Final answer:
To ensure accurate GTT results, a patient must consume a high-carbohydrate diet for three days, then undergo fasting blood glucose measurement before taking a specified oral glucose dose. Blood glucose is then monitored to assess glucose tolerance, which helps diagnose diabetes mellitus and determine further diagnostic tests, if necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
For patient compliance with the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), the patient should follow a series of steps to ensure accurate results. GTT is primarily conducted to diagnose diabetes mellitus in patients who don't exhibit obvious symptoms such as glucosuria and have blood glucose levels near normal range. In preparation for the GTT, patients are instructed to adhere to a carbohydrate-rich diet, consuming more than 150 grams per day for three days. This is followed by measuring fasting blood glucose levels after 12-14 hours of no food intake. The patient then consumes a specified oral dose of glucose, after which blood glucose levels are monitored at regular intervals to assess glucose tolerance. If the GTT returns positive, indicating diabetes mellitus, it may be necessary to perform further tests like the Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT) and Glucagon Tolerance Test (GuTT) to determine whether the diabetes is insulin-dependent or not.
During the GTT, a significant and prolonged rise in blood glucose after ingestion of glucose may indicate intolerance and a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The patient's ability to either tolerate glucose or respond to insulin will guide the subsequent treatment approach for managing their diabetes, whether with lifestyle changes, oral medications, or insulin therapy.