Home Glucose Tolerance Test

Yesterday I purchased a glucometer and testing strips along with some pure dextrose (d-glucose) powder. I am planning on doing a home GTT in the morning.

I plan on weighing out 80 g of the dextrose (the label said 80 g of dextrose will equal 75 g of Carbohydrates) and mixing it in .25 L of water. I will then take a fasting capillary blood glucose (CBG), drink the solution, and take additional CBG at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. I will have fasted for at least 12 hours when I take the first CBG and did not exercise today. Is there anything I’m missing? I’m assuming my homemade glucose drink will work just fine, as my research said a 250-350 ml solution of 75 g dextrose. Should I take CBG’s more often than what I listed above?

I will post the results tomorrow.

Make sure you use a BD alcohol swab to clean your fingertip/forearm before each test. Any dirt or oils can skew the results. Also, make sure you wave your finger around and allow the alcohol residue to fully dry, don’t take a wet prick, you prick, as this can skew results as well. I personally skip the 15 minute test, I don’t find it to tell me much of anything useful.

Thanks for the heads up on the alcohol swabs. I’ve done hundreds of CBG’s before on hospital patients, but forgot them for myself.

The reason I mention, is that I’ve done without swabbing, then 30 seconds later after swabbing and read totally different mg/dl totals. It really can make a big difference.

Especially if you play in the dirt, or if you’re a fan of the snatch.(Barbell, I mean barbell snatch.)

Marc McDougal, you are INCORRIGIBLE!!!

Results

Fasting: 89 mg/dl
15 minutes: 144 mg/dl
30 minutes: 149 mg/dl
60 minutes: 167 mg/dl
90 minutes: 141 mg/dl
120 minutes: 107 mg/dl
150 minutes: 76 mg/dl

According to the guidelines given in Massive Eating Part 2 my insulin sensitivity is normal. I’m sure it’s probably low-normal though and could certainly improve. I have a family history of Type II Diabetes so I was relieved to see that at least this time I’m not in imminent danger of developing it. I was not suprised by the blood sugar drop at the end. I’ve always felt I was slightly hypoglycemic and if I don’t eat fairly often I can get quite moody. Any other thoughts on these results would be appreciated.

How did you feel during the 150 mins? Energy levels?

I’m just wondering how others react to hyper/hypo glycemic states.

Personally, they hit me like a ton of bricks. A home made post workout drinks with a little less than the 0.8g/kg of body weight of dextrose (not maltodextrin) sent me straight to bed with a puddle of drool to boot.

I felt pretty good at the beginning and at the end, but I felt very tired when the numbers where up. Maybe I’m not getting something here, but shouldn’t someone have the most energy when their blood sugar is high? Or is that when they are going to have the least energy because the glucose is in the blood and not in the muscles where it can be utilized?