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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Hyperglycemic Clamp and Hypoglycemic Clamp in Conscious Mice
Published on: January 26, 2024
Postprandial hyperglycemia is highly prevalent throughout the day in type 2 diabetes patients
Jan-Willem van Dijk1, Ralph J F Manders, Fred Hartgens
1Department of Human Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Aim:
Although postprandial hyperglycemia is recognized as an important target in type 2 diabetes treatment, information on the prevalence of postprandial hyperglycemia throughout the day is limited. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of hyperglycemia throughout the day in type 2 diabetes patients and healthy controls under standardized dietary, but otherwise free-living conditions.
Methods:
60 male type 2 diabetes patients (HbA(1c) 7.5±0.1% [58±1 mmol/mol]) and 24 age- and BMI-matched normal glucose tolerant controls were recruited to participate in a comparative study of daily glycemic control. During a 3-day experimental period, blood glucose concentrations throughout the day were assessed by continuous glucose monitoring.
Results:
Type 2 diabetes patients experienced hyperglycemia (glucose concentrations >10 mmol/L) 38±4% of the day. Even diabetes patients with an HbA(1c) level below 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) experienced hyperglycemia for as much as 24±5% throughout the day. Hyperglycemia was negligible in the control group (3±1%).
Conclusion:
Hyperglycemia is highly prevalent throughout the day in type 2 diabetes patients, even in those patients with a HbA(1c) level well below 7.0% (53 mmol/mol). Standard medical care with prescription of oral blood glucose lowering medication does not provide ample protection against postprandial hyperglycemia.
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