Insulin tolerance test

Insulin is a hormone that helps our bodies use sugar from food for energy. Sometimes, people may have trouble using insulin properly and this can cause health problems like high blood sugar levels. To find out if someone has insulin resistance (difficulty using insulin), doctors may perform an insulin tolerance test.

During the test, the doctor gives the person a sweet drink containing a sugary substance like glucose. This will cause the body to release insulin to help use up the sugar. Then, the doctor measures the person's blood sugar levels over time to see how well their body is using insulin.

To do this, the doctor will draw a small amount of blood before the test, then give the person the sugary drink. After an hour or two, the doctor will draw blood again and check the person's blood sugar levels. They may repeat these steps several times to see how the body is responding to the insulin.

The test can be a little uncomfortable, but it can help doctors diagnose insulin resistance and other conditions like diabetes. If you're going to have an insulin tolerance test, your doctor will explain how to prepare and what to expect.