noun

IFG

eye-eff-JEE

IFG (noun) means Impaired fasting glucose: a blood-sugar level that is higher than normal after a period without eating, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It is one of the markers of prediabetes. Example: “Her fasting glucose came back at 6.4 mmol/L, which the doctor recorded as IFG.”

noun

medical Impaired fasting glucose: a blood-sugar level that is higher than normal after a period without eating, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It is one of the markers of prediabetes.

"Her fasting glucose came back at 6.4 mmol/L, which the doctor recorded as IFG."

"Patients with IFG are usually offered lifestyle advice before any medication."

technical, anatomy The inferior frontal gyrus: a ridge on the lower part of the frontal lobe of the brain, closely associated with speech production and language processing.

"The scan showed increased activity in the left IFG while participants read aloud."

How to Use IFG

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA blood test result showing your sugar is a bit too high, but not diabetes yet.

When to use it

Almost always seen written on test results or in clinical notes rather than spoken aloud.

Memory tip

Read the context first: on a blood test IFG is about sugar, in a brain study it is about a part of the brain.

Easily confused with

IGT HbA1c

Common pairings

diagnosed with IFG IFG and IGT left IFG

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Her fasting glucose came back at 6.4 mmol/L, which the doctor recorded as _____.

Synonyms

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prediabetes impaired fasting glycaemia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IFG and IGT?

IFG (impaired fasting glucose) is measured after an overnight fast, while IGT (impaired glucose tolerance) is measured two hours after a sugary drink in a glucose tolerance test. Both indicate prediabetes, and a person can have one without the other.

Does IFG mean you have diabetes?

No. IFG means your fasting blood sugar sits above the healthy range but below the diabetic threshold. It is a warning stage, and many people reverse it with changes to diet, weight and activity.

What do the letters IFG stand for?

In health results it stands for impaired fasting glucose. In brain imaging and neuroscience papers it stands for inferior frontal gyrus.