blood glucose level

blood glucose level,

n level of glu-cose in the bloodstream, normally about 70 to 115 mg/dL after fasting overnight. Higher levels may indicate diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

---

blood glucose level(s),

n the concentration of sugar (chiefly glucose–“true blood sugar”) in the blood. It is usually kept within a narrow range by an interplay of many factors: glycogenolysis, glyconeogenesis, intestinal absorption, insulin, insulin antagonists, and other hormones. In the testing of total reducing substances, the normal range of concentration of fasting blood sugar is 80 to 120 mg/ml; in the testing of true blood sugar, the normal range of concentration is 70 to 100 mg/ml. An unusually low level results in hypoglycemia, whereas an abnormally high level causes hyperglycemia; an important level to monitor in diabetic patients, because changes in insulin levels can adversely affect glucose levels. Many methods of measurement are available, both invasive (finger prick) and noninvasive methods (must be used with traditional blood sampling). See also diabetes mellitus.