From the Guidelines
Optimal Postprandial Glucose Increase
The optimal postprandial glucose increase in non-diabetic individuals for health span, life span, and reduced atherosclerotic cardiovascular morbidity (ACM) should be less than 180 mg/dL.
Key Considerations
- Postprandial glucose measurements should be made 1-2 hours after the beginning of the meal, generally peak levels in patients with diabetes 1.
- The primary predictor of complications is A1C, and postprandial hyperglycemia contributes to elevated A1C levels 1.
- Individualized goals should be set based on duration of diabetes, age, comorbid conditions, known CVD, and individual patient considerations 1.
- Less stringent glycemic goals may be indicated in patients with severe or frequent hypoglycemia, while more stringent glycemic goals may further reduce complications at the cost of increased risk of hypoglycemia 1.
Measurement and Targets
- Postprandial glucose may be targeted if A1C goals are not met despite reaching preprandial glucose goals 1.
- The recommended target for postprandial glucose is less than 180 mg/dL 1.
- For non-diabetic individuals, the optimal postprandial glucose increase is not explicitly stated, but it is reasonable to assume that a lower increase would be beneficial for health span, life span, and reduced ACM 1.
- However, the evidence provided is primarily focused on diabetic patients, and the optimal postprandial glucose increase for non-diabetic individuals may be lower than 140 mg/dL, as suggested by the targets for one-hour postprandial glucose in pregnant women with diabetes 1.
From the Research
Optimal Postprandial Glucose Increase
- The optimal postprandial glucose increase in non-diabetic individuals for health span, life span, and reduced atherosclerotic cardiovascular morbidity (ACM) is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- However, a study by 2 suggests that postprandial peaks should not exceed 135 mg/dl (7.5 mmol/ml) to reduce arterial risk and should not exceed 160 mg/dl (8.9 mmol/l) to reduce microvascular risk.
Measurement Timing
- A study by 3 found that the postprandial glucose peak was reached after 82±18 min in non-diabetic individuals and 74±23 min in individuals with pregnancy complicated by diabetes.
- The same study suggests that the optimal time for postprandial glucose measurement is between 45 and 120 min postprandial, with a preferred interval of 60 min.
- Another study by 4 found that postprandial glucose levels were the lowest in the morning and the highest in the afternoon, suggesting that measurement timing may vary depending on the time of day.
Lifestyle Factors
- A study by 4 found that consuming less refined grains and more protein-rich foods, getting more physical activity (particularly during the postprandial period), and having a longer sleep duration were associated with lower postprandial glucose levels in non-diabetic individuals.
- A study by 5 found that avoiding large, high-GI meals in the evening may be particularly beneficial in improving postprandial glucose profiles and may play a role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.