Hormonal
Women with PCOS should undergo screening for impaired glucose tolerance using a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) rather than fasting plasma glucose alone, as fasting glucose misses a majority of cases in this population.
If you have PCOS, do not rely on a simple fasting blood sugar test to check for diabetes risk. You must get a 2-hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). This test involves drinking a sugary solution and having your blood drawn twice. It is more accurate for PCOS patients because your fasting sugar might look normal even if your body struggles to handle sugar after eating. This screening should happen at diagnosis and every 2 years, or annually if you have other risk factors.
The panel recommends that all patients with PCOS be screened for IGT with a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test... In the PCOS population studied, fasting plasma glucose measurements by ADA criteria failed to diagnose 58% of women with DM diagnosed by a 2-h OGTT.
Why this rating
Based on a systematic review and expert consensus from the Androgen Excess Society, citing multiple studies showing OGTT superiority in PCOS.
Source
POSITION STATEMENT: Glucose Intolerance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—A Position Statement of the Androgen Excess Society
Kelsey E. S. Salley et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2007
DOI 10.1210/jc.2007-1549
More from this paper
- Women with PCOS have a significantly higher risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to control women, with PCOS being an independent risk factor.Strong
- Intensive lifestyle modification (diet and exercise) is the most effective intervention for preventing type 2 diabetes in women with PCOS who have impaired glucose tolerance, outperforming pharmacological agents like metformin.Good
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