Blood sugar level

Blood sugar level is the concentration of glucose in blood. It changes with food intake, hormone activity, exercise, and illness, and is measured to assess glucose regulation and diabetes.

Insulin: A pancreatic hormone that lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and storage. It helps lower elevated blood glucose after meals.
Blood glucose test: A test that measures glucose concentration in a blood sample. It provides a direct measurement of the level being assessed.
Hyperglycemia: A condition in which blood glucose is higher than the normal range. It describes persistently or acutely elevated blood sugar.
Plasma glucose: The concentration of glucose in the liquid component of blood after cells are removed. Clinical laboratory results commonly report plasma rather than whole-blood glucose.
Glucagon: A pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose by stimulating glucose release from the liver. It helps prevent blood glucose from falling too low between meals.
Fasting plasma glucose test: A laboratory test measuring plasma glucose after at least eight hours without caloric intake. Its standardized fasting condition helps identify diabetes and prediabetes.
Hypoglycemia: A condition in which blood glucose falls below the level needed for normal function. It is the dangerous low-glucose counterpart to hyperglycemia.
Interstitial glucose: The concentration of glucose in fluid between cells, which changes with a delay relative to blood glucose. Continuous monitors measure this fluid, not glucose directly in blood.
Glycogenolysis: The breakdown of glycogen into glucose, chiefly in the liver and muscles. Liver glycogen breakdown can raise blood glucose during fasting.
Oral glucose tolerance test: A test that measures blood glucose before and after drinking a glucose solution. The post-drink response reveals how effectively glucose is cleared.

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