PPBS Test

What is the Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test? 

A Postprandial Blood Glucose test is performed to measure the level of glucose in the blood and is used as a screening test for prediabetes and type 1 and 2 diabetes. The test is processed after a period of 2 hours from the start of the last meal so as to check how the body responds to sugar and starch post-meal.

This test is recommended if you have signs or symptoms of diabetes, such as sudden weight loss, excessive thirst, hunger, or frequent urination. It is also used to monitor glucose levels in diabetics to assess kidney health status and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment process.

What are the other names for the Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)Test? 

The other names are PPBS, Glucose PP, Glucose two-hour postprandial, and post glucose.

What are the test parameters included in the Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test?

There is only one parameter.

What does a Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test measure?

The Glucose Postprandial Blood (PPBG) Test measures the glucose levels in the blood after a period of 2 hours from the start of the last meal. The Postprandial Blood Glucose (PPBG) test is usually done along with a fasting blood glucose test.

Glucose is a simple sugar or monosaccharide which is the main source of energy for all the cells in the body and the only energy source for the nervous system. Carbohydrates consumed in the diet are broken down to their simplest form, glucose, which is absorbed by the intestines and transported by the blood to various parts of the other organs. It is subsequently utilized by the cells of these organs to produce energy wherever it is necessary, and the excess is stored either as glycogen in the liver for short-span storage or in fat tissues as triglycerides for long-term storage. This uptake, utilisation, and storage of glucose after it is absorbed by the intestines is facilitated by the hormone insulin secreted by the pancreas. Insulin influences the transport of glucose to the organs that require it, like the heart, brain, working muscles, etc.It directs the storage of excess glucose. The main action of insulin reduces sugar levels in the blood.

After every meal, sugar levels increase in the blood, and insulin is secreted as a response to reduce the sugar levels until they become normal. If the glucose levels fall too low in the blood, another pancreatic hormone called glucagon will be released. Glucagon directs the liver to convert the stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. These two hormones together create the feedback mechanism to keep the blood glucose levels within the normal range in the blood and body. An imbalance in their activities can cause high or low blood sugar levels in the blood.

This process helps to evaluate whether the body is able to utilise or store glucose efficiently. Excess sugar in the blood indicates that it is not being utilised or stored. This is principally caused by diabetes, which can be of two types: type 1 or type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused when insulin is not produced or produced in a very small quantity. Type 2 diabetes is caused when insulin produced is not utilised effectively by the body (insulin resistance) and also due to decreased insulin production. In both these cases, blood sugar levels increase while cells are deprived of nutrition.

What’s the normal range of PPBS test? 

100 - 140 mg/dL.

Who should get a Post-Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test? 

Your doctor might include glucose testing in a panel of tests for a background check of your health information, such as during an annual examination. Your doctor might also want to screen you for elevated glucose if you are at a higher than average risk of developing diabetes. Risk factors for diabetes include:

• 45 years of age or older

• Overweight or obese

• Have heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol

• Prediabetes

• Have family members with diabetes

• A lack of physical activity

• Have PCOS/PCOD

If you are pregnant, your doctor may recommend glucose testing to screen for gestational diabetes. Diabetes is linked to hormone changes during pregnancy. Having gestational diabetes may be very harmful to the mother and the foetus if it is left untreated and can increase the risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Your doctor may also recommend glucose testing if you are experiencing symptoms of diabetes, including

• Frequent urination

• Excessive hunger or thirst

• Tingling or a loss of sensing the feel in the hands or feet

• Blurred vision

• An abnormal number of infections

• Unexplained weight loss

• Fatigue

• Skin that is dry

• Sores that don’t heal quickly

Additionally, the healthcare provider may order glucose testing if you have any symptoms of low blood sugar or any other health condition.

Glucose testing is a very important part of managing prediabetes and diabetes after they have been diagnosed.

Are preparations needed for the Post-Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)test?

A PPBS test is done 2 hours after a meal and is used to measure postprandial plasma. It may help you to understand if you’re taking the right amount of insulin with meals. You must do the test 2 hours after you have finished eating a meal.

What is the type of sample required? 

This test requires a blood sample.

Who processes a Post-Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test?

A healthcare provider, who is also called a phlebotomist, usually performs blood draws, including those for postprandial blood sugar tests, but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. These samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and performs the tests on analysers or manually.

What should I expect during my Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)test?

You may expect to experience the following during the blood test or blood draw:

• You have to sit comfortably on the chair, and the healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. This is the inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow.

• Once the phlebotomist has located a vein, they will clean and disinfect the area with an alcohol swab.

• Then they will insert a needle into your vein to draw a blood sample. They may feel like a small pinch.

• After they insert the needle, the required amount of blood will be drawn in a test tube.

• When they have drawn enough blood for the test, they’ll remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the pricked site to stop any bleeding.

• They will apply a band-aid over the pricked site, and the blood collection is finished.

This process takes less than five minutes.

What should I expect after my Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS)test?

Once the healthcare provider has collected the blood sample, it will be sent to the laboratory for processing or testing. When the reports are ready, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.

What are the risks of a Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test?

These blood tests are common and they don’t carry any significant risks. You might have a slight pain like an ant bite when the needle gets inserted, and a small bruise can develop there.

When can I expect my Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test results?

What do the results of a Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test mean? 

Interpreting test results

Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test results might vary due to factors like age, sex, health history, health condition, method, etc. This single test result does not mean that there is a problem. Based on the reports, your symptoms, family history, and other factors, your doctor may advise other tests to confirm your blood sugar levels.

• For non-diabetic people: The post-meal glucose normal range for an anon-diabetic person 1 hour after a meal is 90-130 mg/dl. The blood glucose value after 2 hours of a meal is between 90 and 110 mg/dl. If your blood sugar level is within the normal range, then you are not diabetic.

• For a prediabetic person, when the post-glucose value is between 140mg/dl and 199 mg/dl, then you have pre-diabetes. This doesn’t confirm you are diabetic. It means that your blood sugar test levels are slightly higher than normal values. You can consult the doctor and control your blood sugar levels.

• For a diabetic person: A person with type-1 or type-2 diabetes has blood sugar post-glucose in the normal range of 200 mg/dL or higher.Type-1 diabetes tends to develop even more quickly than its symptoms. Therefore, blood sugar levels will remain higher than 200 mg/dL. When you are tested for PP sugar levels, you will probably find that your normal sugar level after food will increase by more than 400mg/dL. 

Immediately consult with your doctor after knowing the results of your fasting and PP blood sugar tests. Starting timely medications and other measures to control your diabetes can improve your health. It also helps you live a long and healthy life.

What are normal Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test results?

2 hours glucose (postprandial)level:

1. Normal is less than 140 mg/dL.

2. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) = 140 to 199 mg/dL.

3. Diabetes mellitus = ≥200 mg/dL

What other tests might I have along with this test?

FBS and HBA1c. 

How do I book a Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) test at home?

Log on to www.orangehealth.in and submit your details. Our highly trained, professional, and vaccinated eMedics will be at your doorstep within 60 minutes or at the time booked by you.

​

Book A PPBS Test Near You: PPBS Test in Bangalore | PPBS Test in Mumbai | PPBS Test in Hyderabad | PPBS Test in Gurgaon | PPBS Test in Delhi | PPBS Test in Noida | PPBS Test in Faridabad