Gestational Diabetes & Glucose Test

Gestational Diabetes

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

For almost all women, gestational diabetes is asymptomatic. This means that it has no apparent symptoms. This is why consistent testing and observation is important for women who are pregnant.

Gestational diabetes can be detected with a few different tests. These include a glucose challenge test, which is used to measure blood sugar levels and glucose intolerance testing, which does the same. Blood glucose tests provide the best indicator of a case of gestational diabetes.

If gestational diabetes is detected, treatment will be provided. While there is no cure for gestational diabetes, it is temporary and many options are available to mitigate symptoms and protect the health of the mother and child.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

It is not known why some women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes than others. Part of the issue may stem from the hormonal changes created by pregnancy. Some of the key hormones generated by the reproductive system can have the unwanted side-effect of blocking insulin.

Certain risk factors also make a woman more likely to develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. These risk factors include:

• Age: Women over age 25 are more likely to suffer from gestational diabetes.
• Genetics: Having diabetes run in the family – gestational or otherwise – can contribute as well.
• Weight: Being overweight is one of the strongest gestational diabetes risks. It’s important to maintain healthy eating and exercise throughout pregnancy.

Treatment for Gestational Diabetes

Once discovered, there is no way to eliminate gestational diabetes. This means that gestational diabetes treatment instead focuses on controlling the problem. Some methods of gestational diabetes treatment include:

• Blood Sugar Monitoring
• Frequent OB Check-Ups
• Diet & Exercise Plans
• Insulin Injections
• Stress Reduction

Glucose Test

The glucose challenge test, also called the one-hour glucose tolerance screen, measures your body’s response to sugar (glucose). The glucose challenge test is done to screen for gestational diabetes — diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is a specific type of diabetes that can develop in some women late in pregnancy (usually after the 24th week). Women who develop this complication do not have diabetes before becoming pregnant.
We recommend that all pregnant women be screened. Identifying and treating gestational diabetes can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.

Instructions

The oral glucose tolerance test involves quickly drinking (5 mins.) a sweetened liquid (called Glucola), which contains 50g of glucose. The body absorbs this glucose rapidly, causing blood glucose levels to rise within 30 to 60 minutes. A blood sample will be taken from your arm 1 hour after drinking the solution. The blood test measures how the glucose solution was metabolized (processed by the body).

• Do not alter your diet; consume your usual diet prior to the testing. Restricting your intake may also alter the test results.
• Please do not eat anything 2 hours prior to your test as this may falsely elevate your results.
• You may sip on water prior to and after you have had your Glucose drink.