Definition of Postprandial Glucose

Postprandial means "after the meal." Patients measure postprandial glucose levels within two hours after eating. Glucose levels in the blood are at their highest after a meal due to consumption of dietary sugar from food.

Function

• As the amount of sugar in the blood increases during a meal, the pancreas secretes insulin to tell the body to consume the glucose in the bloodstream.

Significance

• If high amounts of sugar remain in the bloodstream after a meal, some of the body's processes become interrupted. For example, excess glucose molecules attach themselves to proteins in the blood, which disrupt their function.

Problems

• In diabetics, the cells do not respond as well to the insulin produced by the pancreas, which is called insulin resistance. Also, the pancreas in diabetics is sometimes too impaired to produce enough insulin.

Diagnosis

• The glucose tolerance test uses postprandial glucose levels to diagnose diabetes. Doctors diagnose diabetes in a patient when his blood glucose level stays above 200 mg/dl two hours after consuming a sugary drink.

Prevention

• Exercise, lower consumption of dietary sugar, and weight loss contribute to lower postprandial glucose levels.