Postprandial blood sugar measures glucose levels after eating. High levels can indicate diabetes or other health problems. Patients eat before the test, which can be done at home or in a clinic, and results can take up to two hours. Elevated results require further testing.
Postprandial blood sugar is a measure of the amount of glucose in the blood after eating. Most people experience a spike in blood sugar after a meal, with levels gradually returning to normal as the body processes the food. Consistently high blood sugar is a sign of diabetes or another health problem, and patients with abnormal results on a postprandial blood glucose test usually need more evaluation and screening to find out why and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
If this test is recommended for a patient, they will be advised to eat two hours before the scheduled time for the test, and usually eat a normal meal, to get an accurate reading of the patient’s daily blood glucose fluctuations. Sometimes, patients test their blood sugar at home to get the timing right. In other cases, they go to a hospital or clinic for a blood draw, making sure they get tested in time so the results are accurate.
In the one-hour postprandial blood glucose test, levels are measured one hour after eating, when they should be elevated. Within two hours, they should be down to a normal range, below 140 milligrams per deciliter. If the levels are higher, the patient may have diabetes and more tests are needed. Testing blood glucose at other times of the day can be used to gather more information, including fasting blood glucose, which is usually taken in the morning before the patient has breakfast, as well as a random blood glucose test.
Having elevated results on a postprandial blood glucose test does not automatically mean a patient has diabetes, although it is a warning sign. More tests are needed, including a repeat test if there are problems, as doctors want to avoid costly false positives. It may be possible for patients to get their blood sugar under control to prevent the development of diabetes if they receive an early warning with postprandial blood sugar results, while other patients may need to start diabetes treatment after tests reveal they have the disease.
It can take one to two hours to get the results of this test, depending on the laboratory. Patients concerned about their results can request an estimate on the length of time required and can also ask to be contacted even if the results are normal. Sometimes, doctors’ offices neglect to call patients with negative test results or assume the results can be turned in at the next appointment, and this can cause stress for worried patients.
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