Glucose Curve Morphology and Peak Time as Metabolic Health Indicators

Authors

Zahra Fatahimeiabadi, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Jehu Apaflo, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Sudip Bajpeyi, University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a multifaceted condition characterized by disruptions in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and associated metabolic defects such as impaired glucose and lipid metabolism and metabolic inflexibility. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is a key diagnostic tool for assessing glucose tolerance and metabolic function. Glucose response curve morphology and timing of the glucose peak (at 30 minutes vs >30 minutes) provide valuable insights into the balance between insulin secretion and glucose tolerance. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate glucose curve morphology and glucose peak time as potential markers of metabolic health, focusing on their associations with glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, substrate utilization, and body fat composition. METHODS: Ninety healthy adults (40/50 males/females; age 26.8 ± 4.5 years; BMI 23.1 ± 2.4 kg/m2) underwent a 3-hour OGTT with blood glucose measurements at the 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes. Participants’ insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, whole body substrate utilization was measured by assessing sleep respiratory quotient (RQ) in a metabolic chamber and body composition was measured byEchoMRI-AH™ Whole Body Composition Analyzer. Participants were then categorized by glucose curve morphology monophasic (having only one glucose peak) vs. biphasic (having two glucose peaks). Participants were also categorized by glucose peak time (early peak (<30 >minutes) vs. late peak (>30 minutes)) for comparison. RESULTS: Biphasic glucose curve was indicative of lower 2-hr blood glucose level and better glucose tolerance (AUC) than Monophasic glucose curve (p0.05). Early glucose peak time was associated with a higher glucose tolerance (2hr and 3hr AUC), higher insulin sensitivity, higher fat oxidation capacity, and lower body fat percentage compared with late peak time group (pCONCLUSION: Biphasic glucose curve and early peak time are indicative of better glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Comparing glucose curve morphology and glucose peak time during an OGTT demonstrates a stronger discriminative index of metabolic health (insulin sensitivity, fat metabolism, and body fat percentage) and could therefore serve as an additional useful marker of the OGTT for identifying potential diabetes risks.

Recommended Citation

Fatahimeiabadi, Zahra; Apaflo, Jehu; and Bajpeyi, Sudip (2025) "Glucose Curve Morphology and Peak Time as Metabolic Health Indicators," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 17, Article 118.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/118