impaired glucose tolerance

tolerance /tol·er·ance/ (tol´er-ans)

1. diminution of response to a stimulus after prolonged exposure.

2. the ability to endure unusually large doses of a poison or toxin.

3. drug t.

4. immunologic t.tol´erant

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drug tolerance  decrease in susceptibility to the effects of a drug due to its continued administration.

immunologic tolerance  the development of specific nonreactivity of lymphoid tissues to a particular antigen capable under other conditions of inducing immunity, resulting from previous contact with the antigen and having no effect on the response to non–cross-reacting antigens.

impaired glucose tolerance  (IGT) a term denoting values of fasting plasma glucose or results of an oral glucose tolerance test that are abnormal but not high enough to be diagnostic of diabetes mellitus.

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impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

[imperd′]

Etymology: L, impejorare, to make worse; Gk, glykys, sweet; L, tolerare, to endure

a condition in which fasting plasma glucose levels are higher than normal but lower than those diagnostic of diabetes mellitus. In some patients this represents a stage in the natural history of diabetes, but in some people IGT either does not progress or ends, and glucose tolerance reverts to normal. Also called impaired prediabetes. See also diabetes mellitus.

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glucose (gloo´kōs),

n a six-carbon (hexose) sugar that is the principal sugar in blood and serves as a major metabolic source of energy.

glucose, casual plasma,

n the amount of glucose in the blood at any time, unrelated to eating.

glucose, fasting plasma (FPG),

n a self-administered test of blood glucose levels for diabetes patients. The blood is tested after at least 8 hours of fasting. If results of the test are consistently at or above 126 mg/dL, the patient is commonly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

glucose meter,

n an electronic device used to measure blood glucose levels that can be used by a patient at home. The device provides an accurate reading of blood glucose level with only a drop of blood from a pricked finger.

glucose oxidase,

n an antibacterial flavoprotein enzyme obtained from
P. notatum and other fungi. It is antibacterial in the presence of glucose and oxygen.

glucose, postprandial plasma,

n the level of glucose in the blood plasma based on a sample of blood taken after ingesting a meal; used to diagnose diabetes.

glucose tolerance, impaired,

n one category of oral glucose tolerance test results. The diagnosis is not necessarily indicative of diabetes, but the patient may be at risk of diabetes mellitus and heart disease.

glucose tolerance test,

n a metabolic test that measures the ability of the body to metabolize carbohydrates. A patient is administered a standard dose of glucose, and blood and urine samples are measured for glucose levels at periodic intervals following administration. It is most often used to assist in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.