Glucose Tolerance Test
Also known as Glucose Tolerance Test BloodWhat is this test?
Glucose tolerance test blood is done to check the glucose levels in the blood of an individual for assessing the risk factors related to diabetes. This test is usually performed to know how an individual is processing the sugar in the body.
Importance of glucose?
The main source of energy for all the cells in our body, mostly for brain cells comes from glucose. Glucose acts as a building block for carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are commonly found in rice, cereals, bread, fruit, or pasta. Carbohydrates are immediately converted to glucose, thus increasing the glucose levels in your blood.
What is Glucose tolerance?
The ability of the body to metabolize the sugar and clear it from the bloodstream is called glucose tolerance. Increased tolerance to glucose may lead to an increase in blood glucose levels and may lead to type-2 diabetes with symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, dizziness, etc. Glucose tolerance is used to diagnose gestational diabetes and type-2 diabetes. Individuals with gestational diabetes Increased blood glucose levels during the period of pregnancy may or may not develop type -2 diabetes in the future.
Why this test is performed?
The doctor may ask you to undergo this test if an individual is suffering from symptoms such as dizziness, increased thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth, etc. When an individual is diagnosed with diabetes, obesity, or a previous history of gestational diabetes visits hospital for a general check-up, the doctor may ask to undergo the glucose tolerance test blood which gives a better status of the condition. Mostly, this test is done along with other diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Frequency:
For individuals above 45 years of age, this test is recommended every 3 years. The frequency of this test depends on various factors like body weight, history of heart disease, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, imbalance of female sex hormones, a family member with diabetes, physically inactive, polycystic ovary disease, etc. Children above 10 years of age with any of two above-mentioned risk factors should be recommended to this test at least once in every 3 years even with no symptoms.
Precautions:
Report the use of any medicines or diets to your doctor as they may interfere with your test results. Overnight fasting may make an individual feel dizzy, so it is recommended to have a caretaker along with the individual.
Also known as GTT Test, Sugar Tolerance Test, OGTT Test, GTT.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Glucose Tolerance Test. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Glucose Tolerance Test.
This test is done after you fasted (without eating anything) for a whole night or for 8 to 12 hours. Usually, the blood is drawn in the morning after overnight fasting. After the first blood sample collection, a glucose solution is given to the individual for consuming and the second blood sample is drawn after 2 hours of consuming the glucose solution.
Understanding your test results
The test results may be different depending on gender, age, health conditions, and other factors.
If the test results are above/more than the normal reference range, then it may indicate that there may be a chance for the patient to develop gestational diabetes or type-2 diabetes.
If the test results are less than the normal reference range, then it may indicate that there may be a chance for the patient to develop impaired glucose tolerance IGT or prediabetes.
Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests, etc.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| MALE | All age groups | 60 - 100 mg/dl (Fasting glucose), < 200 mg/dl (After one hour) and < 140 mg/dl (After two hours) |
| FEMALE | All age groups | 60 - 100 mg/dl (Fasting glucose), < 200 mg/dl (After one hour) and < 140 mg/dl (After two hours) |