Blood Sugar — After Meal (PPBS)

What this test checks

PPBS is your blood-sugar reading exactly 2 hours after starting a meal. After eating, sugar normally rises and then comes back down; in diabetes or pre-diabetes, it stays high for too long. This test catches that pattern.

Why do people get this test?

A fasting reading can look normal even when after-meal sugar is creeping up — the PP test catches that early stage. It is almost always done together with the fasting test to give your doctor a complete sugar picture.

When you should consider this test

• Doing a diabetes screen along with the fasting test
• Suspected pre-diabetes despite normal fasting numbers
• Diabetes follow-up to check meal-time control
• Pregnancy — to check for gestational diabetes
• Family history of diabetes with no symptoms yet

How to prepare

Eat a normal meal (about 75 g of carbohydrates, like a regular dal-bhat plate). Note the time you start eating, then arrive for the blood draw exactly 2 hours later. No snacks or drinks (other than water) in between.