Glucose tolerance test during pregnancy | Glucose tolerance test – What is it for?

Glucose tolerance test during pregnancy

All pregnant women in the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy are offered a screening method for gestational diabetes as part of prenatal care. This screening includes the following tests: In this test you do not have to be fasting. You are therefore allowed to eat and drink before the test.

As part of the test, you will be given a liquid containing 50 g glucose (glucose) per 200 ml of water to drink. After about an hour, your blood sugar level will be determined by taking blood from the earlobe, fingertip or vein. If the pre-test is abnormal or if your blood sugar value exceeds the value of ≥ 135 mg/dl (7.5 mmol/l) after one hour, the glucose tolerance test follows.

This test has already been described above: For the test you must appear fasting, i.e. you must not eat anything and drink anything but water at least ten hours before the test. Afterwards, your fasting blood sugar is determined by taking a blood sample from the vein or fingertip. You will then drink a liquid containing 75 g glucose per 300 ml water.

After one and two hours, your blood sugar level is determined by taking another blood sample. If the blood sugar value after two hours ≥ is 153 mg/dl (8.5 mmol/l), this is probably pregnancy diabetes. This requires further measures.

Duration of the glucose tolerance test

The glucose tolerance test takes about 130 minutes to complete. This is because after you have drunk the glucose fluid, exactly two hours (120 minutes) must be observed before the blood sugar level is determined again by drawing blood from the vein or fingertip. Only in this way is it possible to compare the blood glucose level with the standard values, so that a reliable test result is available and impaired glucose utilization can be detected.

Are there any side effects?

If you are suitable for the glucose tolerance test, i.e. if you do not show any contraindications, no major side effects are to be expected. However, nausea and vomiting may occur because the sugar solution is very sweet and can taste unpleasant.