Glucose Tolerance Test - What it is and Why You Must Have It!
The glucose tolerance test is a routine procedure that is now carried out on all pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks to screen for gestational diabetes which is a complication of pregnancy, largely because of the strain that is placed on your kidneys and metabolic system.
The symptoms of gestational diabetes may not always be apparent but in some extreme cases it can mirror normal diabetes in that you can experience extreme thirst, tiredness and a frequent need to urinate.
As the symptoms are not always apparent the glucose tolerance test has now become a routine part of your antenatal care.
Problems associated with Gestational Diabetes only occur in the final trimester of pregnancy as this is when your baby's pancreas will begin producing it's own insulin.
You may be offered the test earlier than 24 weeks if you've had glucose present in your urine at a previous antenatal visit or if you have a high risk medical history.
The glucose tolerance test is very simple: You will be asked to provide a urine sample first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and you cannot eat at any time throughout the procedure which can last up to 3 hours.
You will then have a blood sample taken and be asked to drink a glucose (sugary) solution.
Several blood and urine samples will then be taken at half hour intervals over the next few hours.
These will provide a valuable assessment as to how well you metabolize sugar.
The results of this test are usually available within five working days.
If you are found to have gestational diabetes you will need to follow a low-sugar, low-carbohydrate diet for the rest of your pregnancy.
If this does not control the problem effectively, you may need to take medication to reduce your high blood sugar levels or possibly have regular insulin injections.
Although only a small percentage of women continue to have the problem after the delivery, having gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing Type 2 or the onset of diabetes later in life by up to 50%.
The symptoms of gestational diabetes may not always be apparent but in some extreme cases it can mirror normal diabetes in that you can experience extreme thirst, tiredness and a frequent need to urinate.
As the symptoms are not always apparent the glucose tolerance test has now become a routine part of your antenatal care.
Problems associated with Gestational Diabetes only occur in the final trimester of pregnancy as this is when your baby's pancreas will begin producing it's own insulin.
You may be offered the test earlier than 24 weeks if you've had glucose present in your urine at a previous antenatal visit or if you have a high risk medical history.
The glucose tolerance test is very simple: You will be asked to provide a urine sample first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and you cannot eat at any time throughout the procedure which can last up to 3 hours.
You will then have a blood sample taken and be asked to drink a glucose (sugary) solution.
Several blood and urine samples will then be taken at half hour intervals over the next few hours.
These will provide a valuable assessment as to how well you metabolize sugar.
The results of this test are usually available within five working days.
If you are found to have gestational diabetes you will need to follow a low-sugar, low-carbohydrate diet for the rest of your pregnancy.
If this does not control the problem effectively, you may need to take medication to reduce your high blood sugar levels or possibly have regular insulin injections.
Although only a small percentage of women continue to have the problem after the delivery, having gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing Type 2 or the onset of diabetes later in life by up to 50%.