The Relationship Between Glucose Intolerance and Prediabetes

Since 2015, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith has treated patients as an internal medicine physician at StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut. Dr. Rex Mahnensmith previously served as a full-time geriatric physician from 2014 to 2015 with Genesis Physician Services and was the clinical director of nephrology at the Yale School of Medicine from 1992 to 2014. Dr. Mahnensmith has received numerous awards as a professor and researcher and is the author of more than 20 original articles, many of which focus on kidney disease.

One of the common causes of kidney disease is diabetes mellitus, a condition involving poor blood glucose control. However, before diabetes develops patients may experience glucose intolerance.

Glucose intolerance occurs when the blood sugar remains above 100 mg/dL for more than two hours after eating or drinking or if it rises above 140 mg/dL. It occurs when the cells and tissues are unable to use ingested glucose to produce energy due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production within the body. People with diabetes mellitus also experience insulin resistance and reduced insulin production, but to a much greater extent than people with glucose intolerance.

Glucose intolerance is considered a prediabetic condition, since 25 to 50 percent of people with the condition will eventually develop diabetes. Prediabetes has been associated with reduced life span and health complications including organ dysfunction, eye disease, and cardiovascular problems.