Gestational diabetes during pregnancy is common. This happens when the pancreas isn’t able to produce enough insulin to keep up the requirements of the mother as well as the baby. While it normalises once the baby is born, it is important to diagnose it early and take appropriate action to avoid any harmful effect on the foetus and the mother.
Glucose test during pregnancy is a common test done on pregnant women to check the blood glucose level to detect the presence or absence of gestational diabetes. There are two types of glucose screening tests, the Glucose Challenge Test and the Glucose Tolerance Test. These tests are conducted between the 24th week and the 28th week.
If a routine urine test displays high glucose levels, a glucose challenge test is done soon after. In some cases, it is even done before the 24th week. Women, especially, those with high BMI (Body Mass Index) or those who have a family history of diabetes need to take the glucose challenge test. Older pregnant women, post 35, too, should take the test.
GCT or the Glucose Challenge Test is conducted to find if the pregnant woman has gestational diabetes or not. Gestational diabetes in pregnant women can lead to several pregnancy complications, such as excess foetal growth or a condition known as preeclampsia which is characterised by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. It can lead to birth injuries and in some cases, a caesarean section delivery will be needed. Hence, the test is of utmost importance.
Glucose Challenge Test or GCT is the process of measuring the reaction of your body to sugar or glucose. The test involves consuming a sugary drink which may be a glucose drink. It is a non-fasting test which means you need not fast before the tests. You rest for an hour and then, a blood test is done to evaluate the blood sugar levels. The results may show low, normal or high sugar levels. The high levels mean the person is suffering from gestational diabetes. In that case, the glucose tolerance test is done to confirm the diagnosis.
Blood glucose levels are measured either in mg/dl or milligrams per decilitre or mmol/l or millimoles per litre. The purpose of the glucose challenge test is to determine the sugar levels in the blood. The test results are evaluated based on the deviation from normal levels. The normal sugar level in a person is 140 mg/dL or 7.8mmol/L. Though this normal range is what is accepted everywhere, in some labs, a value which is a little lower than this range is also considered normal. Anything above the normal GCT test range in pregnancy confirms gestational diabetes.
Glucose Tolerance Test or GTT is also known as OGTT for pregnancy or the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test It is done to find out how the body responds to sugar levels. This test is done to diagnose the presence of gestational diabetes. In some cases, the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes can also be done with GTT.
You can have your usual diet until a day before the test. Here are some of the things you will need to do for the test:
There will be some variations in the way the test is done as per the lab or the doctor’s advice. The pregnancy blood glucose test or GTT is a fasting test. So, you will be required to fast or not consume any solid food for around 8 hours before the test. This test is usually done in the morning so you may be asked to have a late-night meal to ensure a gap of 8 hours before the test in the morning. First, a fasting blood sample test is done. After the blood is drawn, you will be given a glucose drink or any other sugar drink. After an hour, the blood sample is again taken and this procedure may be repeated at least twice again.
The test results for GTT are interpreted on three levels: pre-diabetes, diabetes and gestational diabetes. The case of Type 2 diabetes is not evaluated at this point but the doctor may ask you to take the test again some other day. The unit of blood glucose for making the calculations are in mg/dL or milligrams/decilitre.
Below is a chart showing what the results of the GTT mean:
Blood Sugar Range | |
Normal Blood Sugar Range | 60-100 mg/dL |
Pre-Diabetic Range | 101-126 mg/dL |
Diabetic Range | More than 126 mg/dL |
Here are some reasons why a mother-to-be may have high glucose levels
Here are some reasons why a mother-to-be may have high glucose levels
Here are some you may watch out for:
Abnormal results are perceived when the results for the test differ each time your blood is drawn. If only one of the abnormal readings is above the normal range then your doctor may simply suggest a change in food habits. However, if more than one of the abnormal readings are above normal then it means that you are suffering from gestational diabetes.
Here are some tips through which one can naturally lower their blood glucose:
Taking the Glucose tolerance test (GTT) and the Glucose Challenge test (GCT) in pregnancy does not necessarily mean that you have diabetes. It is always a good idea to keep a check on your glucose levels during pregnancy and get yourself treated if you show any signs of Gestational diabetes during pregnancy.