Postprandial glucose

Postprandial glucose refers to blood glucose levels after a meal, often peaking within 30–90 minutes (typically around 60 minutes for mixed meals) before returning toward fasting baseline; conventional clinical measurement at 2 hours post-meal reflects glucose returning toward baseline rather than the peak. The size and duration of the spike reflect carbohydrate quantity and quality, gastric emptying, insulin response, and tissue uptake. Recurrent large excursions (a value rarely exceeded in non-diabetics is roughly 140 mg/dL) are associated, in a graded fashion, with vascular risk and cardiovascular disease, making postprandial control a key target in metabolic and longevity-oriented nutrition.