The results are commonly used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes.
A glucose tolerance test evaluates how well a person's body processes glucose (a type of sugar).
The results are commonly used to diagnose diabetes (including gestational diabetes) and prediabetes. They may also provide insights into related conditions, such as insulin resistance or, less commonly, reactive hypoglycemia.
An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is one of the most common glucose tolerance tests and works by confirming whether an individual has difficulty processing sugar, which could indicate diabetes. During the test your blood glucose level will be tested before and after you drink a glucose liquid to measure how quickly your body metabolises the glucose.
On the day of the test, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight. Once in the clinic, you will have a series of blood and urine tests:
One blood sample and urine sample before the glucose drink.
One blood sample and urine sample one hour after.
During the test, you will be asked to rest in the waiting room in the periods between samples. Smoking, eating and drinking must be avoided.
The glucose levels of a person who doesn’t suffer from diabetes will rise quickly after drinking the glucose solution and then fall again just as quickly.
If a person has diabetes, their glucose levels will rise higher than a person without diabetes and then come back down much more slowly, indicating high blood glucose levels.
Gestational diabetes is estimated to affect around 14% of pregnant women.
Pregnant women are at a higher risk of suffering from diabetes as hormones released during pregnancy can prevent insulin from processing glucose in the blood correctly. If you have been identified as being at a ‘high risk’ of developing diabetes in pregnancy (also known as gestational diabetes), it’s recommended you have an oral glucose tolerance test. Gestational diabetes is not uncommon and is estimated to affect around 14% of pregnant women.
Risk factors include:
A family history of diabetes
Being overweight
Developing gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
Having high blood pressure
Having an excess of amniotic fluid
Having previously given birth to a large baby weighing more than 9.9lb
If any of these risk factors apply to you, or if you are worried about gestational diabetes, speak to one of our experts about having a glucose tolerance test. The test is usually done between 26-28 weeks unless you developed gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, in which case you should be tested at 16 weeks.
The test will be performed whilst you relax in the comfort of one of our city centre clinics. Once the test is complete, we will contact you with the results the same day and a printed copy of the results will be available for you to include in your pregnancy notes.
Our specialists will review your results, explain what they mean, and provide guidance.
This test will tell us how well your body processes glucose. If your blood sugar levels remain within the normal range during the test, it suggests your body is managing your glucose efficiently. Elevated levels may indicate prediabetes, diabetes, or gestational diabetes, while a low glucose level could be a sign of reactive hypoglycemia.
The range of normal results will vary depending on certain factors, such as whether you’re pregnant or being tested for diabetes. Our specialists will carefully review your results, explain what they mean, and provide guidance on any necessary next steps or treatments.
No referrals required and no waiting lists
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To help you understand the purpose of Glucose Tolerance Tests and what to expect, we’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to call our friendly team of experts.
During the test, we will first take a blood sample and a urine sample to measure your fasting blood glucose levels. You’ll then be given a glucose solution to drink, and we will proceed to take further blood and urine samples at regular intervals afterwards. The number of samples we take will depend on the type of test you are undergoing, but you will need to provide at least two: one before and one after you have the glucose solution.
The time it takes to complete the test will depend on the exact type of appointment:
Short test: 1-2 hours.
Standard test: 2-3 hours
Extended test: 4-5 hours
We will ask you to rest in our waiting room between giving your samples.
The solution tastes very sweet and syrupy, like a sweet, flat drink of pop.
Side effects from this test are uncommon, but some people may feel nauseous or light-headed after having their blood drawn. Please inform us if you have a history of these symptoms after blood tests and we will do everything we can to keep you comfortable during the test.
We will contact you on the day of your test to confirm your results, and we will also send a copy of your results via post and/or email.
If your results are outside of the normal range, our specialists will talk you through exactly what that means and what next steps are needed. At that point we can arrange appointments with our consultants to discuss your results and develop a personalised care plan. This may include further diagnostic tests, lifestyle recommendations, or treatment options to help manage your health.
A member of our team will be in touch with you to discuss your requirements.
You can expect the utmost care from the moment you walk through the entrance of any Pall Mall clinic - not to mention qualified advice from the second you make your initial enquiry.
If you are eager to learn more about glucose tolerance tests at Pall Mall, get in touch using one of the methods below.
