GDM Diagnosis
In a GDM Diagnosis, the first indication you have GDM is the discovery of sugar in the urine, what doctors termed as glycosuria. It is quite normal for pregnant women to have a little bit of sugar in their urine but if the amount is more; it is probably glycosuria, a sure sign that you need a plasma glucose test to determine your blood sugar level.
A fasting plasma glucose test result with a minimum 7.0 millimoles per liter(126mg/dL) level or the same test done without fasting resulting in a minimum 11.1 millimoles per liter (200mg/dL) level is a high blood glucose level and an indication to gestational diabetes. For confirmation of the diagnosis, you have to retake the blood test the next day.
An OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) should be done if there are no noticeable symptoms of high blood sugar to indicate GDM(gestational diabetes).
Essential
It is recommended by the NIH (National Institute of Health) that women with a minimum of two risk factors be tested immediately for GDM upon being tested positive for pregnancy. Then, between 24 – 28 weeks of their pregnancy, the test should be repeated. As for women with just one risk factor, they can have the test upon reaching the 24th week of pregnancy.
The Glucose Challenge
It is certainly a challenge for a woman to take a drink containing 50 grams of sugar or glucose. No wonder they call it the glucose challenge! But that is the amount you have to drink an hour before the blood test. For the test, your blood is taken to determine its sugar level. If the sugar level is at a minimum of 7.2 millimoles per liter (130mg/dL), it is a sign that something is wrong with your insulin and an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) needs to be carried out.
How To Deal With Gestational Diabetes – Video Guide
Fact
The ADA (American Diabetes Association) states that pregnant women with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of more than 30 and suffering from GDM can improve their condition by lowering their consumption of carbohydrates to 35 – 40 percent of each day’s total calorie intake. Researches indicate this can reduce the danger toward the fetus and lessen the occurrences of high blood sugar levels for the mother.
OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test)
If drinking 50 grams of sugary liquid is a challenge, what would it be to drink 75 – 100 grams necessary to perform the OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test)? That is the amount of glucose liquid you have to drink after your blood is taken. The first of a number of blood tests usually starts in the morning after an 8-hour fast. After the first drawing of blood, you are given the huge amount of sweet drink. Then, the blood will be tested at specific intervals.
The result from the 100-gram OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) is the more acceptable of tests. In this test, blood is tested an hour, two hours and then, three hours after the 100 grams of glucose drink. For the 75-gram OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test), blood tests are only made at intervals of one hour and two hours. There is no difference in the diagnostic levels for the two tests.
GDM (Gestational Diabetes) is present should blood glucose levels be at a minimum of 5.3 millimoles per liter (95mg/dL) after a fast, a minimum of 10.0 millimoles per liter (180mg/dL) at an hour after the glucose drink, a minimum of 8.6 millimoles per liter (155mg/dL) after two hours, and a minimum of 7.8 millimoles per liter (140mg/dL) after three hours. GDM diagnosis is reached when at least two test results are higher.