Glucose tolerance test

Overview:

The glucose tolerance test is used to measure how the body reacts to the sugar in the diet. The test is also called oral glucose tolerance test. The test is recommended by doctors to screen and detect conditions like type 2 diabetes and the prediabetes stage if the person is showing symptoms. The procedure is also carried out as a part of prenatal testing during pregnancy to check if the mother is suffering from gestational diabetes, a condition in which the sugar levels of the to-be-mother are elevated and can cause harm to them as well as the baby.

What Does The Glucose Tolerance Do:

The procedure detects any issues the body has while handling the sugar after the meals. When a person consumes sugar, the body breaks it down to enter the blood and be utilized as energy. But if the person has a prediabetic condition or diabetes, the sugar is not broken down efficiently and the levels in the blood remain high. The high levels are detected by the test. The results determine the amount of glucose that remains in the blood of a person after fasting and then later after consuming a high-sugar drink at certain fixed intervals. The sugar levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter. 

Why Do Doctors Recommend The Glucose Intolerance Test:

The main purpose of the test is to check how well a person’s body metabolizes sugar. The test is advised for the following conditions:

• To diagnose prediabetes and diabetes: The doctor observes the changes in the person’s body and notices the signs and symptoms of the condition. The test is hence recommended to find out what is causing the symptoms and if the earlier investigations have been inconclusive.
• To screen a person for prediabetes and diabetes: Screening for the condition is carried out as a precautionary measure for people who are above 45 years of age and have a greater chance of developing diabetes. This could be either due to a family history or if the person is pregnant.
• To check for gestational diabetes: Data indicates that 10% of pregnant women can develop gestational diabetes. Hence the doctor recommends the glucose tolerance test as a precaution for pregnant women as a part of prenatal testing.

The Risks Involve In The Test:

There is minimum physical risk involved in the test. However, there are chances of certain complications to develop when the blood is taken. They include:

• The arteries and veins from where the blood is drawn is different in size for various people. While for some people blood collection can be a simple process, for others it may cause a little discomfort.
• There may be excessive bleeding in some cases.
• Sometimes the technician may have to pierce the needle multiple times at various spots in the arms to locate the veins.
• The person may experience dizziness or may faint at times.
• There may be chances of developing hematoma which is the accumulation of blood under the skin.
• The person may develop an infection at the site where the needle is pierced if there is a prior cut or broken skin.

What Does The Procedure Involve:

• Before the procedure which is usually scheduled in the morning, the person is asked to refrain from eating or consuming any liquid for eight hours. The doctor or the technician also inquires about the health condition of the person or if they are taking any medications. 
• Their blood sample is collected. The person may feel only a prick while the blood is being drawn.
• After that, the person is asked to consume a liquid with around 75 grams of sugar, and the blood sample is taken again for the next three hours with a gap of one hour between the collection.
• The entire test takes around three hours to be completed.
• The glucose tolerance test can also be carried out through an intravenous procedure that includes injecting glucose into the vein for three minutes. The blood insulin levels are measured before injecting the glucose and later one and three minutes after the injection. This type of test is mostly used for research purposes.
• The test is also done along with the measurement of growth hormone to determine the levels of glucose and the hormone.
• The normal blood sugar levels for a person are 60 to 90 milligrams per deciliter during fasting, less than 200 milligrams per deciliter after one hour, less than 140 milligrams per deciliter after two hours.
• If the levels are between 140 to 190 milligrams per deciliter after two hours it is considered as glucose impairment and if the values are higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter, they indicate diabetes.
• If the test results indicate diabetes, the person is advised to consult a dietitian or nutritionist to control their diet. They may be asked to repeat the screening and are encouraged to lose weight.
• However, it may be noted that different laboratories use different ranges as normal values.

What Can Affect The Glucose Levels In A Person’s Body:

Certain conditions and medications can increase the sugar levels in the blood of a person. They include:

• If a person has experienced severe trauma or stress due to stroke, or heart attack or if they had surgery, their blood sugar levels can shoot.
• Rigorous exercise and physical activity can increase the sugar levels in the blood.
• Certain medicines can disrupt the blood sugar levels.

The doctor must be contacted if the person has the following symptoms:

• Severe pain.
• Fever.
• Swelling, discoloration, or leakage of fluid at the place where the blood was drawn.

To conclude, the glucose tolerance test helps detect without any major risks if a person is at risk of diabetes or whether they are already suffering from the condition. Early detection is beneficial because it prevents the person from developing any diabetes-related complications later.

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