GTT is the short form of Glucose Tolerance Test. This is a test that is conducted on people who have blood sugar related problems. It is a test that is conducted when checking if a person is suffering from diabetes. The GTT test is a test that uses multiple samples to understand the rate at which glucose is being absorbed and used in the body. This makes it a multi stage test that is conducted over the course of a few hours.
Typically, glucose tests are conducted as part of standard health care practice. They may be conducted during regular health checkups. Diabetes is a progressive condition that begins with some mild symptoms that may not be immediately diagnosed. A glucose test may show an abnormal condition in the patient. There are two different conditions that could occur. A patient may suffer from hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia is the condition where the concentration of sugar in the blood is higher than normal. Hypoglycemia is the condition where the concentration of sugar is lower than normal. Hyperglycemia causes symptoms that include fatigue, increased urination, thirst and blurred vision. Hypoglycemia causes trembling, hunger, sweating and a general feeling of confusion including anxiety and stress.
When either of these conditions has been diagnosed, the patient may be asked to take a GTT test. The GTT test for diabetes is a simple test that is spread over a period of a few hours. The first stage in the test involves the subject arriving in the morning on an empty stomach with only water permitted for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Because of the fast, patients are generally tested in the morning as most people sleep through the duration of their fast. The blood sugar of the fasting individual is then tested by collecting blood from a vein in the upper forearm of the individual. The individual is then fed some glucose based food or specially prepared glucose based substance. The most basic GTT test requires a sample drawn 2 hours after consumption of this substance. Other more comprehensive tests may measure the blood sugar level every hour for a period of 4 hours.
The result of the GTT test for diabetes is presented in the form of numbers. These numbers are the results of the test in the form of a quantity per measure of blood. People with excessively high levels of glucose are suspected of having diabetes mellitus.