Bloedglucose

Bloedglucose, or glucose in the blood, refers to the concentration of the sugar glucose in blood plasma. It is the primary energy source for many tissues and is maintained within a narrow range by hormonal and metabolic processes. In adults without diabetes, fasting bloedglucose typically lies between about 4.0 and 5.4 mmol/L (72–99 mg/dL). After a meal, bloedglucose rises but usually remains below about 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) within two hours.

Regulation of bloedglucose involves insulin, which promotes glucose uptake and storage, and glucagon, which stimulates glucose release from liver stores. The liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue collaborate to balance production and utilization. Other hormones and factors such as cortisol, adrenaline, illness, stress, exercise, and certain medications can influence bloedglucose levels.

Measurement and clinical use: bloedglucose can be measured in capillary blood with finger-prick meters or in venous blood in a laboratory. Diagnostic criteria for abnormal bloedglucose include fasting plasma glucose or capillary fasting blood glucose levels above established thresholds, elevated 2-hour plasma glucose after an oral glucose tolerance test, or elevated HbA1c reflecting long-term glucose exposure. HbA1c is a biomarker indicating average glucose over roughly three months, rather than a direct blood-glucose value.

Clinical relevance: chronically high bloedglucose (hyperglycemia) is a feature of diabetes mellitus and is linked to vascular complications. Low bloedglucose (hypoglycemia) can cause symptoms such as sweating, tremor, confusion, and, if severe, seizures or loss of consciousness. Management focuses on maintaining blood-glucose within an appropriate range through diet, physical activity, and medications when indicated.