Without a continuous supply of glucose in your blood, your body can’t carry out basic functions.
Too much glucose (hyperglycemia) or too little glucose (hypoglycemia) can both cause problems.
This process is called gluconeogenesis.
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Your body needs a specific range of glucose in your blood at all times.
Certain parts of the bodylike the brainare particularly sensitive to changes in your blood sugar levels.
A drop in blood sugar can quickly impact how you act and think.
Glucagon regulates blood sugar when your body is in a state of fasting.
Insulin, on the other hand, helps regulate your real-time blood sugar.
This hormone helps glucose drop your cells as an energy source.
Without insulin, blood glucose would travel through your bloodpossibly accumulating at excessive levelswithout reaching the tissues needing it.
What Is the Normal Blood Glucose Range?
When Can Blood Glucose Be a Problem?
Too much or too little glucose in your blood can cause issues.
More than 11% of Americans have some form of diabetes.
High sugar levels in your blood can damage your nerves, kidneys, and other organs.
Too much or too little blood glucose can cause immediate symptoms and chronic health problems.
If you have diabetes, you may be prescribed medications like injectable insulin.
This replaces or supplements your body’s natural insulin to move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells.
Certain medications or alcohol can also lower your blood glucose.
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