Prepare for “The Glucose Test”: Diabetes During Pregnancy

Gestational Diabetes & The Glucose Test: An Overview

In pregnancy, your placenta produces hormones that make your body less sensitive to insulin, which makes you more likely to have diabetes than non-pregnant people.  Diabetes that happens in pregnancy is called “gestational diabetes.” The screening test for gestational diabetes is called a glucose challenge test (GCT), and we typically do this screening in our office between 24-28 weeks of your pregnancy as a standard part of your prenatal care.

How does the Glucose Tolerance Test work?

The point of this test is to challenge your body’s ability to produce insulin in response to the carbohydrates you eat. You’ll drink a sugary drink called Glucola that contains 50 grams of glucose. An hour later, after your body has had some time to produce insulin to counteract the sugar, we’ll draw your blood.  Because this is just a screening test, if your results come back high, you’ll need to do a more in depth 3-hr version of the test to then determine if you have gestational diabetes.

How is the Glucose Tolerance Test conducted during your pregnancy and how should I get ready? 

• Make sure that you schedule your GCT visit as an in-person visit at our office.
• You’ll complete the test during your appointment and there’s nothing you need to pick up ahead of time.

A few days prior to the Glucose Tolerance Test

• You do not need to change your diet for the test, but eating a healthy diet filled with lots of vegetables and whole grains, limiting high-fat protein, and drinking plenty of water may help with your blood sugar levels.
• Movement & exercise – even if it’s a 30 min walk – is also great.

The morning of the Glucose Tolerance Test

• You can plan to eat your normal meals before your glucose test.
• The test can be done any time of day, and it doesn’t matter when you last ate.
• Eating some protein in the last meal can help keep your stomach settled as your blood sugar quickly rises and drops.
• Plan to spend an hour in our office.

When you arrive for your appointment

• Let the front desk team know that you’re here for your glucose test.
• Choose your glucola flavor (usually we have lemon-lime or orange).
• Once you start drinking the glucola, you will have five minutes to finish it.
• As soon as you finish, note the time, and set a timer for one hour.
• You may drink water after you consumer the glucose drink, but don’t eat anything after.
• Have your visit with your Oula provider. Relax in our warm & welcoming waiting room and check out our library!
• When your one hour timer goes off, we’ll draw your blood.

What about the results?

• We’ll have the results in a few business days and will share them with you via the Oula Portal.
• You will hear from your team if you have a result that requires further testing or follow-up.

You can always reach out to us via the portal if you have any questions or call the office directly.