Could a One-Hour Blood Sugar Test Predict Diabetes Risk?
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Introduction
Diabetes often develops silently over years, and many people don’t realize they’re at risk until it’s too late. But what if a simple test could catch early warning signs—even before prediabetes is officially diagnosed? A new study published in Diabetes Care suggests that measuring blood sugar one hour after a glucose drink could help identify people at risk of future diabetes much earlier than current methods.
What Was the Study About?
Researchers followed over 1,500 adults from the San Antonio Heart Study for 7.5 years. All participants had normal blood sugar at the beginning, based on standard tests like fasting glucose and two-hour glucose after a sugar drink. The scientists wanted to see if the one-hour plasma glucose (1-h PG) level could better predict who would go on to develop prediabetes.
What Did the Study Find?
The study found that people whose blood sugar one hour after drinking glucose was over 120 mg/dL were much more likely to develop prediabetes—even if their fasting and two-hour levels were normal.
- People with 1-h PG between 120–155 mg/dL showed signs of insulin resistance and had a higher chance of progressing to prediabetes.
- Those with 1-h PG above 155 mg/dL were at even higher risk and were as likely to develop diabetes as people already classified with prediabetes.
- Only about half of the people with 1-h PG above 155 mg/dL maintained normal blood sugar over the 7.5 years.
Why Is This Important?
Right now, doctors usually look at fasting glucose, two-hour glucose, or HbA1c to diagnose prediabetes. But this study shows that these tests might miss people who are already on the path to diabetes. By checking 1-h PG, we could catch issues earlier and start interventions like diet and exercise before the condition worsens.
The researchers even suggest a new category: “pre-prediabetes” for people with 1-h PG between 120–155 mg/dL. These individuals have metabolic warning signs and could benefit from early lifestyle changes.
What Can You Do?
If you’re concerned about your blood sugar or have a family history of diabetes, talk to your doctor about taking a 1-hour glucose tolerance test. It’s a simple blood test that measures how your body handles sugar.
In the meantime, here are a few steps to protect your health:
- Eat balanced meals with whole grains, veggies, and lean protein
- Exercise regularly—even walking 30 minutes a day helps
- Limit sugary drinks and snacks
- Check your blood sugar if you're at risk
Final Thoughts
This new research offers a promising tool to catch blood sugar issues early—before prediabetes or diabetes even show up in standard tests. Measuring one-hour glucose levels during a routine test could help millions avoid diabetes through early action. As always, prevention is easier than treatment, and this test could be a powerful step in the right direction.