Glucose Intolerance
Basics
Description
- Glucose intolerance is an intermediate stage between a normal glucose metabolism and diabetes. It occurs due to a gradual decline in β-cell function.
- Individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose intolerance (IGT) have been referred to as having prediabetes:
- IFG: 100 to 125 mg/dL
- IGT: 140 to 199 mg/dL 2 hours after ingestion of 75 g oral glucose load
- Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 5.7–6.4% (1)
Epidemiology
- As of 2010, it is estimated that one of every three U.S. adults ≥20 years of age have prediabetes (2).
- In the United States, an estimated 88 million people aged ≥18 years are living with prediabetes as of 2020, based on The National Diabetes Statistics Report.
- Only 11% of people with prediabetes are aware of their condition (3).
- Prediabetes has a 34.5% prevalence among adults >18 years old and 51% of adults ≥65 years old in the United States (4).
Incidence
- Systematic review indicates a 5-year cumulative incidence of developing diabetes of 9–25% for people with an HbA1c of 5.5–6% and 25–50% for people with an HbA1c of 6–6.5% (1).
- Highest incidence in American Indians/Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics (2)
Prevalence
As of 2020, prevalence of prediabetes in the United States was 34.5% in adults >20 years old and 51% in adults >65 years old. According to ADA, in 2015, 84.1 million Americans >18 years old had prediabetes. As of 2010, worldwide prevalence was 8%.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Progressive loss of insulin secretion on the background of insulin resistance (1)
Genetics
- Genetic heterogeneity is established by family, twin, immunologic, and HLA disease association studies.
- Variants in 11 genes have been shown to be significantly associated with future development of type 2 diabetes and IFG. Variants in 8 of these genes have been associated with impaired β-cell function.
Risk Factors
- Body mass index (BMI) ≥25: overweight
- History of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Medications
General Prevention
- Lifestyle modification with weight reduction and increased physical activity
- A decrease in excess body fat provides the greatest risk reduction.
Pregnancy Considerations
- Screening for diabetes in pregnancy is based on risk factor analysis:
- High risk: first prenatal visit
- Average risk: 24 to 28 weeks’ gestation
- Women with GDM should be screened for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks’ postpartum with 75-g OGTT and then every 1 to 3 years via any method (5).
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Obesity (abdominal and visceral obesity)
- Dyslipidemia with high triglycerides (TG)
- PCOS
- GDM
- Congenital diseases (Down, Turner, Klinefelter, and Wolfram syndromes)
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Glucose Intolerance." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 27th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2020. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116873/all/Glucose_Intolerance.
Glucose Intolerance. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2020. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116873/all/Glucose_Intolerance. Accessed September 11, 2024.
Glucose Intolerance. (2020). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (27th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116873/all/Glucose_Intolerance
Glucose Intolerance [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2020. [cited 2024 September 11]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/116873/all/Glucose_Intolerance.
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