Impaired glucose tolerance

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT):

• represents an intermediate category between normal and diabetes – an area of uncertainty; fasting plasma glucose is >6.1mmol/L but <7.mmol/L at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes; 2-14% progress to type 2 diabetes per year usually clinically asymptomatic; not at increased risk for microvascular complications, but are at increased risk for macrovascular disease  IGT is sometimes referred to as dysglycaemic macroangiopathy a small percent with IGT revert to normal glucose tolerance on subsequent tests the diagnostic levels for fasting blood glucose are considered to be at a level that there is an increased risk for microvascular disease and not at the assumed lower levels when there may be an increased risk for macrovascular disease management – counselling re macrovascular risk (eg CVA, MI); strict control of cardiovascular disease risk factors (ie blood pressure, lipids, smoking); dietary advice; exercise; aspirin therapy - Some do revert to normal glycaemia