Glucose Screening

Glucose Screening

With good medical care, women with preexisting or gestational diabetes can have an uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy baby, as long as blood sugar levels are well controlled. A glucose screening can let you know if you are at risk. Most practitioners check for gestational diabetes at about 28 weeks.
You'll be asked to drink a very sweet glucose drink one hour before having some blood drawn. If the blood work comes back with elevated numbers, this suggests the possibility that you might not be producing enough insulin to process the extra sugar in your system. You will then be given a next test known as a glucose tolerance test. With this test you are fasting, and it involves a higher-concentration glucose drink. This test will help diagnose if you have gestational diabetes.

Other symptoms common in those suffering from gestational diabetes include:

• Excessive hunger
  
• Excessive thirst
  
• Frequent urination
  
• Recurrent vaginal infections
  
• Increase in blood pressure