PPBS test stands for postprandial blood sugar and is a blood test that checks for diabetes. Postprandial refers to the time after a meal. This test checks how your body processes sugar and starch after a meal. The PPBS blood test is usually done after a fasting blood sugar (FBS) test that measures blood glucose levels after fasting for 8-12 hours.

After a meal, blood sugar levels increase rapidly as the food is digested. In response, the pancreas secretes insulin – a hormone that moves glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells to be used for energy. Thus, the blood sugar levels are controlled. However, in diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or respond effectively to insulin, so your blood sugar levels remain high.

Diabetes is a condition characterised by very high blood sugar levels. It can be classified into several types:

• Type 1 Diabetes: A condition where the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in little or no insulin.

• Type 2 Diabetes: A disorder where the body resists insulin effects or doesn't produce enough insulin.

• Prediabetes: A condition where the blood sugar levels are elevated but aren't high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

• Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth.

The PPBS test is vital for the screening and monitoring of diabetes. Regular PPBS testing can prevent serious complications of high blood sugar, such as nerve, heart, kidney, and eye damage, and preserve overall well-being.

Preparing for a PPBS test is simple. Here's what you need to know:

a. Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites such as fasting are required. However, if your doctor orders other tests along with PPBS to confirm or monitor diabetes, such as haemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose or glucose tolerance test, fasting may be required. Inform your doctor about all medications and supplements you may be currently using.

b. Best time to get tested

Typically, the test is done two hours after a meal with a minimum of 75 grams of carbohydrates. Your doctor will guide you on the timing of the test and all necessary steps.

c. Eligibility for PPBS test

The PPBS test may be ordered if you exhibit symptoms of diabetes such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or blurred vision. You may also be eligible for this test if you have risk factors for diabetes, such as age 45 or older, family history of diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, or a history of gestational diabetes. The PPBS test is also used to screen for diabetes as part of preventive health care, for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes, and to monitor treatment efficacy in individuals with diabetes.

d. Cautions before taking the PPBS test

No specific cautions are needed before performing this test. You will be advised to take rest before the test, as physical activity can elevate blood sugar levels. Additionally, you will be instructed to finish your meal and refrain from smoking or snacking during the 2-hour wait before the test.

You might need a PPBS blood test if your doctor suspects you have diabetes or any other conditions that disrupt insulin function, particularly if you experience symptoms such as:

• Feeling tired

• Blurry vision

• Slow-healing sores

• Frequent urination

• Feeling unusually thirsty

• Recurrent infections

You may need the test if you have risk factors of diabetes, such as obesity or a family history of diabetes. The test may be done to screen for diabetes as part of routine physical examinations. If you're pregnant, your doctor may order this test to check for gestational diabetes. Treating gestational diabetes safeguards your baby and you from potential diabetes-related health risks. Additionally, the PPBS test may be used to assess treatment efficacy in individuals already diagnosed with diabetes.

It's essential to understand the significance of a PPBS test and the interpretation of its result. Here's how the result is read:

If your blood sugar level is above the normal range two hours after eating, it may indicate diabetes. Your doctor will consider your age, gender, medical history and the results of other tests to interpret what the results mean.

The conditions associated with altered sugar levels include:

• Low blood sugar levels can be caused by severe infections, starvation, insulinomas (tumours in the pancreas that produce insulin), taking too much insulin, drinking too much alcohol, adrenal insufficiency (underactive adrenal glands), severe liver disease, hypopituitarism (underactive pituitary gland) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

• Other than diabetes, high blood sugar can be caused by conditions like Cushing syndrome (high cortisol levels), acute stress (from trauma, heart attack, or stroke), acromegaly (excess growth hormone), pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).