Impaired fasting glycaemia

Overview
Impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) is a pre-diabetic state of dysglycemia, associated with insulin resistance and increased risk cardiovascular pathology, although of lesser risk than Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IFG often progresses to type 2 diabetes mellitus, a recent study citing the average time for progression as less than three years. IFG is also a risk factor for mortality.

It is characterized by an intermediately raised fasting glucose level, but less than would qualify for type 2 diabetes mellitus. On challenging with an oral glucose tolerance test, normal blood glucose levels are maintained after 2 hours, unlike IGT.

Criteria

 * fasting glucose level > 5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) and <  6.9 mmol/l (125mg/dl).

The criteria will continue to change as many endocrinologists believe an impaired fasting glycose may eventually include fasting glucose between a high 95-100 mg/dl.

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

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