Gestational diabetes is a condition that must be managed throughout pregnancy. But before managing it, healthcare providers need to be able to diagnose it. Here’s some more information about how that’s done.
When do healthcare professionals perform the test?
Women are usually tested for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy, because this is when the condition most often develops. If you have pre-diabetes, your testing recommendations will vary and you may be screened much earlier in pregnancy. If you have concerns about your risk for gestational diabetes, it’s okay to bring this up at any point during your prenatal care – even your first visit!
What is the test like?
The test is easy and requires minimal effort. In most cases, you don’t need to fast before your test. You’ll drink a small sugary drink in 5-10 minutes, and then have a blood sample taken exactly an hour later. The blood sample is tested to measure how glucose in the drink was processed.
If the results are high, meaning your body had some challenges processing the sugar in the drink, you’ll need a longer 3-hour version of the test. If the results are high on this second test, a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made.
Some people have concerns about the drink used for the test or want to pick an alternative food or beverage to use. Let’s set the record straight: the drink always contains water, flavoring, and an exact amount of a sugar molecule. Some brands may contain additional buffers to keep the drink smooth. Flavors that are not clear contain food dye. There is also a preservative to keep the drink shelf stable and safe. In a serving size as small as the glucose drink, you’re getting just a tiny amount of any of these ingredients. The huge upside of this little drink is that it’s precise and exactly the same every time, for every person. Even a few points on test results makes the difference in a diagnosis of gestational diabetes or the all clear. This is why what you drink for this test needs to be precise. Alternatives just don’t provide the accuracy you deserve. For example, 28 jellybeans could be all different shapes, sizes, and provide a varying level of sugar depending on the brand. Opting for a non-validated alternative to the glucose drink has risks since the results may not be accurate.
Getting screened for gestational diabetes can be intimidating or even nerve-wracking for pregnant women. But it’s a simple, safe and quick process that helps support a healthy pregnancy by adding powerful information about your health.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health by Labcorp Clinical Team
Sources
- “Clinical Practice Update: Screening for gestational and pregestational diabetes in pregnancy and postpartum.”.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, July 2024 Web.
- “Glucose Tolerance Test.” Mayo Clinic. May 3, 2024. Web.
