Load glucose analysis: methodology and results

Diabetes is considered one of the most common diseases of our time. Many people have high blood sugar, but, unfortunately, not everyone knows about it. To prevent the development of diabetes and control the disease, you must regularly take tests. Currently, there are more than five different tests that can show abnormalities in the composition of the blood. One of them is a glucose test with a load, which eliminates the erroneous diagnosis and has a reliability of 90%. You can read more about the methodology and interpretation of the results in this article.

Blood sugar

Blood glucose is one of the most important indicators for the human body. It depends on him the duration and quality of life. Since all processes in the cells are closely interconnected, one disease immediately entails another. An increase in blood sugar over time leads to diabetes, which is expressed in insufficient insulin production and the inability to utilize blood glucose. If it is not stabilized in time, then many internal organs can suffer. The fact is that glucose is a powerful antioxidant and, being in free form in the blood, harms the walls of blood vessels and tissues. Due to a prolonged increase in blood sugar in humans, eyesight begins to decrease, kidney failure appears, the brain and metabolism in the body suffer, because the cells do not receive enough nutrition.

The main reason for an increase in blood sugar is poor nutrition. More recently, scientists believed that the lack of the hormone insulin is a consequence of genetic factors, but recent studies have shown that heredity is "to blame" in only 5-10% of the total number of cases of diabetes. Excessive consumption of sugar and fast carbohydrates, which are found in cereals, snacks, sweets and even in baby food, have a detrimental effect on our body. Unable to produce as much insulin, the pancreas eventually depletes its resource and ceases to regulate glucose levels. In these cases, doctors diagnose diabetes and prescribe a strict diet with insulin injections.

Types of glucose tests

It is very important to control your sugar level in order to recognize the prediabetic state. If everything went too far, the tests can prevent a complete or partial loss of working capacity due to timely prescribed medications. What laboratory tests exist to determine carbohydrate metabolism disorders?

• Blood biochemistry - this analysis reflects the main metabolic processes occurring in the body. This also concerns the level of glucose in the blood. They pass a biochemical analysis on an empty stomach, in any laboratory. Doctors recommend doing this test at least once a year.
• Glucose tolerance test for C-peptide allows you to control the reaction to insulin in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is the main analysis to monitor the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment, because there are non-insulin-dependent patients.
• The study of glycated hemoglobin also very reliably reflects the presence or absence of diabetes. Its main indicator is hemoglobin associated with glucose. The lifetime of such compounds is three months, so the analysis displays information for this period of time. In addition, it is not necessary to take it on an empty stomach.
• The fructosamine test is another compound, this time glucose with proteins. It reflects information for several weeks, since the molecules of fructosamine do not live longer. The test is prescribed for pregnant women if there is suspicion of latent diabetes, or during monitoring of the effectiveness of treatment.
• A blood lactate level test shows how much lactic acid is contained in it, which is formed during the breakdown of glucose. An increase in the amount of lactate may indirectly indicate hyperglycemia and serve as a reason for more detailed studies.
• An express test is prescribed if a person is already diagnosed with diabetes, and he needs periodic monitoring of sugar levels. For this, special express tests are used - glucometers. To get the result, it is enough to pierce the tip of the finger and place a drop of blood on the strip, which is then placed in the biosensor. The device gives the result in a minute and, although it cannot be considered 100% reliable, it is very convenient to use.

How else can you measure blood sugar? Glucose loading is an indicative test that doctors sometimes prescribe. What is he like?

Glucose tolerance test

Among studies that are designed to identify impaired glucose metabolism, a special role is played by the glucose tolerance test - GTT. It is also called a glucose test with a load. How is it different from regular fasting? Such a study takes much longer - usually about a couple of hours. First, blood is taken on an empty stomach. It is important that before going to the doctor, a person is starving for at least eight hours, so this morning is the ideal time for passing GTT. After the first portion of blood has been donated, the patient is given a drink of a shock dose of carbohydrates in their pure form, not burdened with any dietary fiber. For this, a certain amount of glucose (from 75 to 100 g) is diluted in a glass of water. Such a drink is pure sugar, which is absorbed as quickly as possible into the blood and gives the body an answer in the form of increased pancreatic insulin production. Two hours after this, the patient is re-tested, which will subsequently show how the body responds to stressful conditions in the form of an increased amount of sugar in food.

For children, whose body is more sensitive to changes in the diet, the amount of glucose for sugar analysis with a load is strictly regulated and amounts to 1.75 g per kilogram of weight. What changes does such a study help identify? In pancreatic beta cells, insulin should normally be produced in such a quantity that all sugar entering the blood is reduced to normal levels. If more than 80% of the cells are affected, clinical manifestations of diabetes occur. A test with a glucose load is not prescribed to everyone. As a rule, pregnant women receive a referral to identify the so-called “latent diabetes”, as well as people at risk. Doctors prescribe a “burdened” analysis to those patients who receive controversial test results. Glucose tolerance analysis allows you to determine the presence or absence of diabetes with maximum certainty and protect against medical error.

Load glucose test: how to take it?

The glucose tolerance test takes a lot of time and effort. Few people want to spend several hours of their lives retaking this analysis. Therefore, everyone who is going for this laboratory diagnosis is recommended to carefully study the information on preparing for it:

• The diet should be as balanced as possible. Ideal considers nutrition with a ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in an amount of 1: 1: 3. If you follow a low-carb diet, you need to stop it, because in this case, the body’s response to a large amount of carbohydrates will not be indicative.
• Sweet, salty and fatty foods are best excluded two to three days before the upcoming test.
• If you are going to a party with alcohol, then try not to drink strong drinks, as they also affect the composition of the blood.
• Blood donation for glucose with a load must be carried out on an empty stomach.
• Smoking and strong physical activity must be excluded per day.
• Ultrasound, X-ray, physiotherapy are not recommended before blood donation.
• Reception of statins, antibiotics and hormonal drugs distorts test results, therefore it is necessary to inform the attending physician about their reception in advance.

If all these rules are followed, you will get a reliable and accurate result that will help to avoid the wrong treatment.

Indications for analysis

A blood glucose test with a load is prescribed primarily to those people who are at risk. These are patients who have disorders in carbohydrate metabolism and need periodic monitoring of sugar levels.

• If a patient already has a history of diabetes with a family history, a glucose tolerance test is performed at least once a year.
• Vascular atherosclerosis is often a consequence of elevated glucose levels, which is why it is also an indication for the test.
• Deviation from the norm of the lipid spectrum.
• Any chronic kidney, liver, or heart disease.
• Gout, increased urea in the assays.
• Sudden surges in sugar in tests that may be related to stressful situations or surgical operations.
• Excessive weight gain.
• Passive lifestyle.
• Periodic hypoglycemia, which is expressed in weakness, drowsiness, lack of concentration.
• Any chronic inflammatory processes in the body.
• Pregnancy.
• Age after 45 years.
• Improper nutrition.

Many people are wondering why a blood test with a glucose load should be performed if no abnormalities were found during a routine fasting study. The fact is that such a study may not show the whole picture if a person has individual characteristics of the exchange. Then the doctor may not identify the cause of the ailment, and not a diagnosed disease during this time will noticeably undermine health.

Pregnancy Analysis

A blood glucose test with a load during pregnancy is prescribed in order to exclude gestational diabetes. At the moment, every woman who is preparing for the birth of a child should undergo such an analysis. Why do doctors prescribe it everywhere, not paying attention to whether a woman is at risk or not? During pregnancy, the body undergoes tremendous changes, the load on all organs, including the pancreas, increases. Often, expectant mothers take weakness and constant fatigue for their natural pregnancy partners, although these may be the first signs of diabetes. Latent or latent diabetes currently affects up to 10% of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is characterized by impaired carbohydrate metabolism in the blood. After the birth of the baby, it passes without a trace, but if it is not detected in time, it can harm the fetus:

• The risk of developing macrosomia increases.
• The child often loses the necessary microelements for the development.
• As a result of hypoxia, a developmental delay after birth can be observed.
• The risk of jaundice in newborns increases.
• Childbirth can begin ahead of time.

Assign a blood test for glucose with a load of almost all pregnant women, if they have no contraindications. The direction can be taken from a gynecologist. The mechanism for passing the analysis is no different from the standard, although pregnant women are much more difficult to endure prolonged fasting due to low blood pressure. An analysis is usually prescribed at 24 weeks, but if there are any alarming symptoms, the test is carried out immediately.

Content Standards

What is the norm of glucose with a load in the blood is considered acceptable for a healthy person? The upper limit of the glucose tolerance test sugar indicator is 6.7 mmol / liter. In healthy people, blood sugar after glucose analysis quickly returns to normal, but in patients with diabetes it remains at the upper bounds for a long time. Therefore, if you followed all the rules for preparing for the test, there can be practically no mistake. If the blood sugar is slightly higher - up to 7.8 mmol / l, then you should pay attention to your diet and try not to consume sugar and white bread in the future, as well as reduce the number of fruits. The condition of “prediabetes” is diagnosed if the glucose level goes beyond 8 mmol / L. And the diagnosis of diabetes is given to those patients whose results exceed 11 mmol per liter of blood. But you need to remember that some conditions can affect the result of the study:

• Stress.
• Polycystic
• Hormone therapy.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Surgery

Where can I get an analysis with a load?

A glucose test with a load can be taken for free and for a fee. To get a referral for a free trial, you first need to visit a local GP or gynecologist. The doctor will listen to your complaints and decide on the appropriateness of this test. As a rule, every clinic or hospital has a laboratory service that deals with blood tests. The term for the availability of results is from 5 to 10 days. If you decide to take the test yourself, then paid laboratories can come to your aid, who can take a glucose test with a load at any time. The test result remains only on your conscience: do not forget to exclude all food 8 hours before taking the blood. Results in paid laboratories can be obtained much faster: the average lead time is three days.

Many people who are preparing for a glucose test with a load are wondering where to get the sugar solution for oral administration. Unfortunately, in the free institutions its issuance is not provided, so you need to purchase it in advance. Glucose is sold in any pharmacy in the form of a white powder.

Treatment

Many patients wonder - what if the test showed high blood sugar? In no case should you self-medicate and take sugar-lowering drugs on your own. Only a diagnostic doctor will be able to see the full picture of the disease and make the correct diagnosis, as well as prescribe medications that will help you, but not harm. Nevertheless, it is important to know what signs of increased sugar may appear in patients in order to recognize them in time:

• Constant thirst and dry mouth.
• Frequent urination.
• Profuse sweating.
• Itchy skin, allergies, rash.
• Slow healing of cuts and wounds.
• A rapid increase or decrease in body weight for no apparent reason.

As for the treatment, there are different approaches. Along with medication, specialists usually prescribe a special diet and adequate physical activity, which will help normalize the body's metabolic processes. It is recommended to include vegetables, cereals, meat with fish and dairy products in the diet. But pastries, sweet desserts and chocolates need to be thrown out, because with increased sugar they are strictly contraindicated. The same applies to fruits, although they are used to considering them useful. The amount of sugar in them is not less than in sweets. Advanced doctors recommend a dairy-free and gluten-free diet, as milk contains lactose - i.e. milk sugar. And in cereals like oatmeal and wheat - gluten, which worsens the condition of the body. Also, people who are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus need to visit a doctor regularly and take a blood test to monitor the course of the disease.

The good news is that even if you have burdened genetics, you can prevent the development of diabetes and many diseases associated with it. In order to do this, you need only willpower. Proper nutrition, weight control and regular exercise can help you with this.

Summary

Most diseases are easier to prevent than to cure. Many do not even think about what malnutrition and neglect of physical activity can lead to. But diabetes does not occur from scratch, but develops over several years. During this period, it is quite possible to identify the first "messengers" and prevent the further development of the disease. A glucose test with a load is a reliable indicator of carbohydrate metabolism in the body and allows you to control the level of insulin production. With the early detection of hyperglycemia, you just need to enter a diet and sport, and you can extend your life for a period of 5 to 10 years.