Aglucosescreening test is a standard test during pregnancy to help identify gestational diabetes.
The test is done in two steps and checks a pregnant person’s response to glucose (sugar).
High glucose levels in the blood may indicate that you are at risk for or havegestational diabetes.
lostinbids / Getty Images
lostinbids / Getty Images
How Common Is Gestational Diabetes?
Approximately 10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes each year.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.
The medical term for this condition is called insulin resistance.
If insulin levels cannot rise to compensate for this, it will result in gestational diabetes.
When left untreated, high glucose levels in the blood can cause problems for you and your developing baby.
Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
All pregnant people are at risk for gestational diabetes.
However, some factors may increase a person’s risk.
How it’s carried out:This test does not require you to fast.
You’ll be asked to drink a very sweet beverage that contains 50 grams of glucose within five minutes.
After one hour, a blood sample is taken to measure the amount of glucose in your blood.
How it’s carried out:This test requires you to fast for at least eight hours.
You’ll be asked to drink a sugary beverage that contains 100 grams of glucose.
Blood samples will be taken before you drink the beverage and every hour after for three hours.
Once changes are implemented, they may ask you to repeat the test.
If you receive abnormal results from more than one of your tests, you likely have gestational diabetes.
Managing gestational diabetes involves:
Gestational diabetes often goes away after pregnancy.
Maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising, and eating a healthy diet can help reduce this risk.
Summary
During pregnancy, a standard test to help identify gestational diabetes is a glucose screening test.
If tests results are higher than normal, you will be asked to take a three-hour glucose tolerance test.
While the thought of it can be scary, it is an important part of routine prenatal care.
MedlinePlus.Glucose screening tests during pregnancy.
American Diabetes Association.Gestational diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gestational diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.How gestational diabetes can impact your baby.
March of Dimes.Gestational diabetes.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Gestational diabetes mellitus.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gestational diabetes mellitus.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Tests & diagnosis for gestational diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Prenatal care.
