Impaired glucose tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance: Introduction
Prediabetes is a condition that is marked by high blood sugar levels. IN prediabetes, blood sugar levels, also called glucose levels, are higher than normal, but not considered high enough to qualify as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is however, a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. In the U.S. about one in four adults over the age of 20 years has prediabetes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The consequences of prediabetes can be serious. At this time most people with prediabetes do go on to develop type 2 diabetes within about 10 years. People with prediabetes are also at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. In these conditions, abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood, also called hyperglycemia, damages the body's blood vessels.
Left unchecked, this process can lead to many complications that affect nearly every organ in the body. These include kidney failure, diabetic retinopathy and blindness, peripheral neuropathy, kidney failure, serious skin infections, gangrene, stroke, disability, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, hearing damage, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome, and death.
Prediabetes develops when the body does not respond to the effects of the hormone insulin. This is known as insulin resistance. In addition, some people with prediabetes also may not produce sufficient amounts of insulin in the pancreas.
The role of insulin is to facilitate movement of sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into the body's cells, where it is used for energy. Insulin also helps the liver to store excess glucose. When the body cannot process and use glucose properly, the body's cells do not get the energy they need. Medically, this is known as an inability to metabolize glucose, which results in hyperglycemia.
The good news is that if prediabetes is diagnosed and treated promptly, hyperglycemia can be often be reversed, minimizing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other serious complications. However, prediabetes may be difficult to recognize because it often has no symptoms, which is why it is important to receive regular medical care throughout your lifetime to screen for the condition. For details on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of prediabetes.
Prediabetes is easy to diagnose during a routine office visit with a simple blood test, called a fasting blood glucose test, which will detect hyperglycemia. High levels of glucose can also be quickly detected with a random blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. The newest form of testing for diabetes is the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, which measures the average overall blood sugar for the past several months.
When symptoms of prediabetes do occur they may include fatigue, excessive thirst, and excessive urination. For more details on symptoms, refer to symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes can also often be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active. The exact cause of prediabetes is unknown, but having excessive fat, especially around the waist and living a sedentary lifestyle are major risk factors. Other risk factors include having hypertension or high cholesterol. Additional risk factors include having a personal history of gestational diabetes, age over 45 years, a family history of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, or having an African-American, Native American, Asian-American, or Hispanic ancestry.
Treatment of prediabetes includes regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, eating a well-balanced healthy diet, regular exercise, weight loss as needed, and for some people, medications. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of prediabetes. ...more »
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) means you have some problems with your sugar processing,
but you don't (yet) have full diabetes.
It is almost a "pre-diabetes" disease and
seems very similar to a very mild form of Type 2 diabetes.
However, IGT is below the official thresholds for diabetes,
so you are not officially diabetic. ...more »
Impaired glucose tolerance: Symptoms
Many people with prediabetes do not have symptoms. Some people with prediabetes may have dark patches of skin called acanthosis nigricans. These occur in areas where there are skin folds, such as on the neck, knees, elbows, armpits, or elbows.
Many symptoms of prediabetes only occur years after a person has developed prediabetes and as the condition is ...more »
Impaired glucose tolerance: Treatments
Prompt treatment of prediabetes can often reverse high glucose levels in the blood (hyperglycemia) and help to minimize the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease.
An important cornerstone of the prevention or treatment of prediabetes is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Studies have shown that ...more »
Alternative Treatments for Impaired glucose tolerance
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed in various sources as possibly beneficial for Impaired glucose tolerance may include:
Impaired glucose tolerance: Misdiagnosis
Because there are often no symptoms with prediabetes, it can easily be overlooked resulting in a delayed or missed diagnosis. Symptoms when they do occur, such as dark patches of skin or fatigue, may be vague and can easily be ignored or attributed to other less serious causes. This is why it is important to seek regular medical care and physical ...more »
Symptoms of Impaired glucose tolerance
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Treatments for Impaired glucose tolerance
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Home Diagnostic Testing
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Wrongly Diagnosed with Impaired glucose tolerance?
Videos for Impaired glucose tolerance
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Impaired glucose tolerance: Related Patient Stories
News Archives for Impaired glucose tolerance
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Source: HealthDay News
Types of Impaired glucose tolerance
- Impaired Fasting Glucose
- Gestational Impaired Glucose Tolerance - like IGT, but GIGT is caused by pregnancy, and is thus probably a mild form of gestational diabetes; see the discussion of gestational diabetes.
- more types...»
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Diagnostic Tests for Impaired glucose tolerance
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Impaired glucose tolerance: Complications
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Causes of Impaired glucose tolerance
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Disease Topics Related To Impaired glucose tolerance
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Medical Textbooks Online about Impaired glucose tolerance
Medical Books Excerpts
- GLYCOSURIA
- "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
- [ read ]
- Diabetes Mellitus
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
- [ read ]
Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Impaired glucose tolerance: Self Assessment Tools
Impaired glucose tolerance: Medical Mistakes
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Impaired glucose tolerance: Undiagnosed Conditions
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In-Depth Reports: Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis
Diabetes diagnosis and misdiagnosis (In-Depth Report): Detailed report on diabetes misdiagnoses, rare curable types, and
less common diagnostic issues....read full report »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Impaired glucose tolerance
Misdiagnosis and Impaired glucose tolerance
Metabolic syndrome often undiagnosed: Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X, is
an often overlooked medical condition that causes a cluster of chronic symptoms.
There are often four...read more »
Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss,
there are varying degrees of severity.
It is altogether too common for people to die from undiagnosed heart attack, or...read more »
Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also
many cases where people fear that they have a heart attack, but actually have something milder.
Some of the conditions...read more »
Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of
medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and all can...read more »
Poorly healing leg rashes a classic sign of chronic disease: Recurring leg rashes,
or poorly healing leg rashes, are a classic sign of undiagnosed ...read more »
Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps,
particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes.
However,...read more »
Over-diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in obese patients: A diagnosis
of pulmonary hypertension, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension,
is often a misdiagnosis in obese patients.
Exertional dyspnea leads to a diagnostic...read more »
Obesity-related conditions undiagnosed in children: A variety of conditions
are associated with obesity (see obesity), but these tend to be undiagnosed more often
in child patients...read more »
Misdiagnosed weight-related causes of infertility: A woman's weight status
can affect her level of fertility.
Although obesity or overweight can in themselves reduce...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Impaired glucose tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance: Research Doctors & Specialists
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Impaired glucose tolerance: Rare Types
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Latest Treatments for Impaired glucose tolerance
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Evidence Based Medicine Research for Impaired glucose tolerance
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Impaired glucose tolerance: Broader Related Topics
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Article Excerpts about Impaired glucose tolerance
Diabetes Overview: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
means that blood glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test is higher
than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. IGT is
diagnosed when the glucose level is 141 to 199 mg/dL 2 hours after a
person is given a drink containing 75 grams of glucose.
(Source: excerpt from Diabetes Overview: NIDDK)
Diabetes: NWHIC (Excerpt)
People with test results between "normal" and "diabetes" levels have
impaired glucose metabolism and are at risk for developing diabetes, heart
attacks, and strokes. (Source: excerpt from Diabetes: NWHIC)
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