Impaired fasting glucose Health Dictionary

Fasting is the abstention from, or deprivation of, food and drink. It may result from a genuine desire to lose weight – in an attempt to improve one’s health and/or appearance – or from a MENTAL ILLNESS such as DEPRESSION, or from one of the EATING DISORDERS. Certain religious customs and practices may demand periods of fasting. Forced fasting, often extended, has been used for many years as an e?ective means of torture.

Without food and drink the body rapidly becomes thinner and lighter as it draws upon its stored energy reserves, initially mainly fat. Body temperature gradually falls, and muscle is progressively broken down as the body struggles to maintain its vital functions. Dehydration, leading to cardiovascular collapse, inevitably follows unless a basic amount of water is taken – particularly if the body’s ?uid output is high, such as may occur with excessive sweating.

After prolonged fasting the return to food should be gradual, with careful monitoring of blood-pressure levels and concentrations of serum ELECTROLYTES. Feeding should consist mainly of liquids and light foods at ?rst, with no heavy meals being taken for several days.... fasting

Glucose, also known as dextrose or grape sugar, is the form of sugar found in honey and in grapes and some other fruits. It is also the form of sugar circulating in the bloodstream, and the form into which all sugars and starches are converted in the small INTESTINE before being absorbed. Glucose is a yellowish-white crystalline substance soluble in water and having the property of turning a ray of polarised light to the right. It is often given to patients orally or, sometimes, intravenously as an easily assimilated form of CARBOHYDRATE. It has the further practical advantage in this context of not being nearly as sweet-tasting as cane sugar and therefore relatively large amounts can be consumed without sickening the patient.... glucose

A way of assessing the body’s e?ciency at metabolising GLUCOSE. The test is used in the diagnosis of DIABETES MELLITUS. The patient is starved for up to 16 hours, after which he or she is fed glucose by mouth. The concentrations of glucose in the blood and urine are then measured at half-hour intervals over a period of two hours.... glucose-tolerance test

An ENZYME that performs an essential function in the metabolism of CARBOHYDRATE. A de?ciency in this enzyme – acronym G6PD – results in the breakdown of ERYTHROCYTES (HAEMOLYSIS), usually in the presence of oxidants (see OXIDANT) such as infections or drugs. The de?ciency disorder is a hereditary condition in which the enzyme is absent. The condition, characterised by pallor, rigors and pain in the loin, is divided into African, European (including FAVISM) and Oriental types. Sufferers should avoid substances that trigger haemolysis. Acute episodes are best treated symptomatically.... glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

A deficiency in the enzyme G6PD resulting in a haemolytic anaemia. This haemoglobinopathy contraindicates the use of the 4-aminoquinolines such as primaquine for the radical treatment of benign tertian and ovale tertian malaria.... glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (g6pd) deficiency

The level of glucose in the blood. Abnormally high blood glucose (sometimes called sugar) levels are an indication of diabetes mellitus. (See also hyperglycaemia; hypoglycaemia.)... blood glucose

a hereditary disorder – an X-linked condition (see sex-linked) – in which the absence of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which functions in carbohydrate metabolism, results in the breakdown of the red blood cells (*haemolysis), usually after exposure to *oxidants, such as drugs, or infections. The breakdown causes acute attacks that are characterized by pallor, loin pain, and rigors. There are several varieties of G6PD deficiency, which is most common in people of African, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent. Treatment involves identifying and avoiding agents that trigger the haemolysis and treating acute attacks symptomatically. See also favism.... glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

(IGT) see glucose tolerance test.... impaired glucose tolerance

Fasting gain a big popularity among people around the world, during the past years, thanks to a number of alternative medicine adepts, which expressed their belief that fasting, every now and then, is good for your health. Although fasting is an ancient Christian habit, more and more people are adopting it as a way of life and less for its religious purpose. Some people see fasting as a way of losing weight and cleanse their body. When fasting, Christians don’t eat or drink anything but water. Health fasting means only eat or drink one type of food or drinks. Some people choose only to eat grapefruits, for example, some others only to drink tea. If this is your case, this article is for you. How Tea for Fasting Works First of all, not any tea can be used for fasting. You need to choose one with many health benefits and as many active ingredients as possible. Other than that, it must also be safe, since nothing else is ingested and your body needs to feed on something. Also, do not neglect your health by extending the fasting period or you will only starve yourself to death! Your diet must be a well-balanced one, in general, so when you’ve decided to try this type of body cleansing, make sure you take all the necessary measures of precaution so that this treat will only do you good. A Tea for Fasting’s main goal is to keep you energized during this rough time, providing your body with all the necessary supplements, starting from vitamins and ending with natural enzymes. Efficient Tea for Fasting When choosing a Tea for Fasting, you must keep in mind the fact that this one has to be both rich in nutrients and active constituents and one hundred percent safe (during the fasting, your body is very weak and the tea only provides a small quantity of immune defense). If you don’t know which teas are good for your purpose, here is a list to guide you: - Green Tea – is rich in vitamins and has the ability to keep you alive for several hours in which time your body will feel a lot better, rejuvenated and nourished. Also, if you have a cholesterol problem, this Tea for Fasting will lower its level and decrease your blood pressure. It’s an excellent tea if there are a couple of pounds you want to lose. - Yerba Mate Tea – considered “the new green tea” by the specialists, this Tea for Fasting contains all the active ingredients capable to sustain life. Although South Americans are very familiar to this tea, it remains yet unknown to the European public. However, if you find a teashop specialized in Yerba Mate, hold on to it! Make sure you do not drink too much, though! Yerba Mate Tea has a very powerful reaction and in high dosages may lead to death! Tea for Fasting Side Effects When taken properly, these teas are generally safe. However, exceeding the number of cups recommended per day will lead to a number of complications, starting with diarrhea and upset stomach and ending with death. Do not take any of these teas for fasting f you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on blood thinners or anti coagulant, or preparing for a major surgery. Some of these teas may interfere with your anesthetic and cause death. Talk to a specialist or to your doctor in order to gather more information and be aware of the risks. Once you have the medical approval, choose a Tea for Fasting that fits best your needs and enjoy its natural health benefits!... tea for fasting