Postprandial hyperglycemia.

Much attention has been paid to fasting glucose levels in both the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus. This test is well ingrained in clinical practice and well accepted by our patients. However, does a fasting glucose level give the clinician a complete picture? Is postprandial hyperglycemia associated with adverse events? This article will explore postprandial glucose levels and compare them to fasting glucose levels. The importance of postprandial and post-challenge (2 hours after a standard oral glucose tolerance test) glucose levels will be discussed. Drugs which address postprandial hyperglycemia will be reviewed briefly.