Glucose Intolerance Is Not Diabetes Mellitus, but It’s Still Dangerous

An internal medicine physician, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith has been helping patients heal for more than 40 years. Practicing at StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith’s areas of focus include internal medicine, hypertension, and diabetes.
The body needs glucose for energy. It’s what keeps it going. The body gets glucose from foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Once ingested, the sucrose in these foods is broken down into glucose in the small intestine, before being absorbed into the bloodstream. Once glucose enters the blood, the pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone which attaches to cells throughout the body where sugar is required, thereby acting as a bridge for glucose to be absorbed. In a healthy person, this process is very precise and carefully coordinated.
For people with glucose intolerance, however, the process is not as precise as nature intended; a spike in the blood sugar level either does not stimulate insulin secretion within the expected time frame or the glucose is not fully absorbed into the body’s organs, tissues, and cells. While glucose intolerance is not yet diabetes mellitus, it is still dangerous to one’s health. Research has linked the condition to organ impairment, cardiovascular disease, and shortened life spans. In addition, the condition ultimately leads to diabetes mellitus in 25 to 50 percent of all diagnosed cases. Fortunately, the condition can be remedied and the sooner treatment is sought, the more likely is a positive outcome.
