1.1 Introduction
Blood sugar regulation is the process by which the levels of blood sugar, primarily glucose, are maintained by the body within a narrow range. This tight regulation is referred to as glucose homeostasis. Insulin, which lowers blood sugar, and glucagon, which raises it, are the most well known of the hormones involved, but more recent discoveries of other gluco-regulatory hormones have expanded the understanding of this process. Blood flow regulation is subordinate to the oxygen requirements of individual tissues. The gland called pancreas secrete two hormones and they are primarily responsible to regulate glucose levels in blood (Aronoff et al., 2004).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the blood of human or animals. The body naturally lightly regulate blood glucose level as a part of metabolic homeostatic (property of a system to regulate it internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, relatively constant condition such as temperature) glucose is the primary source of energy, for the body's cell, and blood lipid. This is also primarily a compact energy store (there are exception: because carbohydrate tend to be used by human is continuously glocueogaenic. Glucose is transported from the infer shine or liver to body cell via the blood stream and is made available for cell absorption via the hormone insulin (a peptide hormone produce beta cell of the pancreas and it central to regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body) produced in the body primarily in the pancreases. The mean normal blood glucose level in human is about 5.5moll or 100 mg/df. However this level fluctuate through at the day.
Glucose levels are usually lowest in the morning before the first meal of the day (term fasting level) and rise after meal for an hour of two by a few. The normal blood glucose level (fasted while fasting for non-diabetics, should be between 70 and 100mg/df, and blood sugar level for those without diabetes and who are not fasting should be below 129mg/df. According to American Diabetes Association the blood glucose target range for diabetes should be 70-130(mg/df) before meals and less than 150mg/df after meals (as measure by a blood glucose monitor).
Blood sugar level outside the normal range may be and indicator or a medical condition. A persistently high level glucose is referred to as Hyperglycemia, low level are referred to as Hypoglycemic. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, it result in the inability of pancreas to produce enough insulin and intake of alcohol causes an initial surge in blood surge and later tends to cause level to fall also certain drugs can increase or decrees glucose level (Wikipedia, 2021).
The human body is composed of various tissues. Blood is a normal substance that flows through a closed system known as the circulatory system and consists of two parts: plasma and solid. Plasma contains a variety of bio-molecules including vitamins, proteins, enzymes, hormones, carbohydrates, lipids, and non-organics. Glucose is a blood variable, also called blood sugar, and occurs at various ages to some degree. Too much decrease in blood sugar causes hypoglycemia, and increased level of blood glucose causes hyperglycemia (sugar), all of which are detrimental.
Naturally, the human body actively works to regulate blood glucose levels, eliminating any potential abnormalities. This is done by various physical or chemical factors. Chemical factors control the level of glucose in the blood by hormones. Hormones are chemicals and trace elements that are synthesized by the endocrine system and secreted as chemical messengers to control and metabolize various metabolic interactions. Hormones are effective at very low concentrations and their amount in the blood is calculated in nanograms (Mehr, 2006).
High blood pressure occurs when one’s blood move through the arteries at a higher speed than normal. It is also known that for now there is no cure for high blood pressure (Papadakis et al., 2008). The number of people with high blood pressure is in the increase and research has shown that this condition is heightened by overweight of the patient. That is to say, the more one increases in weight, the higher the tendency of him or her becoming hypertensive (Mori, 2007).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Fasting Blood Sugar Analysis and Blood Sugar Regulation.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals that a lot of people have died as a result of poor blood sugar regulation and multiple synthetic drugs and therapies are used to cure glucose regulatory problems, while many of them are used to cure other health issues, which arise due to disturbance in blood glucose regulations.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Fasting Blood Sugar Analysis and Blood Sugar Regulation among individuals residing in Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify the optimal blood glucose target for glycemic control;
- To investigate whether there is a relationship of high blood glucose with age;
- To examine the mean random glucose level of apparently healthy adult; and
- To compare the mean value for men and women in the area under study.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the physiological effects of blood glucose?
- What is the hormonal regulation of blood glucose?
- What is the health risk of high blood glucose?
- What is the best time to check blood glucose?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between blood sugar regulation and blood pressure of patients with high blood pressure
- H1: There is a significant relationship between blood sugar regulation and blood pressure of patients with high blood pressure
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant factor affecting Blood Sugar Analysis and Regulation among some individuals’ living in the area under study
- H1: There is a significant factor affecting Blood Sugar Analysis and Regulation among some individuals’ living in the area under study
1.7 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to Medical Practitioners and other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Fasting Blood Sugar Analysis and Blood Sugar Regulation among individuals residing in Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Blood Sugar Regulation: It is the process by which the levels of blood sugar, primarily glucose, are maintained by the body within a narrow range.
