GTT is an abbreviation for Glucose Tolerance Test, which is a measure of the amount of glucose present in the blood stream of a person at the time the test is taken. This test is usually done to check for glucose related problems like hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia in the patient. Both these conditions are related to diabetes.
The glucose content in the blood is measured after fasting or immediately after a meal, depending on the symptoms of the patient, to check for this disease. Sometimes, the GTT may be conducted as a part of the oral glucose tolerance test. The basic definition of GTT is simply testing the glucose level in the blood at the time the sample is taken.
For a fasting test, a blood sample is collected after about 8-12 hours of fasting. Once the sample is taken, the patient is given a glucose solution to drink. After drinking the solution, another sample of blood is taken to check the metabolism of glucose. The two test results are compared to see if the body is able to metabolize glucose properly. If the blood glucose is seen to be elevated, a follow up oral glucose tolerance test may be required to check for diabetes.
A GTT pregnancy test is given to almost all pregnant women. This test is given to check for gestational diabetes, where there is temporary hyperglycemia caused due to the changes in the secretion of hormones. The normal values of glucose in the blood for pregnant women may be quite different from those of a normal person. Therefore, gestational diabetes GTT results may differ much more than the normal test results. However, if a non pregnant person has abnormal levels of glucose in their blood, they might be suffering from diabetes.
Those who are diagnosed with diabetes should get themselves checked for blood glucose levels from time to time. This can help them monitor the course of the disease as well as the treatment. These days, glucose tolerance tests can be done at home using a special machine designed especially for testing blood glucose. This machine is usually simple to use. All you have to do is prick a finger and get a drop of blood, then place the drop of blood on the machine.
A urine glucose test may also be requested. However, these tests are extremely rare and are usually done on people who have been diagnosed as diabetics. A urine test is usually administered as a follow up to a blood glucose test.