Impaired glucose tolerance

Overview
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a pre-diabetic state of dysglycemia, that is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology. IGT may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years. IGT is also a risk factor for mortality.

Criteria
According to the criteria of the World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association, impaired glucose tolerance is defined as:


 * two-hour glucose levels of 140 to 199 mg per dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol) on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. A patient is said to be under the condition of IGT when he/she has an intermediately raised glucose level after 2 hours, but less than would qualify for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The fasting glucose may be either normal or mildly elevated.

From 10 to 15 percent of adults in the United States have one of these conditions.

Treatment
The risk of progression to diabetes and development of cardiovascular disease is greater than for Impaired fasting glycaemia.

Although some drugs can delay the onset of diabetes, lifestyle modifications play a greater role in the prevention of the disease. Patients identified as having an IGT should exercise regularly and have a balanced diet removing the empty calories of sugar.

Carnitine has been shown to improve glucose uptake, regulation, and oxidation, though temporarily (i.e. only when levels are sustained in the blood).

Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.

葡萄糖耐量异常