What is Postprandial Glucose Level?

This test is also known as the PPBS Test or Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) Test. The PPG test is an initial test to check whether a person is diabetic or not. The term postprandial means after a meal. This means that this test is conducted after the person has had a full meal, to check how the body responds to the increased glucose levels in the blood. The glucose levels in the blood are generally raised after a full meal and people whose bodies aren’t able to produce insulin or use insulin appropriately will show elevated levels of blood glucose even after two hours. For a normal person, the glucose levels in the blood subside just after two hours, and if it doesn’t, the PPG test records this, and the person is declared diabetic. As a result, this test is also known as Two-hour Glucose Test.

When to Opt for a PPG Test?

The several signs and symptoms of diabetes can often be a cause of concern and may persuade people to get their postprandial glucose levels checked. Although there are quite a few tell-tale signs that the body is not able to fully assimilate the glucose in the blood or is not able to produce insulin, in many cases, such signs may not mean anything at all. Nevertheless, here are a few sure-shot signs and symptoms that can prompt most people to take the PPG test just to be on the safer side.

• Frequent Urination –If you notice that you are urinating more frequently than before, it can be a sign that your body is not able to synthesize glucose properly.
• Unnatural Thirst –Similarly, with frequent urination, unusually high thirst is complementary and both of these could be reason enough to have a PPG test.
• Blurred Vision –Apart from the regular short-sightedness and far-sightedness, if you experience blurry vision that is unusual, it could mean the onset of diabetes.
• Fatigue and Lethargy –Although these can occur due to several reasons, most of which are absolutely normal and harmless to health, a prolonged feeling of fatigue should always be reported to a doctor and if needed, the doctor will usually recommend a PPG test.
• Prone to Infections Easily –People who are diabetic, are more prone to contracting different kinds of infections. However, not all such symptoms can lead to diabetes. In rare cases, this could also indicate an immunodeficiency disorder but a doctor usually recommends a PPG test as the first line of investigative diagnosis.
• Slower Rate of Healing –Similarly, a slower rate of healing does not always indicate that a person is diabetic, but it is an alarming symptom that needs to be checked by a doctor. In most cases, a PPG test is recommended as the first diagnostic test to eliminate or confirm the chance of diabetes.

Who Needs to Keep a Check on Postprandial Glucose?

However, a PPG test should not only be done when experiencing the aforementioned symptoms. A PPG test is often done regularly by some people to help monitor the level of remnant glucose levels in their blood after meals. Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes should get their PPG levels checked regularly to ensure the good health of their baby. Similarly, pregnant women who have a previous diagnosis of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, should also get PPG tests done regularly.

Diabetic people who plan to shift from one brand of insulin to another should also get PPG tests done regularly in the initial phases to measure how effective the new insulin is for their bodies. Moreover, people who might have a propensity of developing low blood sugar as a result of intensive medication should also take regular PPG tests to be on the safer side. People who have diabetes with high blood sugar levels that are tough to control should also consider monitoring their postprandial glucose levels regularly. Finally, people who have had earlier histories of elevated blood sugar levels after full meals also need to take PPG tests frequently.

Why are Postprandial Glucose Tests Important?

Postprandial glucose tests are so important because for diabetic people it is necessary to monitor the levels of blood glucose to devise ways and means to manage them. Moreover, A1C levels, once they reach an upper threshold, can be hard to bring down and may cause further health complications along the way. PPG test results indicate whether diabetic people should inject themselves with pre-bolus insulin before each meal in order to reduce sharp spikes in blood sugar levels after meals. the results of this test can also indicate whether a person is in need of PPG monitoring and therapy. Doctors also recommend that regular monitoring of PPG levels can help diabetic people to regulate their diets accordingly to avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates, starch, and sugars.

How to Check Postprandial Glucose Levels?

Postprandial glucose testing can be done at almost all diagnostic laboratories since it is a very common type of diagnostic test. A PPBS Test can be done quite easily at nearby diagnostic laboratories since many of these laboratories have the facility of home sample collection. A PPBS test or PPG test can also be done at home using a digital glucometer. When attempting to conduct such a test at home, always ensure that your hands are washed and dry.

This is because such a glucometer works by using your blood sample which is collected by pricking the tip of your index finger using a lancet. In case there is a residue of some form of sugar on your fingers, the glucometer will be measuring this as well. Therefore, to ensure accurate close to laboratory readings for a PPG test at home, you will need to keep your hands and fingers clean.

Moreover, a glucometer uses test strips that need to be kept in a cool and dry place, preferably in airtight containers. This is because if these test strips come in contact with atmospheric moisture, it could lead to inaccurate readings of PPG levels on the glucometer.

Conclusion

Therefore, upon understanding the relevance and importance of PPG or PPBS tests for both diabetic patients as well as pregnant women, it is safe to say that the intensity of these tests needs to be amped up in order to match the growing needs of the people. With modern sedentary lifestyles and an increasing number of people working from home, the chances of lifestyle-induced type 2 diabetes have grown. This calls for more frequent testing of PPG levels so that regular tabs can be kept on the blood sugar levels after eating meals. In such circumstances, it is always beneficial to have MediBuddy online doctor consultation app handy so that you can report your suspected signs and symptoms to a primary healthcare physician from the comfort of your homes, and get an expert’s recommendation for a Postprandial Glucose test.