What is a glucose tolerance test?
A glucose tolerance test, usually conducted in the 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, measures levels of sugar (glucose) in the mother’s blood. Abnormal glucose levels may indicate gestational diabetes.
How is a glucose tolerance test performed?
Although the specific details of each procedure vary slightly, generally, a glucose tolerance test follows this process:
- The mother-to-be may be asked to only drink water on the day the glucose tolerance test is given.
- You will be given a special glucose solution to drink.
- Blood will be drawn one hour later to measure the glucose level in your body.
- If you fail the one hour glucose test, you will likely be asked to do the three hour glucose test.