The difference between impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance lies in the different definitions, manifestations and so on.
Impaired glucose tolerance refers to the body’s impaired glucose regulation function, belongs to the pre-diabetes, does not meet the diagnostic criteria for diabetes, but also higher than the normal level. The standard of impaired glucose tolerance is fasting blood glucose less than 7.0mmol/L, 2 hours after meal blood glucose is more than 7.8mmol/L but less than 11.1mmol/L.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the patient’s body tissues and cells become less sensitive to insulin, requiring more insulin to keep blood sugar steady, often with hyperinsulinemia.
Usually impaired glucose tolerance is the result and insulin resistance or impaired pancreatic islet function is the cause of impaired glucose tolerance. Patients with impaired glucose tolerance or insulin resistance should go to the hospital and be treated under a doctor’s supervision.