By Dr George Samra, MB, BS (Sydney), FACNEM The correct test for
Reactive Hypoglycemia is a G.T.T. The test should be ordered by
the doctor as follows: G.T.T. – 4 hours. All 1/2 hourly
readings. No special diet prior. The Glucose Tolerance Test is
the classical test used in diagnosing Diabetes. The Diabetic
test is a 2 hour G.T.T. with just 3 readings, the fasting, the 1
hour and the 2 hour. This test is not correct for testing
Functional or Reactive Hypoglycemia. With Hypoglycemia one is
interested in the full reactions to a sugar load. In both cases
a 75gram load of glucose is given to the patient after having
collected blood for the fasting level. With Reactive
Hypoglycemia the emphasis in on the word “Reactive”- one is
looking for the sugar reactive phenomenon in which the blood
sugar either drops suddenly or falls very low. Part of
diagnostic criteria for Hypoglycemia is the rate of fall of
blood sugars, hence the relationship between consecutive
readings is very important. Sudden drops in blood glucose