Plasma glucose is defined as the amount of glucose, which is also known as primary sugar, found in the liquid portion of the blood. Plasma glucose levels vary from time to time. They change because of the intake of food and while fasting. This article states how fasting is the time to diagnose diabetes and how plasma glucose levels are indicators of diabetes.
Preparation of Plasma:
Whole blood consists of white blood cells, red blood cells and leukocytes. All these are suspended in the liquid called plasma. Blood sugar levels are measured in the liquid portion of the blood. Thus all the cells need to be separated. This separation is achieved by placing the tube containing collected blood in a centrifuge.
Centrifuge is a machine that works on the principle of separating the denser particles from lighter particles with the help of centrifugal force. As a result, all the red blood cells get separated from the sample of blood and get settled at the bottom of the tube. Plasma, the yellowish color liquid, remains at the top of the tube. This liquid is tested for the amount of glucose that it contains.
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test for the Diagnosis of Diabetes:
Diabetes is test for the insulin functioning of pancreas. If the pancreas are functioning normally, prolonged fasting triggers glucagon which is produced by the pancreas. This glucagon is nullified by the production of insulin again by pancreas. This insulin prevents hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels. This is the case with people not having diabetes.
However, if a person has diabetes, the pancreas cannot generate enough insulin or the body cannot appropriately respond to insulin. As a result fasting plasma glucose levels will stay high.
Here are the levels of fasting plasma glucose levels for the diagnosis of diabetes:
- 70 mg/dL to 99 mg/dL — Normal Levels
- 100 mg/dL to126 mg/dL — Pre-diabetes stage
- 126 mg/dL or above — Diagnosis of Diabetes
