About the test
Glucose comprises the main energy source of human cells and is derived from carbohydrates catabolism.
Glucose metabolism is dependent on several hormones, the most important one being insulin which is secreted from the pancreas. Insulin mediates glucose transport in cells, where it is used as energy and also helps store excess glucose in the liver in the form of glucagon.
Sample
Venous blood
Procedure
Venipuncture
Preparation for simple glucose test
12hour fasting prior to testing. Water is allowed.
Preparation for glucose tolerance test
- A diet with at least 150gr of carbohydrates/day is advised for three days before testing.
- 8 hours fasting prior to testing is obligatory.
- On testing day, after the first blood withdrawal, the examinee has to drink a glucose solution of 75 grams and rest. Usually, two more venipunctures follow after 30 or 60 minutes.
Procedure
Venipuncture
Increased values
- Diabetes mellitus
- Acromegaly
- Renal disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Drugs (corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, estrogens, lithium)
- Pancreatitis
Decreased values
- Insulin hyperdosage
- Addison’s disease
- Advanced liver disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Insulinoma
- Drugs (paracetamol, anabolic steroids)
- Malnutrition
- Pancreatic islet cells tumors
Additional information
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high glucose levels in blood. The aetiology is either insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or inability of insulin proper usage.
There are three main types of diabetes:
- Diabetes type I (Former insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes)
- Diabetes type ΙΙ (Adult diabetes)
- Gestational diabetes