Glucose test screening checks for gestational diabetes, a short-term form of diabetes that develops in some women during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs in 1 – 3% of pregnancies and can cause health problems for the baby.
When can the Glucose Test be Administered?
The glucose test is typically administered around 24 weeks of pregnancy.
How does the Glucose Test Work?
You will drink a sugar drink and have your blood drawn an hour later and the glucose level is checked. If the reading is high, you’ll have a glucose tolerance test. During that test you will drink a glucose solution on an empty stomach and have your blood drawn once every hour for 3 hours.
What do the Glucose Test Results Mean?
If your glucose tolerance test comes back positive, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Most women can control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise. You will probably need to monitor your glucose levels at home. In a small percentage of women, insulin injections are required. In most cases, diabetes disappears soon after giving birth.
Women with gestational diabetes usually do not have an increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect. However, some studies suggest that if your gestational diabetes is severe enough to require treatment with insulin, your baby may be at increased risk of birth defects.
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