Which test is used to detect diabetes by assessing glucose handling after a standard glucose load?

• A. Laryngoscopy
• B. Fecal occult blood test
• C. Hematocrit (Hct)
• D. Glucose Tolerance Test

Answer: (D)

Glucose handling after a standard glucose load is assessed by the Glucose Tolerance Test. In this test, after fasting, a person drinks a glucose solution and blood glucose is measured at intervals—typically fasting and then about 2 hours later. It shows how well the body processes a sugar load, which depends on insulin secretion and sensitivity. If the 2-hour glucose is in the diabetic range (and other criteria are met), diabetes is diagnosed; lower elevations point to impaired glucose tolerance. This test directly evaluates how efficiently glucose is cleared from the blood, unlike the other options, which check different bodily functions or conditions (larynx anatomy, hidden gastrointestinal bleeding, or red blood cell proportion).