How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed
The American Diabetes Association encourages doctors to routinely screen pregnant women for signs of gestational diabetes. If you have no known history of diabetes and normal blood sugar levels at the beginning of your pregnancy, your doctor will likely screen you for gestational diabetes when youre 24 to 28 weeks pregnant.
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Glucose Screening Tests During Pregnancy
TWO-STEP TESTING During the first step, you will have a glucose screening test: You DO NOT need to prepare or change your diet in any way. You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose. Your blood will be drawn 1 hour after you drink the glucose solution to check your blood glucose level. If your blood glucose from the first step is too high, you will need to come back for a 3-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test: DO NOT eat or drink anything for 8 to 14 hours before your test. You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose, 100 grams . You will have blood drawn before you drink the liquid, and again 3 more times every 60 minutes after you drink it. Each time, your blood glucose level will be checked. Allow at least 3 hours for this test. ONE-STEP TESTING You need to go to the lab one time for a 2-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test: DO NOT eat or drink anything for 8 to 14 hours before your test. You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose . You will have blood drawn before you drink the liquid, and again 2 more times every 60 minutes after you drink it. Each time, your blood glucose level will be checked. Allow at least 2 hours for this test.Continue reading > >
Can You Rig The Test
So you failed your one-hour glucose test, and now you have to do the dreaded three-hour test? Yeah, me, too. I have had to do the three-hour test with two of my pregnancies, and it stinks!
Alas, there is no way to really make it so that you pass this test, unless you really dont have gestational diabetes.
Sure, youll find tips around the Internet about what you could do that might help, but in all honesty, trying to do something to get a false passing reading on this test is dangerous to your health and the health of your baby, too.
Its important for the test results to be accurate so that if there really is a medical issue, your doctor can treat you properly and watch for the safety of both of you.
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Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests
The purpose of the oral glucose tolerance test is to measure the bodys ability to use a type of sugar, called glucose. Glucose is the bodys main source of energy. An OGTT can be used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. An OGTT is most commonly done to check for diabetes that occurs with pregnancy, called gestational diabetes.
What Happens If You Fail The 3 Hour Glucose Test
If you fail the 3-hour glucose test, you have impaired glucose tolerance and you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
A failing score is considered when you have 2 or more values in these ranges:
- Fasting > 95mg/dL
- 2 Hour > 155 mg/dL
- 3 Hour > 140 mg/dL
This is a very serious condition that requires very close monitoring of your blood sugar levels every single day.
If you dont, you are putting your own life and your babys life at risk.
You will meet with a nutritionist to learn how to improve your diet, and you will have to check your finger stick blood glucose 4 times a day for the remainder of the pregnancy.
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Why The Test Is Performed
This test checks for gestational diabetes. Most pregnant women have a glucose screening test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The test may be done earlier if you have a high glucose level in your urine during your routine prenatal visits, or if you have a high risk for diabetes.
Women who have a low risk for diabetes may not have the screening test. To be low-risk, all of these statements must be true:
- You have never had a test that showed your blood glucose was higher than normal.
- Your ethnic group has a low risk for diabetes.
- You do not have any first-degree relatives with diabetes.
- You are younger than 25 years old and have a normal weight.
- You have not had any bad outcomes during an earlier pregnancy.
When Do You Have The Glucose Tests During Your Pregnancy
The glucose challenge test is usually performed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy in women who are determined by their healthcare providers to be at low risk of gestational diabetes.If your healthcare provider has determined that you are at high risk of developing gestational diabetes, the provider may order the glucose challenge test for you earlier than the aforementioned range.If the result of the glucose challenge test comes back indicating a high level of glucose, your provider may order another testâcalled a glucose tolerance testâto more accurately diagnose your chance of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.If the result of an early glucose challenge test comes back indicating a normal level of glucose in your blood, your provider may order an additional glucose challenge test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
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Blood Sugar Levels For Pregnant Women With Diabetes
Whether you had diabetes before you got pregnant or you developed diabetes during your pregnancy, youll need to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels. Tight control will help you avoid complications and long-term health problems for both you and your baby. Youre eating differently because your body needs more energy to help your baby grow and be healthy. And your changing hormones affect how your body makes and uses insulin. In the later parts of your pregnancy, you may become more insulin resistant, so blood sugar builds up to higher levels. How often should you check your blood sugar? Pre-existing diabetes: Before and after meals and before bedtime If you are pregnant and have type 1 diabetes, your doctor might sometimes ask you to check your blood sugar in the middle of the night, around 3 a.m. You should check your fasting urine ketones every day, too. For every type of diabetes, if youre pregant you need to see your doctor at least once a month, perhaps as often as once a week.Continue reading > >
How Do I Prepare For My 1
The glucose challenge test, sometimes referred to as the 1-hour glucose tolerance test, assesses your body’s response to sugar . How you prepare for the 1-hour glucose test depends on which type has been requested by your physician.
If you are unsure about which test you need to prepare for, ask your doctor. They will inform you of the screening procedure and whether there are specific instructions you must follow to ensure that the findings of the tests are accurate.
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How Is Gestational Diabetes Treated
If youre diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your treatment plan will depend on your blood sugar levels throughout the day.
In most cases, your doctor will advise you to test your blood sugar before and after meals, and manage your condition by eating a nutrient-rich diet and exercising regularly.
In some cases, they may also add insulin injections if needed. If your doctor encourages you to monitor your blood sugar levels, they may supply you with a special glucose-monitoring device.
They may also prescribe insulin injections for you until you give birth. Ask your doctor about properly timing your insulin injections in relation to your meals and exercise to avoid low blood sugar.
Your doctor can also tell you what to do if your blood sugar levels fall too low or are consistently higher than they should be.
A balanced diet is key to properly managing gestational diabetes. In particular, people with gestational diabetes should pay special attention to their carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake.
Eating regularly as often as every 2 hours can also help you manage your blood sugar levels.
What About Glucose Tolerance Testing During Pregnancy
As mentioned previously, the glucose tolerance test is used for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes . It may be used if there are equivocal fasting or random blood glucose results, or to screen for gestational diabetes in pregnant women between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation who are not known to have diabetes.
The test may also be used in the postpartum period to detect diabetes in women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Women who had gestational diabetes do not always develop diabetes later in life, but they should undergo diabetes screening at least every three years throughout their life.
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What Is The Two
The two-hour glucose tolerance test is basically a shortened version of the three-hour tolerance test. If you get this test, you likely wont do the screening test first, which is why the two-hour version is sometimes referred to as the one-step glucose tolerance test.
Overnight fast: Typically youre instructed to eat a late meal the night before the test and then to eat or drink nothing after that, except for sips of water. The fasting period is usually 8 to 14 hours before the test, so youll want to schedule the test for first thing in the morning.
Heres what to expect at the lab:
- First blood draw: When you arrive for the test, a blood sample is taken to measure your fasting blood glucose level.
- Sweet drink: Next, youll drink a very sweet drink, which usually contains 75 grams of glucose.
- Two more blood draws: Your blood will be drawn at one hour and two hours after the drink.
- Results: If any of your blood sugar readings are abnormal you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
This chart shows the levels that the American Diabetes Association considers abnormal at each interval of the two-hour glucose tolerance test :
| Interval |
|---|
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What Is The Glucose Challenge Screening Test
No preparation is required prior to the test. During the test, the mother is asked to drink a sweet liquid and then will have blood drawn one hour from having the drink, as blood glucose levels normally peak within one hour. No fasting is required prior to this test.
The test evaluates how your body processes sugar. A high level in your blood may indicate your body is not processing sugar effectively . If the results of this screen are positive, the woman may have the Glucose Tolerance Test performed. It is important to note that not all women who test positive for the Glucose Challenge Screening test are found to have diabetes upon further diagnosis.
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Choose Healthy Carbohydrates Instead
Complex or unrefined carbohydrates such as whole grain breads and cereals, whole fresh fruits and even baked potatoes are absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream and are less likely to give you the large sugar jolts that can result in excess glucose filtering into your urine.
In fact, since complex carbohydrates contain more fiber, they actually slow the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream. Whats more, they provide lots of essential nutrients for pregnancy .
What Are The Complications Of Untreated Gestational Diabetes
- shoulder dystocia, which occurs when the babys shoulders to get stuck in the birth canal during delivery
- slightly higher rates of fetal and neonatal death
Untreated gestational diabetes can also result in the baby having a high birth weight. This is called macrosomia. Macrosomia may result in shoulder damage during birth and can require a cesarean delivery. Babies with macrosomia have a higher likelihood of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.
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What Are The Preparations Needed For Gtt
GTT is an elaborate blood test, that requires frequent testing and as the special requirements need for GTT are as follows
- Have a normal diet like any other day.
- Inform the doctor about the varied prescription drugs you are taking, as certain drugs like corticosteroids, diuretics and anti- depressants can cause false results.
- Fasting is required for 8 to 10 hours prior to the test and only water is allowed during this period.
- You might want to avoid using the washroom prior to testing as urine samples might be needed
- On the morning of the test do not smoke or have coffee or caffeine based product.
- The GTT is not to be done on a sick person
How To Lower Your Blood Glucose Levels
Even if you have a normal glucose screening and never test positive for glucose in your urine, its still important to follow a healthy diet during pregnancy, which can help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Here are some tips on what to eat to keep blood sugar spikes at bay, plus other smart strategies:
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How To Prepare For The 2
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How The Test Is Performed
TWO-STEP TESTING
During the first step, you will have a glucose screening test:
- You do not need to prepare or change your diet in any way.
- You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose.
- Your blood will be drawn 1 hour after you drink the glucose solution to check your blood glucose level.
If your blood glucose from the first step is too high, you will need to come back for a 3-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test:
- DO NOT eat or drink anything for 8 to 14 hours before your test.
- You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose, 100 grams .
- You will have blood drawn before you drink the liquid, and again 3 more times every 60 minutes after you drink it. Each time, your blood glucose level will be checked.
- Allow at least 3 hours for this test.
ONE-STEP TESTING
You need to go to the lab one time for a 2-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test:
- DO NOT eat or drink anything for 8 to 14 hours before your test.
- You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose .
- You will have blood drawn before you drink the liquid, and again 2 more times every 60 minutes after you drink it. Each time, your blood glucose level will be checked.
- Allow at least 2 hours for this test.
Glucose Tolerance Test Instructions
This is a routine test that is performed between 24 and 28 weeks to screen for Gestational Diabetes. This test does not diagnose Diabetes, rather is an indicator to perform further testing if the initial one hour test is high. You cannot eat or drink 2 hours prior to your appointment time. You may refrigerate your drink, but do not drink over ice. The ice will water down the test, resulting in false results. Drink the Oral Glucose Tolerance Beverage within 5 minutes, 30 minutes prior to your appointment time. Your blood must be drawn at exactly one hour after you have completed the beverage. Notify the front desk upon arrival as to the time you finished your drink. Do not eat or drink until after your blood is drawn. Remember: You must drink the entire contents within 5 minutes. You will have a separate appointment for the lab prior to your routine prenatal visit. This is to ensure that your test is drawn at the proper time. Delay in drawing your blood for the Glucose Tolerance Test can negatively affect the results and you will have to repeat the test again. *Any questions please contact us through MyChart at www.mynovant.org or 704-316-2021Continue reading > >
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