What is the clinical importance of differentiating between impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) states?  

IGT and IFG are different phenotypes of prediabetes. Clinical studies* suggest that IGT may be associated with higher cardiovascular risk than IFG. The molecular mechanisms and the treatments are thus different. IGT, which is due to impairments of beta cell insulin release, can be treated with reduc...

Just to define, IFG is diagnosed by a fasting plasma glucose of 100-125mg/dl and impaired glucose tolerance by a 2-hour glucose value of 140-199 mg/dl after a glucose load. I agree with Dr. @Shomali that the CV risk may be higher with IGT compared to IFG. Either of these criteria may be used to...