In our Parameter Tuesday series, we will be describing each parameter from our Mandatory Blood Parameters List. We start the series on a sweet note with GLUCOSE.

Glucose comes from the Greek word “glykys” which means “sweet” and is a simple sugar or monosaccharide. Commercially known as dextrose, glucose is the main fuel in your body. Almost every cell in your body requires glucose as its source for energy production. Therefore, you feel and function at your best when the glucose levels in your body are within the normal reference range.

There is not much glucose as an actual monosaccharide molecule found in your diet. However, the carbohydrates that you eat are broken down into simple sugars, which mainly include glucose. They are then absorbed by the small intestine and circulate through the body. The level of glucose is maintained at a relatively stable level for most of the time. However, its levels can rise slightly right after a meal.

Hyperglycaemia is a medical term for high blood sugar and is a condition in which there is too much glucose in your body. It is often associated with diabetes mellitus, but it can also be caused by other serious conditions e.g., severe infection.

Hypoglycaemia is a medical term for low blood sugar and is a condition in which there is not enough glucose in your body. It is often associated with the treatment of diabetes, or in rare cases, some other conditions or drugs can also cause your blood sugar to drop.