Impaired fasting glucose (IFG): This is a fasting blood glucose level (first thing in the morning after no food for at least 8 hours) that is above normal. A normal fasting blood glucose is less than 5.6mmol/l: If you have a fasting blood glucose between 5.6mmol/l and 6.9mmol/l then you have impaired glucose tolerance. This is also known as “pre-diabetes”. For more information on “Pre-diabetes” please click here [I will need to add a section under diabetes on Pre-Diabetes”]
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT): This is when the blood glucose levels following a meal (glucose load) are higher than normal. Normal blood glucose levels 2 hours after a meal (glucose load) should be less than 7.8mmol/l. If your blood glucose level is between 7.8mmol/l and 11.0mmol/l, then you have impaired glucose tolerance. This is also known as “pre-diabetes”. For more information on “Pre-diabetes” please click here [I will need to add a section under diabetes on Pre-Diabetes”]
Insulin: insulin is a hormone that is produced by special cells in the body called beta-cells. (Beta-cells are found in the pancreas). Insulin is the hormone that controls the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Insulin does this by helping to move sugar (glucose) out of the blood and into the body’s cells so that it can be used for energy. To see how insulin helps sugar (glucose) get into the body’s cells click here. [http://lsdiabetes.co.za/index.php/videos]
Insulin resistance: this is a condition where the body’s cells are resistant to insulin i.e. the body’s cells cannot use the insulin properly to help get the glucose into the cells. Insulin resistance is normally associated with being overweight or obese, and thus weight loss is one of the most important treatments for insulin resistance. There are tablets that are available that your doctor can prescribe for you to help the body’s cells to use the insulin properly. These tablets are called sensitizers and the most commonly used tablets are called metformin.