What is an insulin tolerance test?

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ITT tolerance test (ITT) is a medical test that an endocrinologist can recommend to evaluate a patient with a suspicious problem of adrenal or pituitary. In this test, the patient receives insulin injection to reduce blood sugar and forces the body to hypoglycaemia. This should cause a stress reaction where cortisol and growth hormone levels increase. If this is not the case, the patient's endocrine system may not work properly. It might be necessary to supplement the growth hormone or perform some tests to find out more about what is happening.

Before the test, patients may not be allowed to eat for several hours. They must also temporarily stop taking steroid drugs as they could eliminate the test results. Completion of the tolerance test tolerance of insulin can take several hours and it is good to go home. Patients often feel tired and shaking after the test and may not be able to drive or return to work for the rest of the day.

The test begins with the collection of the base blood sample. The Care Provider inserts insulin andIt remains in the room at all times to monitor the patient, with periodic samples receiving blood sugar. Samples can also be pulled to check the blood hormone concentrations that should start to rise, as the patient becomes hypoglycaemic. When the test is over, the care provider can give the patient a little juice or snack to increase blood sugar.

Patients may not feel very good during the tolerance test tolerance. Hypoglycaemia can make people feel shaky, sweaty, tired and irritated. Those who lose consciousness may need bolus drugs to quickly increase blood sugar. For constant monitoring, it is necessary to ensure that early warning symptoms of complications are identified in time and the drugs can be held at hand to reverse the effects of insulin if necessary. Fatigue and dizziness are not uncommon even after the blood sugar level returns, as the patient's body can still adapt.

if the adrenalThe gland does not work properly, cortisol levels do not increase during the insulin tolerance test. Growth hormone levels may also be low, suggesting that the pituitary is a problem. The insulin tolerance test can be definitive to endocrinologist with concern for the patient and can therefore be recommended despite risks. As long as the patient is sufficiently supervised, the chances of serious complications are low.