What Is Glucose Intolerance?

Internal medicine physician Dr. Rex Mahnensmith has specialized in primary care for more than three decades. Since 2015, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith has been providing full-time primary care at StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Glucose intolerance is a condition where the level of glucose in a person’s bloodstream rises above 140 mg or remains above 100 mg more than two hours after the ingestion of glucose. Normally, after eating, the blood glucose concentration rises from below 100 mg to about 110 or 120 mg. The glucose is then transferred into cells and tissues by insulin in approximately 60 to 90 minutes. It is then utilized by our organs as energy or stored as glycogen. 

In a case of glucose intolerance, however, the body does not handle the glucose intake in the normal time frame. Thus, the ingested glucose is not fully used up by the cells and tissues for energy. This condition occurs as a result of insufficient secretion of insulin or resistance to its action. While not diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance can be regarded as a prediabetic condition and requires swift action and remedy.