If blood sugar steadily increased

Sugar in the blood steadily increased in diabetes. There are two mechanisms for improving the blood sugar in diabetes. The first mechanism is associated with a reduction in pancreatic function - progressively reduced the number of cells that produce insulin. Therefore, the blood sugar accumulates a lot, but the cells can not assimilate it due to lack of insulin. The only exception to this rule are the brain cells that can directly absorb sugar from the blood without the help of insulin. The function of the pancreas rapidly declining mostly due to autoimmune processes, which started after a viral infection in childhood or young age.

At the same time the immune system can not distinguish between "enemies" from "their", that is, not only makes antibodies to the virus, but also to the cells of the pancreas, which under the action of antibodies are gradually destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. This process is lengthy and inconspicuous, so early symptoms of diabetes appear months or even years after a viral infection. The only way to normalize blood sugar levels Blood sugar - one of the main indicators of human health   such a patient is insulin. Therefore, this type of diabetes is called Type I, or insulin.

After the age of 40-45 years, especially in case of violation of lipid metabolism (obesity, high blood cholesterol) tissue cells lose their sensitivity to insulin The principles of action of insulin - the science of saving lives   and therefore can not absorb glucose from the blood. At this elevated blood sugar level with a sufficient amount of insulin. Sometimes the level of insulin may be somewhat reduced due to age-related decline of pancreatic function. However, insulin is present in the blood, but it is useless - the cells have lost sensitivity to it because of violations of intracellular metabolism. This type of diabetes is called Type II or non-insulin.

Blood sugar can be increased not only in diabetes but also in various endocrine disorders, such as thyrotoxicosis, is associated with increased thyroid function, diseases and tumors of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Chronic inflammation of the liver, kidney and pancreas can also cause an increase in blood sugar. Increased blood sugar may be related to caffeine-containing beverages, drugs with female hormones estrognenami or glucocorticoids.

How dangerous blood sugar level if it is constantly upgraded

Long-term rise in blood sugar produces a devastating effect. This leads to a permanent violation of cellular metabolism in all organs and tissues. Particularly affected blood vessels, peripheral nerves and immune system. This leads to the fact that the blood circulation and innervation of tissues - develop sores mostly on the legs (especially if they have a higher burden of obesity). Joining infections due to lower immunity leads to the development of gangrene of the lower limbs - they have to be amputated.

Heavy disturbances develop in the retina and kidneys - is a steady decline of up to complete blindness and irreversible decline in kidney function.

Suffering and the cardiovascular system - disorders of fat metabolism lead to an increase in the blood levels of cholesterol (cholesterol and blood sugar are rising in parallel), and this in turn to the development of atherosclerosis - the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. As a result, the lumen of the blood vessel narrowing, organs and tissues do not get enough blood with oxygen and nutrients. Most suffer while the brain and the heart muscle - developing cerebral blood flow (extreme - ischemic stroke), and ischemic heart disease (extreme - myocardial infarction).

The lack of glucose Glucose: The energy source , Poor circulation and nerve supply and suffer all the other organs and body systems. "Calling card" of diabetes is reduced immunity - in the blood reduces the number of immune cells because of a violation of protein metabolism. Therefore, one of the earliest signs of diabetes are constant infections: boils Boils and carbuncles - will warm compress . Festered, nonhealing wounds, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract, and so on.

Methods for determining the blood sugar

If you suspect diabetes Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease   you need to donate blood for sugar. Sometimes people just do not know where to check blood sugar. To study the blood sugar should contact the district physician. It will assign all the necessary tests. Blood sugar shall fasting. If the fasting blood sugar is a little high, the analysis is repeated. When results were unclear glucose tolerance test and determination of glycated hemoglobin in the blood.

The criteria for diabetes are: the sugar content in blood glucose over 6, 1 mmol / l of twice or sugar fasting for more than 6, 1 mmol / l plus sugar content not fasted for more than 11, 1 mmol / l, and the increase of glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 6, 5%.

Measurement of blood sugar in a medical institution may be carried out by different methods, which must be listed in the results of analyzes for a correct evaluation of the results. Very accurate methods are the enzyme (glucose oxidase), a method based on the color reaction products formed by heating carbohydrates with toluidine (ortotoluidinovy) and reduktometrichesky based on the ability of glucose to restore the copper salt or nitrobenzene (Somogyi-Nelson). The level of fasting blood sugar by using these techniques in healthy subjects is 3, 5 and 5, 5 mmol / L, non-fasting - does not exceed 7, 8 mmol / L.

Before taking the blood should be excluded increased stress and physical exertion. Since glucose in the blood sampling is consumed blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes), liquid part of blood (plasma) is separated from the cells (drained) no later than two hours after sampling or test tubes used with inhibitors of glycolysis. Failure to do so may be incorrect results.

But in some laboratory determination of blood sugar is still carried out by titrimetry Hagedorn-Jensen, based on the reducing properties of glucose. And as can be present in the blood and other reducing agents, the performance of blood sugar by this method by about 10% above its level as measured by contemporary accurate methods. The rate of blood sugar Blood sugar - one of the main indicators of human health   Fasting method Hagedorn-Jensen - 4, 44-6, 66 mmol / L.

Once the patient a diagnosis of diabetes, he should be trained in the school of diabetes and learn how to control your blood sugar. At home, this control is carried out using test strips or meter. The latter method is the most accurate and reliable, so it is widely used.

Measuring blood sugar Meter

The meter - a device for the individual control of blood sugar levels, or simply measuring blood sugar Blood sugar - modern diagnostic capabilities   at home. Glucose produced mainly for people with diabetes so that they can control blood sugar.

Before examining the patient washes his hands thoroughly and dry them. Wipe clean with alcohol before the skin of a finger puncture is not worth it, because alcohol destroys the reagents on the test strip, and the skin dries and cracks in the part of his application. At the same time, complete disinfection of the skin by wiping with cotton wool alcohol will not. Taking blood samples taken with a special automatic device in the form of a pen that can make skin puncture finger with a sterile lancet.

Puncture better to do on the side of the finger as it is in this place is the small blood vessels and least of all the nerve endings. The first drop of blood is removed with cotton wool, and then a slight compression of the soft tissues receive a second drop, it should not spread. A drop of blood is applied to the test strip previously introduced into the meter holder, after a certain time (this is indicated in the instructions for this type of meter, and an average of 30 - 45 seconds), the meter provides a series of beeps and displays the result of the determination of blood sugar.

Prior to starting the meter should carefully read the instructions and clarify what result gives this device: the sugar content in whole capillary blood or immediately recalculate on the sugar content in the plasma. The difference between these figures is 12% - this figure is so plasma glucose will be more than in whole blood.

Types of blood glucose meters

Determine the blood sugar using glucometers easy. But every meter The unit of measurement of sugar in the blood - blood glucose meter   has its own characteristics, they need to know, and this should become familiar with the instructions.

Today produced many modifications glucometers to measure blood sugar: iChesk (UK), Elite (Germany), Satellite (Russia), Isprayt 2 (USA), Glyukotrend (Germany), Akkuchek-asset (Germany), Smart Skene (USA) etc. When choosing a meter better to stop at well-known companies brands, since it is always possible to find a test strip, and these firms are always replace the meter if it breaks.

Blood sugar meters (meter) is designed so as to be able to work with him unprepared people, including elderly people and a maximum of one minute to get the result of the study. Glucose can be photometric and electrochemical. Photometric glucometers determine the level of glucose spectrophotometer according to the degree of staining test indicator. They are distinguished by delicate optical system, requiring careful and careful handling. Moreover, the photometric Glucose greater weight and volume, the more modern electrochemical model.

Electrochemical Glucose produces a multitude of species. Each manufacturer makes a device or that change. Therefore, electrochemical blood glucose meters differ in speed of analysis (the difference can be significant - from 5 to 60 seconds), the amount of memory (the meter remembers the research results for a certain number of days), calibration of the instrument (all electrochemical models are calibrated or plasma or whole capillary blood ), coding of test strips (to a specific instrument suitable test strips only with a specific code), kind of output (voice or digital display).

In addition, modern blood glucose meters also have additional features: voice notification for the visually impaired patients, the system of validation of blood sampling (if it is not enough, the unit beeps), the definition of some blood biochemical parameters such as blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, the presence of a function mark "before the meal" and "after a meal," stick-lancet with automatic puncturer and others.

Some newer models combine the functions of the meter and tonometer (apparatus for measuring blood pressure).