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Blood glucose concentrations are maintained by tight regulation of glucose production and glucose utilization by insulin- and non-insulin-dependent tissues. Blood glucose levels are usually in the range of 70–99 mg/dL during fasting. Postprandial blood glucose levels might rise up to 140 mg/dl transiently. Blood glucose less than 70 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemia. Three main sources of glucose include gut absorption after ingestion of carbohydrates, endogenous glucose production from glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen), and gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose from amino acids, lactate, and glycerol). Only the liver and kidney provide the enzymes necessary for these two processes. The brain depends on continuous plasma glucose supply and cannot use free fatty acid as an energy source. Normoglycemia is essential to preserve cognitive functions, and long-term hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia can result in serious neurological sequela. Tissue-specific...
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References and Readings
Kronenber, H., Melmed, S., Polonsky, K., & Larsen, P. R. (2008). Williams textbook of endocrinology (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Lifshitz, F. (2007). Pediatric endocrinology (5th ed.). New York: Informa Healthcare.
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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York
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Carrillo, A., Gomez-Meade, C. (2013). Blood Glucose. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1187
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1187
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1005-9
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