Early identification of β-cell dysfunction is critical for preventing type 2 diabetes progression. A large retrospective study, published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, suggests that the 1-hour plasma glucose test may offer a more sensitive measure of early dysglycemia than conventional fasting or 2-hour readings.

The study analyzed data from 15,050 adults who underwent oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) for suspected dysglycemia. Participants were categorized as having normal glucose tolerance, isolated impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or type 2 diabetes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis within the normal glucose tolerance group demonstrated that 1-h PG achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC = 0.895; 95% CI 0.884–0.906). The optimal threshold of 8.8 mmol/L provided 80% sensitivity and 82% specificity.

By improving the precision of early diabetes detection, the 1-hour glucose test could enhance screening approaches, allowing earlier intervention and risk management in high-risk populations.