If you have read the pregnancy blogs or watched the YouTube videos,there's a chance you have heard of the dreaded glucose tolerance test. This test is designed to detect if a person has diabetes.
This test is normally administered later in your second trimester.
To ease your nerves, I will give you the low down.
2 hour Glucose Tolerance Test
Before the Test
It is important that you fast for 12 hours before the test. This means absolutely no eating, drinking including water, or chewing gum. If you violate this requirement, you will be forced to reschedule the test.
This step helps ensure that there is no sugar from food sources in your system.
Urine Sample
When you arrive your will be asked to provide a urine sample to test the glucose in your urine.
First Blood Test
After your urine sample you will be given a blood test to determine your fasting blood glucose level.
Glucola
After you do your first blood test you will be given Glucola, It is basically sugar which makes it very sweet. This is the most dreaded part of the test because it is thought to have an unpleasant taste.
Depending on your clinic, there are a variety of flavor choices. The most popular ones are fruit punch and orange.
You will be required to drink a cup full in 3 to 5 minutes. If you gag or get nauseous try to keep it down. If you vomit at any point during the test, it has to be re-administered on another date.
From my personal experience; it is not that bad.
Two Blood Tests
You will wait an hour after the glucola and take another blood test. Then you will take yet another blood test after that.
So, you will have three blood test in a two-hour window.
If you pass this glucose test. Congratulations!
However, if you don't pass the test, there are two options depending on your doctor's office.
- Your doctor may rule you a Gestational Diabetic.
- Your doctor could schedule you for a 3 hour glucose tolerance test.
The three-hour test is the same as the two-hour test. It just spans over a 3 hour period. If you fail this test you will be considered a Gestational Diabetic.
In a future article I will discuss, Gestational Diabetes.
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