsure of anything in this section, it would be beneficial to read back through your course notes and books. A good understanding of glucose regulation is an integral part of your endocrine system topic.