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Glucose Tolerance Testing

Meaning

Glucose Tolerance Testing is a standardized clinical procedure utilized to accurately evaluate an individual’s ability to metabolize and clear glucose from the bloodstream following a controlled challenge. This test serves as a direct, functional measure of both insulin sensitivity and the capacity of pancreatic beta-cell function. The procedure involves administering a measured glucose load after a period of fasting, followed by serial blood draws to monitor plasma glucose and sometimes insulin levels over several hours. It is a definitive diagnostic tool for identifying conditions like impaired glucose tolerance and overt diabetes mellitus.