Impaired glucose tolerance

Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a pre-diabetic state of dysglycemia, that is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology. IGT may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years. IGT is also a risk factor for mortality.^[1]

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Sensitivity Test

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Criteria

According to the criteria of the World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association, impaired glucose tolerance is defined as^[2][3]:

• two-hour glucose levels of 140 to 199 mg per dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol) on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. A patient is said to be under the condition of IGT when he/she has an intermediately raised glucose level after 2 hours, but less than would qualify for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The fasting glucose may be either normal or mildly elevated.

From 10 to 15 percent of adults in the United States have one of these conditions.^[4]

Treatment

Main article: Diabetes_mellitus_type_2#Screening_and_prevention

The risk of progression to diabetes and development of cardiovascular disease is greater than for Impaired fasting glycaemia.^{[citation needed]}

Although some drugs can delay the onset of diabetes, lifestyle modifications play a greater role in the prevention of the disease.^[4] Patients identified as having an IGT should exercise regularly and remove all sugar, including starch, fruit and grains from the diet.

Carnitine has been shown to improve glucose uptake, regulation, and oxidation, though temporarily (i.e. only when levels are sustained in the blood).

References

1. ^ Barr EL, Zimmet PZ, Welborn TA, et al (2007). "Risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in individuals with diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance: the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab)". Circulation 116 (2): 151-7. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.685628. PMID 17576864.
2. ^ .World Health Organization. Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications: Report of a WHO Consultation. Part 1. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
3. ^ (2005) "Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus". Diabetes Care 28 Suppl 1: S37-42. PMID 15618111.
4. ^ ^{a b} Shobha S. Rao, Phillip Disraeli, Tamara McGregor (15 April 2004). "Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Impaired Fasting Glucose". American Family Physician 69 (8): 1961.

Further reading

• Melanie J Davies, I Peter Gray (3 February 1996). "Impaired glucose tolerance". British Medical Journal 312: 264-265. - Editorial review

• Impaired Fasting Glucose and Impaired Glucose Tolerance: Implications for Care (English). Diabetes Care 2007;30(3):753-759. American Diabetes Association, Inc. (13). Retrieved on July 22, 2007.

See also

• Impaired fasting glycaemia
• Glucose tolerance test