Written by Editorial Team
All pregnant women are screened for potential gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. Screening is done by evaluating the woman’s medical history and examining certain risk factors, including obesity and family history of diabetes. Certain tests like Glucose Screening Test and Glucose tolerance test are also recommended. Read on to know more about these tests.
Are you told it’s time for a glucose test by your healthcare provider? These routine glucose screenings check for gestational diabetes, a condition that affects up to 10% of pregnant women. Whatever the results of your blood sugar test, you can take steps to keep your blood sugar under control and have a healthy pregnancy.
In This Article
The glucose-screening test is a routine test recommended for all pregnant women. The glucose – screening test is normally done during the second trimester of pregnancy between the 24th and 28th week. The objective of this test is to screen for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that appears only during pregnancy time and will disappear after delivery.
It can cause several serious issues as the pregnancy progresses. If your routine prenatal urine test shows readings that are above normal reading of glucose or if you have an increased chance of gestational diabetes, the test will be performed earlier.
Around fifty percent of the women who develop gestational diabetes are found to possess no known risk factors. Therefore, this test is included among the other routine tests conducted in the course of pregnancy. This test will be conducted a little earlier than the usual time if you:
As in the case of all screening tests, the glucose-screening test is not a diagnostic test. The positive result only implies that you need to undertake additional tests to confirm gestational diabetes.
For the glucose-screening test:
If the reading shows more than the normal level of sugar, a glucose tolerant test is performed to confirm gestational diabetes.
A woman is considered to have normal blood sugar levels if her reading is below 140mg/dl. However, some doctors consider reading below 130mg/dl as normal. Though several “false” positive results can appear when normal reading is considered below 130mg/dl, in this way, the doctors are able to recognize more patients who have a chance to develop gestational diabetes.
If the reading is above 200mg/dl, then the patient is considered to have gestational diabetes. In such case there is no need for conducting any further tests. However, if the reading is in between 140mg/dl to 200mg/dl, a glucose tolerance test is ordered by the doctor to confirm gestational diabetes.
If the glucose-screening test results are above normal, the next step is to perform a glucose tolerance test. This test result will confirm gestational diabetes.
Unlike a glucose screening test, you have to prepare beforehand for a glucose tolerance test.
Abnormal values for the glucose tolerance test are:
If any of the above abnormal value shows up in your test results and all other readings are normal, the doctor will suggest some changes in your diet and ask you to start some mild exercises like walking or increase the duration of your exercise if you are already doing it. More than one abnormal value in your test result confirms gestational diabetes.
Many women don’t face any kind of side effect after undertaking the glucose tolerance test. Drinking the glucose solution is like drinking a very sweet beverage. In some cases, women may feel nauseated and may even throw up after they drink the glucose solution. If they vomit soon after they have had the glucose drink down, they will have to come back some other day and repeat the test.
Severe side effects from this test are not known. However, here are a few important things that you have to keep in mind when you go for the glucose-tolerant test:
Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, the majority of pregnant women get a glucose screening test. If you have a high glucose level in your urine during your usual prenatal appointments, or if you are at high risk for diabetes, the test is mandatory.
The glucose tolerance test is less complicated. The exam is offered 24/7. It necessitates the use of a concentrated glucose solution. After one hour, blood sugar is tested. Nonetheless, you should avoid eating anything before a glucose tolerance test.
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