Glucose
Glucose is the primary energy source for every cell in the body, especially the brain which consumes about 120g daily. Blood glucose is tightly regulated by insulin (lowers) and glucagon (raises). Fasting glucose reflects the liver's overnight glucose production and the body's baseline insulin sensitivity.
Why it matters: Chronically elevated glucose damages blood vessels through glycation of proteins and oxidative stress, leading to microvascular (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy) and macrovascular (heart attack, stroke) complications. Even pre-diabetic glucose levels (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) significantly increase cardiovascular risk.
May increase with:
May decrease with:
What is Glucose?
Glucose is the primary energy source for every cell in the body, especially the brain which consumes about 120g daily. Blood glucose is tightly regulated by insulin (lowers) and glucagon (raises). Fasting glucose reflects the liver's overnight glucose production and the body's baseline insulin sensitivity.
What might a high or low Glucose mean?
Chronically elevated glucose damages blood vessels through glycation of proteins and oxidative stress, leading to microvascular (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy) and macrovascular (heart attack, stroke) complications. Even pre-diabetic glucose levels (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) significantly increase cardiovascular risk.
What is the typical reference range for Glucose?
The general-population reference range shown here is 3.9 – 6.1 mmol/L. Reference ranges describe the general population and are not a personal target — discuss your results with your physician.
What can affect Glucose?
It may be higher with: High carbohydrate meals (especially refined), Insulin resistance, Physical inactivity, Poor sleep (even one night), Psychological stress (cortisol), Dawn phenomenon (morning cortisol surge), Medications (corticosteroids, thiazides), Infection and illness. It may be lower with: Low-carb or ketogenic diet, Regular exercise (both aerobic and resistance), Weight loss (5-7% significantly improves), Metformin, Adequate sleep (7-9 hours), Vinegar before meals (modest effect), Chromium supplementation, Walking after meals (15-30 min).