GLUCOSE CHALLENGE TEST (GCT), (2 HOUR)

Blood glucose, often called blood sugar, is the primary source of energy for your body, derived from the food you eat and distributed by the bloodstream to power all your cells. When this sugar accumulates excessively in the blood, it leads to the condition known as Diabetes Mellitus, which can manifest as Type 1, Type 2, or Prediabetes. A diagnosis of diabetes is typically made when your fasting blood glucose is 120 mg/dL or greater, or if your blood glucose is greater than 200 mg/dL two hours after a meal or consuming a standard glucose drink. If your levels fall between 100 to 125 mg/dL in a fasting state, you are classified as having prediabetes, indicating a high risk that requires intervention. Regular blood glucose monitoring is strongly recommended if you are over 35 years of age, have a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 25, are a woman with a history of diabetes during pregnancy, or have a prediabetes diagnosis. This testing is invaluable for managing the disease by monitoring the effectiveness of diabetes medications, identifying dangerously high or low blood sugar levels, tracking progress toward overall treatment goals, understanding how diet and exercise affect your glucose, and observing the impact of factors like illness or stress on your blood sugar balance. The 2-Hour Postprandial Glucose test specifically measures your blood sugar two hours after a 75 g glucose drink, assessing your body's efficiency in clearing the sugar load.