July 17, 2018

Over the years, the fasting glucose has been the standard testing point for diabetes control. However, we have always been proponents of 2-hour postprandial readings to help identify diabetes sooner. This is based on the concept of first phase insulin release, and how that prevents the rise of glucose levels in the blood after a meal. As patients develop diabetes, it is thought that this rapid food-stimulated insulin release becomes impaired. This week in our Clinical Text, we look at what this “First Phase Release” is and how our patients lose the ability to control their meal time glucose excursions.

Dave Joffe

Editor-in-chief