Mainly tested for diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus
What are the Normal ranges for blood glucose?
Adults
– Fasting (plasma) 3.6–6.4 mmol/l
– Random (plasma) 3.3–7.4 mmol/l
Children
– Fasting (plasma) 2.4–5.3 mmol/l
Newborn values are slightly lower, i.e. 1.1–4.4
Causes of raised blood glucose levels
Hyperglycaemia (Raised blood glucose levels) may accompany pancreatic disease
and some endocrine disorders such as thyrotoxicosis and Cushings syndrome. Steroid therapy may also cause hyperglycaemia. Transient hyperglycaemia
often occurs following severe stress, e.g. after surgery, injury, shock, infections, or severe burns.
Causes of low blood glucose levels
A low blood glucose level is called hypoglycaemia.
Persistent occurrences of hypoglycaemia with glucose levels less than 2.2 mmol/l accompanied by symptoms such as fainting, fits, sweating, hunger, pallor, confusion, or violence, should be investigated.
Causes of hypoglycaemia include severe malnutrition, kwashiorkor, severe liver disease, alcoholic excess, insulin secreting tumours, Addison’s disease,
and certain drugs. Commonly, however, markedly reduced blood glucose levels occur following the overtreatment of diabetes.
Neonatal hypoglycaemia: Newborn infants may suffer hypoglycaemia when blood glucose levels fall below 1.1 mmol/l. Infants particularly at risk are
underweight poorly nourished babies, twins, premature infants, and babies born of diabetic mothers. It is important to detect hypoglycaemia of the newborn because without treatment brain damage may
occur.
Malaria associated hypoglycaemia: In severe malaria, hypoglycaemia is a common finding and can increase mortality particularly in young children.
Hypoglycaemia can also occur in those being treated with quinine and quinidine.
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