Tolerance to glucose - what is it?

Problems with the endocrine system lead to the fact that failures occur in all internal organs. As a result, in order to find their cause, the doctor assigns a series of studies. Among the mass of a wide variety of tests, one will also be appointed that will help to check whether there are violations in carbohydrate metabolism - glucose tolerance. What is it and how it is carried out, that's what we'll do next on our story. Also very often this study is called a glucose tolerance test or a "sugar curve".

It is based on the response to the intake of glucose into the body. Carbohydrates are the most important component, but they can not do without insulin so that they can only benefit the body and fill it with strength and energy. It is he who is able to regulate the level of carbohydrates, limiting the sugar content, especially if a person can not do without the daily portion of sweet.

Tolerance to glucose: what is it?

Glucose tolerance is a laboratory analysis that allows the patient to identify latent or latent diabetes. He can also say that a person belongs to those who are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes, and he needs to take all possible measures to prevent this. If there were violations in tolerance, the glucose level in a person, the analysis of which was performed on an empty stomach, slightly exceeds the normal values.

If a test for glucose tolerance is assigned, the norm is indicated on the analysis form that is issued in the hands. A violation of tolerance is formed due to the fact that insulin secretion is reduced and the sensitivity of cells to blood glucose is disturbed.

What causes lead to impaired glucose tolerance?

We have already been able to understand the main and interesting question for many, the tolerance to glucose - what is it. And now it is important to know what causes lead to such malfunctions in the body. And they are due to the fact that inevitable violations occur in the secretion of insulin, while also the sensitivity disappears.

Among the main reasons most often doctors identify such:

• Pathology of the heart and blood vessels;
• Changes in carbohydrate metabolism;
• High blood pressure.

Also, this disease often occurs in those who have relatives who suffer from this disease. Prediabetes can provoke several factors:

• excess weight;
• Reception of hormonal means;
• Conducting a sedentary lifestyle;
• Age after 40 years.

Symptoms of glucose tolerance

Very often impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy, this is a very bad condition. But a woman in the situation can independently identify the symptomatology of this condition by such signs:

• Severe itching of the skin;
• Dry skin;
• Bleeding gums;
• Sexual weakness;
• Loss of teeth;
• Purulent inflammation of the sebaceous glands.

To identify the cause of such symptoms, you need to undergo a test and pass a number of tests, including glucose tolerance. What kind of analysis is it, how does it pass, we will tell further.

How is the tolerance test conducted?

In order to correctly choose the treatment and put the most accurate diagnosis, you need to conduct a diagnosis, in our case - this is a laboratory study - donate blood for glucose tolerance. The most convenient method of testing tolerance is a single loading of the body with carbohydrates, which are taken orally. Calculation of their quantity can be done in this way:

• Take glucose in the amount of 75 grams and divorce in a glass of warm water, drink all the resulting fluid and only on an empty stomach;
• Patients with large body weight or women bearing a baby, the dose of glucose increases to 100 grams, but in no case more;
• The analysis for glucose tolerance is made for children, and for them the calculation goes in rigor with their body weight of 1.75 g per 1 kg.

A couple of hours after taking glucose, you need to monitor the sugar in the body. In this case, the initial parameter should be taken as the result of the analysis, which is done before taking glucose. The blood sugar should be in the range of 6.7 mmol / l, although according to doctors, for some, this parameter can be 6.1 mmol / l, so for each individual case it is better to take its parameter personally.

If after two hours the sugar level is within 7.8 mmol / l, then it can already say that the body has impaired glucose tolerance.

But it is worth remembering that when using a single determination of the results for violations of carbohydrate metabolism, you can not notice the peak of the "sugar curve" or simply do not wait until it falls to the minimum level. That is why the most accurate results are those that spend three hours and at least 5 times. It is possible to conduct blood fences for 4 hours, every half hour.

Tolerance to glucose: the norm

To determine precisely whether there are deviations in tolerance in a particular patient, you need to know what are the normal indicators. For this test, the upper limit is 6.7 mmol / L, but the lower limit is the initial indicator, to which glucose, present in the blood, tends. In a healthy person, it returns to the initial index in a couple of hours, but diabetics remain at a high level. That is why there is no lower limit of the norm.

A decrease in the indices of this test may indicate that pathological disruptions occur in the patient's body, which lead to disruption of carbohydrate metabolism and a decrease in glucose tolerance. When pregnancy these failures occur much more often, and all because the female body has to work for two. Tolerance can indicate such states:

• Secretive diabetes mellitus, which does not show any symptoms in the normal state, but can indicate problems under adverse conditions, for example under stress, trauma or intoxication;
• Development of the syndrome of insulin resistance, which entails serious disruptions in the work of the heart and blood vessels;
• Active thyroid and anterior pituitary;
• Malfunctions in the CNS;
• Disorders of the autonomic nervous system;
• Gestational diabetes, it is most often manifested during pregnancy;
• Inflammation of the pancreas.

The test for glucose tolerance during pregnancy does not apply to routine analyzes, but it is still better for a woman to go through it, especially if symptoms have appeared that indicate abnormalities so as not to miss the pathology and take all measures to normalize the condition. In this case, both a woman and her unborn baby can suffer.

Who most often falls under special control to the endocrinologist?

An analysis of glucose tolerance in pregnancy or a simple person may be prescribed if they are at risk. Some of the diseases that occur periodically or permanently can act as provocators, but lead to disorders in the carbohydrate metabolism and development of diabetes mellitus, such as:

• Diabetics in the family;
• excess weight;
• Burdened anamnesis of the obstetrician;
• Arterial hypertension;
• Failures in fat metabolism;
• Vascular lesion by atherosclerosis;

• Gout and increased levels of uric acid in the blood;
• Periodically high sugar levels;
• Chronic kidney disease, liver and cardiovascular system;
• Manifestations of metabolic syndrome ;
• Infections of a chronic nature;
• Neuropathy;
• Reception of diabetogenic agents;
• Age 45 years and above.

Glucose Tolerance Test Standards We have presented above.

What can affect the analysis data?

The patient, whose doctor suspected a violation of tolerance, should know that the factors of analysis can be affected by such factors:

• If you eat flour products every day: sweets, cakes, buns. In this case, glucose is simply not able to self-utilize.
• Excessive physical exertion, which is not canceled even on the day of the test, leads to violations of glucose tolerance.
• Smokers will have to be nervous, because their addiction can affect the results of the analysis.
• During the carrying out of the baby, a protective mechanism is activated from hypoglycemia, which carries a much more serious harm to the unborn child than the hyperglycemic state. In this case, glucose tolerance during pregnancy can be slightly reduced. For bad results, you can also take physiological changes in carbohydrate metabolism, caused by the pancreas.
• Excess weight. This sign puts a person on the list of risks, where diabetes is one of the first places.
• Indicators can also be affected by abnormalities in the work of the stomach and intestines.

All these factors can make a person worried, and in most cases not in vain. Changes in indicators should not be ignored, the analysis should be repeated after a while, while eliminating those factors that could affect it.

What not to do before the test?

To get the most accurate results, the patient must thoroughly prepare before the test:

• A few days before the analysis should not change anything in their habitual way of life, but that's better to correct the food, carbohydrates per day should be consumed no more than 150 g;
• If the analysis is scheduled for tomorrow, then the meal should be no later than 10 hours before the test;
• No cigarettes, alcohol and coffee 10 hours before the analysis;
• No unnecessary physical exertion;
• The day before it is worth noting the intake of certain drugs: hormones, neuroleptics, diuretics;
• It is impossible to pass the analysis to women during menstruation;
• A poor analysis can be obtained if the fence was carried out at a time when the patient was in a strong emotional state, if he had inflammation in the liver, an operation had recently been performed;
• Poor analysis can be in cases where the patient has a low percentage of potassium in the blood;
• For half an hour before the blood sample the patient should relax and think about the good.

In some cases, the load can be carried out by injecting glucose intravenously, when to do exactly so, the doctor decides.

How is the analysis done?

First, on an empty stomach, blood is taken for analysis, and after that the patient is given a glucose drink. In some patients, taking a sweet syrup can cause nausea, if such symptoms appear, then you need to add a little citric acid and they will go away.

After taking glucose, the patient may take a short walk next to the laboratory. When the next fence is held, doctors say, it can happen in half an hour or an hour. And so the fence will be held 5 times.

The glycemic curve is calculated based on the numerical value of the highest glucose value and the initial concentration of sugar in the blood. Calculate at home, the indicator will be difficult, so entrust counting is better to a professional who does not miss an important moment and will be able to give accurate data that is so important for the selection of further treatment.

How are violations of glucose tolerance treated?

Therapy involves compliance with a certain diet and elimination of disruptions in the endocrine system. Also, the level of lipid metabolism is normalized, the level of uric acid decreases. In no case is it advisable to engage in self-medication. Select an effective treatment in each individual case will only be able to specialist. Therapy of diabetes provides compliance with all the recommendations of the doctor, and this is a strict diet and taking all prescribed medications.

Preventive measures

As a preventive the doctor advises to take a regular test, in order to identify the failures in the body as early as possible and start urgently to eliminate them. To prevent remission of the disease, it is recommended to regularly monitor the level of blood pressure, the amount of calories eaten per day, and be sure to find time for exercise.

Conclusion

Tolerance to glucose is a serious criterion for assessing the absorption of glucose by the body. Only if you find a violation in time, you can avoid serious consequences. Therefore, if there are symptoms that indicate a violation of tolerance, or there is a predisposition, then regular consultations and observance of recommendations will help to avoid health problems.