Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.

Screening

Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, all patients are asked to take a screening test for gestational diabetes. This is because gestational diabetes may be harmful to the baby, but otherwise undetectable, and without symptoms. This test involves checking your blood glucose (sugar) level exactly one hour after drinking a measured amount of glucose that we supply on the visit PRIOR to the actual test.

Preparation

• The night before your appointment, please eat a good meal, which should include protein (meat, fish, or poultry, for example), starches, fruit or vegetables, and dessert.
• On the day of your appointment, eat regular meals before coming to the office. Please have NOTHING BY MOUTH EXCEPT WATER for the hour before you drink glucose, and while waiting to have the blood test drawn.
• Please drink the glucose about 30 MINUTES before your appointment time, and drink it in 5 minutes or less. You will be drinking THE ENTIRE 10-ounce bottle given to you, unless instructed differently.
• Please note the time that you began drinking so that we know when to draw the blood. Be sure to tell the receptionist upon arrival that your glucose test is being done, so we'll know to draw the blood at the right time. If it gets to be one hour after you drank the glucose, and you've not had blood taken, please remind us that blood is due to be drawn.

Most pregnant women pass this screening test, and, if so, no further testing for diabetes need be done. People who do not pass will need to take a second, more extensive test on a different day within a week.