Glucose Intolerance
Millions of people have problems digesting the substances in foods for one reason or another, and many of those people are those who suffer from glucose intolerance. This is an all-encompassing way to describe a condition where a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal. It is also sometimes referred to as hyperglycemia. Sufferers of pre-diabetes and type II diabetes are considered to have glucose intolerance as well. In fact, anybody who has impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose is said to be glucose intolerant.
What is Glucose Intolerance?
Medically speaking, glucose intolerance is defined as having a fasting blood glucose level at least 6 mmol/L or above; and it can also apply to those who experience a blood glucose level of anything over 7.8 mmol/L after two hours of consuming 75 grams of glucose (the standard dose). Although many people experience blood sugar spikes from time to time depending on what they consuming, people with glucose intolerance experience this for extended periods of time and have a hard time regulating levels regardless of food choices. There are some oral glucose tolerance tests available on the market that administers this standard dose for diagnosis purposes; these tests are simple and easy to use and give accurate blood glucose levels after two hours. It is important to know if you have glucose intolerance, especially before you start experiencing any adverse side effects.
Symptoms of Glucose Intolerance
You can tell if you have glucose intolerance or not by simply observing some things about yourself. If you feel like things are not right, you should always consult your doctor first. However, there are some signs that could be helpful to you in keeping yourself at optimal health before you can see your physician. Interestingly, the symptoms of glucose intolerance match those described for type II diabetes; however, the two are only related in that one can lead to the other if not kept in check.
If you feel yourself being extremely tired or drowsy during large parts of the day even if you got sufficient sleep, then you need to be concerned about your blood glucose levels. Experiencing dry mouth or being really thirsty is warning signs as well; and they shouldn’t be dismissed, especially if they are felt in conjunction with the other symptoms. Also, if you feel that you frequently have the urge to urinate; this may also be a warning sign that you have glucose intolerance.
Be mindful as well if you experience any vision blurriness with these other indicators. Muscle mass is typically diminished noticeably in people with glucose intolerance as well, so the signs are not difficult to spot. If you notice that you or someone you love is experiencing any or all of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible and have your blood sugar levels checked. Keep in mind however, that not everyone with glucose intolerance experiences these symptoms, so you should be sure of your personal glucose tolerance or intolerance regardless. There are lots of tests available on the market designed especially for ease of use, so you have no excuse not to know how you measure up.