What is Oral glucose tolerance test OGTT

The oral glucose tolerance test measures the body’s ability in glucose metabolism and clearing excess glucose in bloodstream.

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), can also called as glucose tolerance test or sugar tolerance test. It is used to measures the body’s ability in glucose metabolism and clearing excess glucose in bloodstream. The test is utilized in the diagnosis of diabetes, gestational diabetes andpre diabetes.

Importance of OGTT
OGTT is better able to diagnose high blood glucose after a glucose challenge than the fasting blood glucose test. Doctor may recommend OGTT, if suspects diabetes in cases where a patient’s fasting blood glucose level is normal, but have other symptoms of diabetes or overweight.

An OGTT is most commonly preferred to check for diabetes that happens during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).

Oral glucose tolerance test procedure
OGTT test is carried out after at least 8 to 12 hours of fasting. And another test after the patient drink a glucose-rich beverage, typically a drink containing 75 grams of carbohydrates (other different level of glucose consuption is also possible, but the result may be analyzed accordingly). Blood will be drawn and tested after one hour and two hours after having glucose beverage.

What is Oral glucose tolerance 
Oral glucose tolerance means the body ability to tolerance against the consumption of certain amount of glucose. That is how effective the body is in breaks down (metabolizes) blood glucose.

OGTT provides details about how quickly glucose is metabolized from the bloodstream for use by body cells as energy. The rate of glucose clearance depends on the amount of glucose consumed. After fasting, the normal blood glucose rate is 60 to 100 mg/dl.

Normal, pre-diabetes, diabetes OGTT blood glucose level
For 75 grams of glucose consumption; the normal, pre-diabetes, diabetes blood glucose levels are as below.

Normal: 139 mg/dl or 7.72 mmol/l and below
Pre-diabetes: 140 to 199 mg/dl or 7.77 to 11 mmol/l
Diabetes: 200 mg/dl or 11.1 mmol/l and above

Oral glucose tolerance test is used not only to diagnose diabetes, but also help to provide additional information about the body’s ability to metabolize blood glucose. Higher OGTT values are likely to reflect diet, lifestyle problems and problems of insulin functioning.

Popular posts from this blog

What is a Diabetic Diet?

You need to start a  diabetic diet  if you currently have diabetes or are concerned that you may be at risk. You can make a big difference in your life by exercising, watching your weight and eating healthy. Eating healthy comes down to these three things: What, when and how much you eat. Carbohydrates Even though they have a huge affect on your sugar levels, you don’t need to avoid them. You simply have to be aware about the types of carbohydrates you’re having and learn how to balance them in your diabetic diet. Simple vs. Complex Carbs include the simple sugars as well as complex fibers and starches. The body converts the carbohydrates into glucose which your body needs for fuel. •        Simple carbs: These include fruit in addition to certain vegetables. But simple carbs also include those found in refined and processed foods that have little or no nutritional value. Some of these are candy, soda, snack foods and also white products like white rice and white flour. •        Comple
Read more

Diet For Diabetes Mellitus

Now, We will try to explain about how to manage the diet for Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that characterised by hyperglycaemia, whether it is cause by deficiency of insulin in the human body or diminished effectiveness of insulin it self. There are many cases why the insulin become inactive and hence induces hyperglycaemia, for example due to over production of other hormones which are antagonistic to Insulin such as glucagon, hormones of the pituitary, adrenaline and thyroid. Also due to increased production of substances which inactivate insulin (insulinase and insulin antagonists present in plasma. The disease is chronic and affects the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, fat, water and electrolytes. Diabetic Diet for diabetics patient is simply a balanced healthy diet which is vital for diabetic treatment, but sometime many people are they don't understand that these diet consist only diabetic foods. Diabetes mellitus is often found to be associated wit
Read more

Checking Blood Sugar Levels

If you are a diabetic then checking blood sugar levels is a vital part of your daily regimen. It is important regardless of which form of diabetes you may have but especially so if you are suffering from Type 1 diabetes. This is because in Type 1 diabetes you need to furnish the correct amount of insulin yourself as the body is no longer capable of performing this function. Glucose is our body’s main fuel supply. However, if there is too much or not enough glucose in your blood it can have a negative impact on the body. This is why it is so important for a diabetic to monitor blood sugar levels. Symptoms of High Blood Sugar If a test reveals there is too much sugar in the blood you can develop hyperglycemia. In someone without diabetes, the hormone insulin helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. However, diabetics aren’t that lucky so having too much or not enough sugar can spell trouble because their bodies stopped producing insulin, stopped producing enough of it or their bod
Read more