Glucose tolerance test results can be affected by food, exercise, and certain medications. Patients must follow instructions and only drink water before and during the test. False diagnoses can result from consuming food or drink during the test. Vigorous exercise and some medications can also affect results.
Various factors can impact glucose tolerance test values, including food consumption, exercise, and certain medications. Patients must follow all physician instructions before and during the test to ensure accurate results. Most of the time, patients can only consume water during the testing period and even for several hours beforehand.
A glucose tolerance test can last from one to four or more hours, depending on the initial results. Patients being tested for gestational or type 2 diabetes are asked to refrain from eating for several hours before testing. Upon arrival at the doctor’s office or clinic, patients drink an aqueous solution containing glucose. They are then tested an hour later to check for high blood sugar levels. If this test shows spiked blood glucose levels or is inconclusive, further tests may be conducted in which blood sugar is tested one, two, and three or more hours after glucose consumption.
Many factors can affect glucose tolerance test results. The first, and one of the most common, is consuming food or drink during the probationary period. This can artificially raise your blood sugar higher than normal and can lead to a false diagnosis of diabetes. For this reason, patients should make sure they are very clear about when to stop eating and drinking anything other than plain water and how long this process should continue.
Exercise directly before or during the test can also affect glucose tolerance test values. This is because exercising warns the body that more glucose is needed to function, resulting in faster glucose burning and lower overall blood sugar. Those who are diabetic may experience a rise in blood sugar during vigorous exercise because the body releases glucose faster than it can be used. Both of these things can skew your test results in one direction or another.
There are also some medications that can affect glucose tolerance test values. Any pills or medications containing any form of sugar can raise blood glucose levels. Medications that affect insulin production or metabolism can also impact blood sugar, causing the body to burn sugar faster or slower than usual. Patients who are unsure whether a drug they are taking may be affecting test results should discuss this with a doctor before the test. In some cases, the drug may be temporarily stopped or reduced to allow for more accurate results.
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