Blood Glucose Quantity

The article says the bloodstream holds approximately one teaspoon, or 4–5 grams, of glucose at a time. At 180 mg/dL, the article estimates about 5.4 grams of glucose in plasma. At 300 mg/dL, the article estimates approximately 9.0 grams of glucose in plasma. Because glucose is dissolved only in plasma, the actual circulating glucose amount is smaller than a blood glucose reading alone suggests. The article argues that 180 mg/dL does not represent a large glucose flood requiring emergency insulin when no carbohydrate load is entering.