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Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis |
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Gestational diabetes (also known as glucose
intolerance of pregnancy) is a temporary condition that occurs during
pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before, but have
high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have
gestational diabetes. There are several methods to diagnoses whether you
have gestational diabetes or not.
Screening
glucose challenge test:
Gestational diabetes is detected through
a glucose tolerance test/ glucose challenge test, taken from week 24
through week 28 of pregnancy. If the woman is at a high risk of
developing gestational diabetes, the physician may test the woman as
early as 13 weeks into the pregnancy.
The glucose (blood sugar)
tolerance test involves drinking a glucose (sugar) solution.
After one
hour, blood is taken from a vein in the arm and the glucose level is
checked. A woman with a glucose level of less than 140 mg/dl is presumed
not to have gestational diabetes and no further testing is done. If the
woman, however has a blood sugar level higher than 140 mg/dl, she may
have gestational diabetes, and might require a follow up test called a
3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Oral glucose
tolerance test:
Your health care provider will give you special
instructions to follow before having this test. You should eat normally
for at least 3 days before the test. Then you are required to not eat
anything for at least 8 hours before the test. The health care provider
will check your blood glucose level before the test. Then you are made
to drink a sugary beverage. Your blood glucose levels will be checked 1
hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours later. If your levels are above normal at
least twice during the test, you have gestational diabetes.
Fasting blood glucose or random blood glucose test
Another
method for testing your blood glucose level is by using a test called a
fasting blood glucose test. Before this test, you will be asked to fast,
which means having nothing to eat or drink except water for at least 8
hours. The physician may check your blood glucose at any time during the
day. This is called a random blood glucose test.
All these tests will let you know whether you have gestational
diabetes or not. Regular exercise helps your body to use glucose without
extra insulin. This assists in combating insulin resistance. However,
you should consult your physician before taking any exercise regimen.
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