Maternity | Glucose Challenge and Glucose Tolerance Tests (2024)

FAQs

How do you pass the pregnancy glucose challenge test? ›

However, eating sugary, sweet foods before your screening will affect your results. These include things like bread, pasta, cakes, sugary cereals, juices and soft drinks. If you want to pass your glucose screening test, avoid these foods and drinks prior to the test.

Yes, it's possible to fail your first glucose test, but not fail your second test. This just means that you probably don't have gestational diabetes.

The glucose challenge test is the short version of the glucose tolerance test. The test can be done at any time of the day. It involves drinking a glass of concentrated glucose (sugar) solution made from 50 grams (g) of glucose dissolved in 250 to 300 milliliters (ml) of water.

Abnormal blood values for a 3-hour 100-gram oral glucose tolerance test are: Fasting: greater than 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L) 1 hour: greater than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) 2 hour: greater than 155 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L)

Here is the best method of preparation: Eat a balanced diet that contains at least 150 grams of carbohydrates per day for 3 days before the test. Fruits, breads, cereal, rice, crackers, and starchy vegetables such as potatoes, beans and corn are good sources of carbohydrates.

You will have more blood tests over 1 to 3 hours. Since activity can affect test results, you will be asked to sit quietly during the entire test. Do not eat during the test. You may drink water during this time.

Don't panic if your doctor or midwife informs you that your one-hour glucose test number comes back elevated (between 140 mg/dL and 190 mg/DL). It doesn't necessarily mean you have gestational diabetes. “This is just a screening test, and nearly 25 percent of patients fail this initial test,” says Pope.

The truth about this test is that the one-hour test is pretty easy to “fail,” and many people do! They make the threshold low enough so that they catch anyone who could be having an issue, just in case. The levels on the three-hour test are much more reasonable and easier to meet.

It sometimes helps to have eaten something a few hours before the screening test. If you vomit soon after you've got the drink down, you'll have to come back another day and repeat the test. But most women get through it just fine.

Don't eat high-sugar foods or simple carbs (including refined grains) the morning of your glucose screening. The body breaks these foods down quickly, leading to a spike in blood sugar levels. That means avoiding breakfast favorites like: Orange juice and other fruit juices.

Why is glucose tolerance test becoming obsolete? ›

OGTT used to be the gold standard for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes; however, it is now being used less because of its low reproducibility and time-consuming disadvantages [10].

Yes, you can decline a glucose screening or test, but opting out isn't recommended. Since most women with gestational diabetes don't have any symptoms, getting tested may be the only way to find out if you have the condition. Gestational diabetes puts you and your baby at risk of complications.

A doctor will likely diagnose gestational diabetes if you have at least two of the following values: fasting blood sugar level greater than or equal to 95 mg/dL or 105 mg/dL. 1-hour blood sugar level greater than or equal to 180 mg/dL or 190 mg/dL. 2-hour blood sugar level greater than or equal to 155 mg/dL or 165 mg/ ...

Approximately 15% of patients who take the three-hour GTT will test positive for gestational diabetes.

increased thirst and a dry mouth. needing to pee frequently. tiredness. blurred vision.

To increase how fast your insulin works and prevent false positive results (in other words, to maximize your chance of passing the three-hour GTT), you will need to prepare by including at least 120g of carbohydrates in your diet per day for three days prior to your test (see table of foods containing carbohydrates).

A blood sugar level below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L ) is considered standard. A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L ) to less than 190 mg/dL (10.6 mmol/L ) signals the need for a three-hour glucose tolerance test to diagnose gestational diabetes.

After the test is complete, you may eat or drink as normal. All lab test results will be released to the Weill Cornell Medicine patient portal. If you have an abnormal test result, you will be called within 2 business days and may be required to follow up with a 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Test on another day.

Prep Before the Glucose Tolerance Test

If your provider has scheduled a glucose tolerance test during your pregnancy, you will be given fasting instructions. This means you probably won't be able to eat or drink anything except for small sips of water for about 8 to 14 hours before the test.