Gestational Diabetes Testing

If you are pregnant, you will most likely undergo gestational diabetes testing. Even if you do now show any signs of gestational diabetes, most physicians will test you.

If you are at high risk for gestational diabetes, your physician may test you as early as your first prenatal visit. People who are at high risk for gestational diabetes includes those who have a strong family history of gestational diabetes, have sugar in their urine, are very overweight, or they themselves have a history of gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy. Even if the test results come back negative for gestational diabetes in the very beginning, you will most likely still be tested later to be sure your blood sugar levels are still normal.

Sometime between 24 and 28 weeks, those who are at average risk for gestational diabetes are tested. Often, gestational diabetes does not show up until somewhere in this range.

If you are at low risk for gestational diabetes, your physician may decide not to test you, but that is usually not the case.

One of the following tests will be performed: screening glucose challenge test, fasting or random blood glucose test, and oral glucose tolerance test.

The screening glucose challenge test can be performed any time during the day, and does not require fasting. When you arrive for the test, you will drink a sugary beverage that contains 50 g of glucose and must finish the beverage in 5 minutes or less. One hour later your blood sugar will be tested to determine if you have normal glucose levels or need further testing to confirm that you do or do not have gestational diabetes.

The fasting blood glucose test measures your blood sugar after you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, and the random blood glucose test measures your blood glucose level regardless of when you last ate.

The oral glucose tolerance test, a very common form of gestational diabetes testing, tests your fasting blood sugar first. Then, you will drink a sugary beverage similar to the screening glucose challenge. Your blood sugar will then be tested at one hour, two hours, and three hours after drinking the beverage.

If the gestational diabetes testing shows that you do have gestational diabetes, you will most likely then be referred to a diabetes specialist and dietitian, who can provide a tailor-made plan for you to follow. Even if you do not test positive for gestational diabetes, remember that good nutrition during pregnancy is healthy for you and the baby.

Return from Gestational Diabetes Testing to Signs of Gestational Diabetes