Glucose

Glucose is the major carbohydrate present in the peripheral blood. The oxidation of glucose is the major source of cellular energy in the body. Glucose determinations are run primarily to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Elevated glucose levels may be associated with pancreatitis, pituitary or thyroid dysfunction, renal failure and liver disease, whereas low glucose levels may be associated with insulinoma, hypopituitarism, neoplasms, or insulin-induced-hypoglycemia.