Glucose

An excess of glucose in the blood may arise thorough diabetes. Diabetes is common and so disturbance of glucose is common. Diabetes is due to a deficiency in insulin production or action. See the resources section for more information about diabetes. As with all biochemistry results glucose results need to be interpreted in the light of the clinical details.

To make the diagnosis of diabetes -

Random glucose greater than or equal to 11.1 mmol/l
or fasting glucose greater than or equal to 7.0 mmol/l
in conjunction with the symptoms of diabetes.

If no symptoms then need to repeat the test on another day to make the diagnosis

There are two other definitions relating to hyperglycaemia that you need to know about -

 

Impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) - fasting glucose 6.1 - 6.9 mmol /l (in the UK).
This is thought to be 'pre-diabetes' and carries cardiovascular risk.

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) - the response to a standard oral glucose load is determined by measuring plasma glucose 2hrs post oral glucose.

Less than 7.8 mmol/l = no IGT
7.8 - 11.0 mmol/l = IGT
Greater than 11.1 mmol/l = diabetes

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