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glucose tolerance tests

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sharondav

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I had a glucose tolerance test last week to determine whether I have reactive hypoglycaemia, have been having hypo's with bg being at the lowest 2.7 and usually when symptomatic below 4. Had gtt given lucozade after 30 mins bg 10.9, tested every 30 mins bg then 7 and then up to 9.6 one hour later, gradually fell to 3.2 when hypo symptoms occured, it did come up to 3.6 before they fed me, unfortunately because did not fall below 3 they could not test insulin or c-peptide levels. can anyone decipher these results as I am not due to see endocrinologist for a while and would appreciate some feedback!
 
Yes it looks like a mild reactive hypoglycaemia. Your body is releasing insulin to compensate for the rapid (natural)n rise in blood sugar associated with eating foods that are absorbed and release sugar into the blood stream very quickly (high glycaemic index foods). Your body is just overcompensating and releasing a bit too much insulin and then having to compensate back again by releasing adrenaline (which both increases your blood sugar back to normal and also gives you a lot of the symptoms associated with hypoglycaemis - shaking, sweating, fast heart rate etc).

Treatment is likely to be dietary - ie avoiding foods with a high glycaemic index (foods that release sugars quickly). Best food to have are those things that release sugar slowly - bread, potatoes, fruit etc. Avoid sugar or foods that contain a lot of refined sugar (jams, marmalades, sweets etc). You may also be advised to eat smaller amounts more regularly and not miss meals or go too long between meals.

C-peptide is used mainly to try and diagnose an insulinoma. This condition is as rare as the proverbial hens teeth and is generally associated with much lower blood sugars <2.5mmol/l and often results in much more severe hypos and unconsciousness. from this "snapshot test" I would think it highly unlikely that you have one of these.
 
Many thanks for the information it has been very helpful and thought that is what it would be, since GTT blood sugars up to 7.6 at times they just seem to be all over the place. Do you think I should carry on monitoring my blood sugars levels?
 
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