Your blood sugar acts a critical barometer when it comes to your health, as elevated blood sugar levels are often indicative of prediabetes and diabetes: a serious disease that can ultimately affect the health and function of other parts of the body including your nervous system, eyes, and kidneys.

This HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) test provides a measure of your average blood sugar level over an extended period (typically 8-12 weeks) and is a useful tool for both detecting and/or monitoring diabetes.  The glucose tolerance test (GTT) is a lab test to check how your body moves sugar from the blood into tissues like muscle and fat. The glucose tolerance test identifies abnormalities in the way your body handles glucose after a meal — often before your fasting blood glucose level becomes abnormal.