Has your doctor ever asked you to drink a sugary liquid and have a blood test? Many people wonder what this is and why it is being done, and maybe even feel a little scared. But it is actually nothing to be afraid of. This is a very common test that is done to find out very important information about your health. So today, let's talk about this Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, or OGTT as we all know it.
What is this OGTT?
Simply put, an OGTT is a test that measures how well your body manages the energy source glucose. This can give your doctor some important clues about your health.
When we eat, our blood sugar levels usually rise. Then, a gland called the pancreas, located deep in our abdomen, produces a hormone called insulin . Think of your body's cells as little houses. The sugar you get from the food you eat is the energy these houses need. So, insulin is like a key that takes this sugar, opens the doors of the houses, and lets the sugar in. When the sugar gets into the cells, the blood sugar levels drop back to normal.
However, if you have Type 2 Diabetes, your body doesn't use this key called insulin properly. Then sugar builds up in the blood instead of entering the cells. This excess sugar in the blood can damage blood vessels throughout the body. Diabetes can cause heart disease, nerve damage, eye disease, and kidney disease.
So the OGTT test mainly checks whether you are at risk of developing diabetes, or whether you already have diabetes. A short OGTT test during pregnancy can also detect whether you have gestational diabetes.
Who is being asked to take this OGTT test?
If you have one or more of the following risk factors, your doctor may ask you to have an OGTT test.
| Risk factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Weight gain | If your body is overweight/obese. |
| Family history | If someone in your immediate family (mother, father, siblings) has diabetes. |
| High blood pressure | If you have high blood pressure. |
| High triglycerides | If you have high levels of a type of fat called triglycerides in your blood. |
| PCOS condition | If you have a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which causes problems with your menstrual cycle. |
| Pre-pregnancy status | If you have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (about 4 kilograms) or if you had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy. |
Is the OGTT different during pregnancy?
Yes, if you are pregnant, you will need to have a short version of this OGTT test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. This one-hour test is called a 'glucose challenge test'.
However, if you are at high risk of developing gestational diabetes, your doctor may recommend that you have this test done earlier. These risk factors include:
- Having had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
- Having diabetes in the family.
- Obesity.
- Having another medical condition that increases the risk of diabetes, such as PCOS.
If your doctor is concerned about your risk, or if the results of the one-hour test are high, you may be asked to have a longer OGTT test that lasts 3 hours.
How do you prepare before the test?
Preparing for this is very simple.
- A few days before the test, eat normally. Don't go on any special diet.
- You cannot eat or drink anything for 8 hours before the test. The best time to do this is to schedule the test in the morning. Then you can fast overnight.
- During this 8-hour period , you are only allowed to drink water. Do not drink any other beverages.
- Talk to your doctor about any other medications you are taking when you schedule your exam.
How to do the test step by step
You can have this OGTT test done at your doctor's office, clinic, hospital, or lab.
1. First, a blood sample will be taken to check your fasting blood glucose level.
2. Then you will be given a large glass of sugary liquid to drink.
3. Next, you will have to wait for a while. During this time, you cannot leave the lab or clinic.
4. If you are doing a routine diabetes test , you will drink the sugar solution and then take another blood sample 2 hours later .
5. If you are doing the gestational diabetes test (3 hours) , you will drink the sugar solution and have blood samples taken at 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours .
After the test is over, you can return to your normal activities.
Are there any risks with this test?
The OGTT test is a very safe test, but some people may experience minor side effects.
Things that can happen due to sugary drinks:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Filling the stomach
- Headache
- Low blood sugar levels (very rare)
Things that can happen due to blood donation:
- Excessive bleeding
- Dizziness
- Infection status
- Slight pain from repeated attempts to locate a blood vessel
- Bruising or pain at the site of the sting
These are very minor things and will heal quickly.
What do the results say?
After you drink the sugary drink, your blood sugar level rises and should return to normal after a while due to the action of the hormone insulin. If it takes a long time to return to normal, it may be a sign of diabetes. The results on your report are reported in "mg/dL" (milligrams per deciliter).
| Blood sugar level (mg/dL) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Routine diabetes screening (2-hour OGTT) | |
| 139 mg/dL or less | Normal : Your body controls sugar well. |
| Between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL | Prediabetes : You are at increased risk of developing diabetes. |
| 200 mg/dL or higher | Diabetes . You may have diabetes. |
| Gestational diabetes screening (3-hour OGTT) | |
| Fasting | Should be less than 95 mg/dL . |
| After 1 hour | Should be less than 180 mg/dL . |
| After 2 hours | Should be less than 155 mg/dL . |
| After 3 hours | Should be less than 140 mg/dL . |
Prediabetes means you are at increased risk of developing diabetes. It's like a warning sign. If you make lifestyle changes at this point, you can go a long way toward preventing diabetes.
If a pregnant woman has one of the above results that are higher than normal, her doctor will recommend that she be retested in a few weeks. If two or more results are higher, she is diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
What happens after the test?
Your doctor will explain to you what to do next based on the results.
- If you have prediabetes: Your doctor will talk to you about ways to prevent it from developing into diabetes. Exercise and weight loss are the two best ways to reduce your risk of diabetes.
- If you have diabetes: You may be asked to do other tests, such as an A1c, to confirm your diagnosis. A healthy diet, exercise, and medication can help control your blood sugar levels.
- If you have gestational diabetes: You can control this condition with a good diet and exercise. Your blood sugar levels should return to normal after you have your baby. However, someone who has had gestational diabetes is at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. That's why it's important to continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The most important thing is to talk to your doctor about all of this and follow his or her instructions exactly.
Take-Home Message
- The OGTT is an important test that looks at how your body uses sugar.
- This can help diagnose diabetes and gestational diabetes.
- It is mandatory to fast for 8 hours before the test.
- Based on the results, your doctor will give you the most appropriate advice.
- This is a safe test with very low risk, so don't be afraid of it.
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