An elevated level of one-hour postprandial plasma glucose is an independent risk factor for developing chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Context: Elevated postprandial glucose levels can help identify individuals with normal glucose tolerance who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between 1-hour postprandial blood glucose (1hPG) and chronic complications of T2DM, including macrovascular and microvascular diseases.

Materials and methods: A total of 194 patients diagnosed with T2DM were recruited and classified into complication and non-complication groups. On the basis of the 1hPG cut-off point of 8.6 mmol/L, these patients were divided into three groups (1hPG ≥ 11.1 mmol/L, 8.6 mmol/L ≤ 1hPG < 11.1 mmol/L and 1hPG < 8.6 mmol/L). The incidence of T2DM-related chronic complications was compared among the three groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the predictive capability of 1hPG for T2DM-related chronic complications.

Results: A higher 1hPG level was found in patients affected by T2DM combined with chronic complications than those without complications. As 1hPG level decreased, the incidence rate of chronic complications in patients with T2DM decreased, which was indicative of a positive correlation between them. According to ROC analysis, FPG, 1hPG, and 2hPG could assist in predicting occurrence of T2DM-related chronic complications, while 1hPG had stronger predictive value. More importantly, logistic regression analysis further demonstrated that increased 1hPG level was an independent risk factor for chronic complications of T2DM.

Discussion and conclusion: These findings indicate that an elevated 1hPG level may be associated with an increased risk of chronic complications of T2DM.