Avoidance Education for Glucose Intolerance

Glucose is a sugar-derived energy fuel that is found in foods. There is a body’s capability for using it, and when it must be used (as in exercising), it can cause a high blood sugar level. Glucose intolerance is when an individual has this deficiency and cannot metabolize all the glucose consumed by the body. The condition results in people having high blood sugar levels and, perhaps, even prediabetes.\n

Glucose intolerance does not cause early signs of diabetes. The classic clinical syndromes of insulin insensitivity (e.g. glucose intolerance), impaired glucose regulation and type (2) diabetes do not exist.

This review provides a perspective on the evaluation and treatment of glucose intolerance in the general population. The most popular treatments include pharmacologic agents to lower blood sugar levels (metformin, diet, exercise and supplements), dietary modification, and physical activity. The use of insulin is now more common than in the past. It is recommended that these interventions be prescribed by trained professionals.

Metabolic disturbances that affect insulin action (including insulin resistance and defective beta cell function) are significant contributors to the development of glucose intolerance. Some of the genes that influence these disturbances are also likely to contribute to the development of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.

Approximately 15% of individuals in the USA met GLP-1 threshold at the beginning of the study, an increase from previous studies. The majority of GLP-1 threshold is undetectable after treatment, with lower prevalence in Asians than Hispanics, and higher at younger ages. Although these findings need to be confirmed with a longitudinal study, GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor should be considered in screening and treatment of glucose intolerance.

Although only the education group has had its blood glucose levels lowered, this improvement is sufficient to warrant an investment in avoidance education in patients with glucose intolerance.

The high prevalence of the disease and the fact that most therapies are unsatisfactory implies an urgent need for more effective treatments. A large proportion of individuals eligible for clinical trials for glucose intolerance will be lost to enrollment, but a significant number of patients, particularly those with normal glucose tolerance, will be identified and treated with effective therapies by the time available for enrollment.

Although research findings about the effects of GS on human health can be found widely, there is much inconsistency. Therefore, the most important message to take from the research findings for glucose intolerance is that the key issue is the balance between the benefits of low GCT and the higher costs that may arise when lowering GCT compared with raising postprandial GCT.

The development and implementation of new interventions is hampered by insufficient systematic evidence to date, by methodological problems and by an inadequate assessment of their effects in terms of health. Moreover, the need for an effective and rigorous dissemination of clinical information remains imperative if the prevention of food-related diseases is to be achieved.

The research indicates that a high percentage of patients were satisfied with the program of information, but there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the percentage of satisfied patients.