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Whether you suffer from diabetes or any other health condition, your doctor may have advised you to do a 2-Hour Postprandial Blood Sugar test. This can help to make a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes, as well as to measure your risk of hypertension and heart disease. Postprandial blood sugar or PPS levels are different from other tests and measures such as the A1C test or fasting glucose test. So, what exactly is postprandial blood sugar (PPS) and why does it matter?
What Is Postprandial Blood Glucose & How Is It Measured?
As the term suggests, postprandial refers to concentrations of glucose or sugar in blood after meals. These blood sugar levels begin to rise within ten minutes from the start of a meal because of the absorption of dietary carbohydrates. Postprandial blood sugar levels are affected by a variety of factors, with peak concentration determined by meal timing, serving size, meal composition, insulin and glucagon secretion, among other factors.
In individuals without diabetes, blood sugar levels peak about an hour from the start of a meal and start to decline quickly, returning to preprandial or pre-meal levels within 2 to 3 hours. At the same time, carbohydrate absorption continues for 5 to 6 hours after meals. The timing of this blood sugar peak is affected by other factors in diabetes patients including insulin dosage, type of insulin, route of administration, suppression of hepatic glucose production, hepatic and peripheral glucose uptake.
The postprandial blood sugar test is done in the same manner as a routine blood test, with a needle used to draw blood for screening.
2-Hour Postprandial Blood Sugar: Why 2 Hours?
As your body continues to absorb food for hours after a meal, postprandial blood sugar levels can vary depending on how soon the test is conducted after a meal. This holds true for both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. To get the best results possible and standardize testing, 2 hours after a meal is recommended as the optimal time for testing. This is considered practical and is most likely to reflect the peak concentration of blood sugar in patients, giving a fairly good assessment of postprandial hyperglycemia.
In some cases, the test may be recommended 1 hour after meals, such as when dealing with gestational diabetes.
Understanding 2-Hour Postprandial Blood Sugar Levels
Test results can vary to some extent depending on the specific lab that you use, your age, gender, health history, and so on, but your doctor will be able to interpret them accurately for you. Postprandial blood sugar is measured in milligrams per deciliter and a measurement of 140 mg/dL or less is regarded as within the postprandial blood sugar normal range. Anything higher than this could mean that you have diabetes or prediabetes. Individuals who do suffer from diabetes should still have a postprandial blood sugar level of under 180 mg/dL.
Keep in mind that test results can be inaccurate under the following circumstances:
- If you smoke during the test period
- If you are highly stressed with work or studies during the test period
- If you are unable to have your regular complete meal
- If you have a dessert or snack after your meal and before testing
- If you engage in any rigorous activity or exercise during the test period
Be sure to inform your healthcare provider and the lab about any medications you might be taking, including over the counter medications or illicit drugs. This will allow them to provide you with the best advice possible and gauge test results accurately.
