Glucose is one of the essential components of the human body. This monosaccharide compound aids in the proper and smooth functioning of the human body. Glucose is obtained majorly from every carbohydrate-rich food that we eat.
One can consider glucose a fundamental building block of the human body for energy supply and demand. This six-carbon molecule is essentially the powerhouse of energy for every cell. Furthermore, a glucose molecule, along with several other molecules like protein and amino acid, helps regulate the energy supply to each cell.
The four crucial processes governing the metabolisation of glucose are- glycolysis, glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis, and glycogenolysis. All of these activities occur in close proximity to the cell’s cytosol. However, regulating the blood glucose level is another important job, and it is under hormonal control. Hormones insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin are the blood glucose level regulators. An upsurge or fall in these hormones marks the rise or fall in the blood glucose levels accordingly.
Who says monitoring blood glucose levels is an ardent task to achieve? Well, if you start making healthy choices every day and keep track of your blood glucose levels, you can certainly stay within limits. For this, you’ll need a buddy like HealthifyPro Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).
A HealthifyPro CGM guides you into tracking your blood glucose levels with ease and perfection. Intrigued, how does a CGM works? Before that, you will need to understand the basics of glucose metabolism and functioning in your body.
Using tools like HealthifyPro CGM (continuous glucose monitor) can help better manage your glucose levels.
How Does Glucose Move Into Your Body?
Glucose is the simplest form of sugar that provides your body with energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Digestion, respiration, and assimilation are some of the most common processes of the human body which require ATP.
Every time you see a food item loaded with carbs like a cheeseburger or a pizza, your mouth produces saliva. The saliva contains digestive enzymes like amylase that are useful in the first step of digestion.
Amylase, from the saliva, converts carbohydrates from your food into simpler monosaccharides like glucose. Glucose molecule now enters the bloodstream and the cells, wherein it gets into the glycolysis process. The glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of the cells.
In the next stage of glucose breakdown, it gets converted into pyruvic acid and produces ATP molecules. These ATP molecules meet energy demands as and when required. Insulin hormone is responsible for the inherent regulation of blood glucose levels in the human body.
Insulin levels in your body decide the fate of glucose metabolism. If insulin levels shoot up and the cells become resistant to it, you may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, if your body can’t produce minimal quantities of insulin regularly, you are on the verge of contracting type 1 diabetes.
Now you know how glucose moves through your body and the importance of glucose metabolism.
Glucose Monitoring: Why is it Important?
There are many reasons for keeping track of your blood glucose level using a HealthifyPro continuous glucose monitor. Here are a few of them:
- HealthifyPro allows you to easily track your blood glucose levels effortlessly at any time of the day.
- Allows you to measure and optimise the amount of calories and carbohydrates you need per meal.
- Manage medical conditions in a better manner, typically for users with diabetes/prediabetes/PCOS
- It helps us identify foods that work or don’t work for an individual
- Keeping a check over your glucose levels in real-time using a HealthifyPro helps you manage your diabetes and weight loss goals precisely.
- Allows your coach to monitor your blood glucose fluctuations and modify your diet and fitness plans accordingly.
- It works as a warning sign for those users who are at high risk for developing metabolic health diseases
- Witness the compounding effect of stress, sleep, and hydration on blood sugars
- Keeping an eye on your blood sugar helps determine if you are meeting your glucose targets which help to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of high and low blood sugar and avoid long-term diabetes complications.
The Health Risks of High Glucose Levels
Even though glucose is an essential molecule in our body, the excess is a concern. If your cells become resistant to insulin, they will start showing some fatal or grave signs sooner or later. Below are some commonly observed risks of high glucose levels in the blood.
Cardiac Disorders
Excess blood glucose levels lead to the deposition of glucose on the inner lumen of arteries and capillaries. Also, this, in turn, results in the narrowing of the lumen of arteries, thereby increasing blood pressure. Thus, patients with type 1 diabetes are more prone to hypertension and at high risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Renal Failures
Kidneys are the bean-shaped organs that regulate the filtration and purification of your blood. Kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessels where nutrients and waste materials get exchanged. If these arteries get trapped with excess glucose molecules, it leads to improper functioning of the kidneys. As a result, it indirectly brings you the chances of renal failure.
Eye Disorders
A deposition of glucose in the blood vessels supplied to the eyes results in the inflammation of the eye lens. In addition, studies state that cataracts and glaucoma result from increased glucose levels in the body.
Brain Disorders
Studies reveal that hyperglycemic patients are at high risk of brain disorders. For example, increased blood glucose levels can cause mental confusion and shrink brain tissue. In the longer run, patients can also develop diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Liver Failures
Increased blood glucose levels are a sign of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver syndrome. If your medical reports reveal an inflammation around your liver, chances are your blood glucose levels are essentially high.
You can keep these risks at bay by tracking your glucose levels with a HealthifyPro CGM. This monitor allows you to keep track of your blood glucose levels and warns you of alarming situations.
What Affects Your Blood Glucose Levels?
Sometimes the cause of spiked glucose levels can be hereditary. If not so, here are the top reasons for high blood sugar levels.
Diet
A diet rich in excessive calories, carbohydrates, and fats is an invitation to increased blood glucose levels. Eating junk foods regularly and not maintaining a balanced diet are signs of living an obese lifestyle. Obesity is home to spiked glucose levels because insulin functionality decreases with an increase in weight.
Exercise
A lack of exercise or movement of the body paves the way for weight gain. Weight gain, as mentioned above, slows down the insulin regulation process of the body. Therefore, as a result, you welcome yourselves to being diabetic.
Sleep
Research suggests that a lack of sound sleep leads to inappropriate glucose metabolism cycles. As a result, it ultimately leaves you with unnecessary food cravings. Deprived sleep is also a cause of excessive weight gain. All of these habits build up insulin resistance and lead to diabetes.
Stress
As per several studies, stress is a harmful element to your overall health. It gravely affects your mental and physical health. In addition, studies claim that increased duration of stress leads to reduced production of insulin, which is an indication of type 1 diabetes.
Healthy Blood Glucose Levels
Here is a quick guide to optimum blood glucose levels, spiked glucose levels, and lowered blood glucose levels.
- A normal blood glucose level (fasting): 70<99 mg/dL
- Abnormal fasting blood sugar level: 80>130 mg/dL
- A normal post-meal blood glucose level: <140 mg/dL
- Abnormal post-meal blood sugar level: >180 mg/dL
- HBA1C for a Normal person: < 5.7%
- HBA1C for someone with diabetes <7.0%
The Importance Of Understanding and Regulating Your Glucose Levels
Glucose levels in your body are something you don’t want to mess with. Glucose is an essentially tiny molecule that undergoes various metabolic processes to develop energy. Thus energetically, it is crucial to maintain your regular blood glucose levels.
A sudden fall in blood glucose levels results in weakness, fatigue, nausea, etc. Also, prolonged periods of low blood sugar count can lead to depression and anxiety. Similarly, a higher blood glucose level will hinder your weight loss goals. Also, raised blood glucose levels is a serious threat to major organs of the body like the brain, heart, and kidney. Therefore, it is imperative to control and manage blood glucose levels.
Conclusion
Glucose is a monosaccharide molecule that forms due to the metabolism of fats and carbs. This six-carbon chain molecule is not only the primary sugar in your blood, but it also provides you with 4cal/g energy every day. Therefore, it lies in your hands to take control of your blood glucose levels or get drifted by it.
Managing your blood glucose levels effectively can help you live longer without severe damage to your major organs. Also, the first sign of glucose fluctuation is usually weight gain. Thus managing your weight using innovative key tools like CGM will result in improved health outcomes. Therefore, having stable glucose levels makes you look good and keeps you healthy for a long time.
