What is Glucose Tolerance Test in pregnancy? What is the procedure?
Glucose Tolerance test is done to determine if you suffer from gestational diabetes or glucose intolerance of pregnancy. This test can be done fasting or non-fasting, with blood drawn from finger sticks or from your veins. It is usually offered to most women around 28 week gestation. However, if you have a family history of diabetes or had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy they may test you earlier. There are also guidelines that say not everyone needs to be tested for gestational diabetes, though it is routine in many places. There are no risks involved in testing. This is a fairly non-invasive test requiring only blood from the mother. Some women are concerned, rightfully, about the effects on a bolus of glucose to a baby who has not been used to receiving it is such quantities. If you “fail” the one hour test you will be asked to take the three hours glucose test.
