Which Gestational Diabetes Test is Most Accurate?Your doctor may recommend a gestational diabetes test if you are at risk for the condition. But, some healthcare professionals feel that every woman should be screened, because the symptoms can go unnoticed and cause problems for baby and mother. There are a number of screening and diagnostic tests that can be used to detect unusually high blood sugar levels. Below, you will see a description of some of the most common ones.
Screening Glucose ChallengeThe screening challenge, sometimes referred to as the O’Sullivan test, is typically performed near the end of the second or the beginning of the third trimester. Higher than average blood glucose levels are normal during the second trimester of pregnancy, but they are not usually high enough to put them in the diabetic range. True gestational diabetes occurs in only 3-10% of pregnancies. There are some risk factors that help doctors determine if an earlier gestational diabetes test is necessary. Those risk factors include being overweight or obese before pregnancy and a family history of type II diabetes. During the O’Sullivan test, the mother-to-be drinks a solution containing 50 grams of glucose and blood sugar levels are measured one hour later. If the blood levels are found to be 140 mg/dl or higher, additional testing will usually be recommended. Doctors often recommend
dietary changes
at this point, to help prevent the need for the medication insulin. While insulin can be used to control blood sugar levels, it can also cause
dangerously low
blood sugar levels. So, the goal is to avoid the use of insulin, if possible. Non-challenge Blood Glucose TestsThis type of testing can be conducted after an overnight fast or at a random visit. Drinking the glucose solution is unnecessary. If the blood sugar levels are higher than 126mg/dl after an overnight fast or over 200mg/dl on a random occasion, the test will be conducted again on a subsequent visit, typically a few days later. This is considered a less accurate gestational diabetes test, because there is a greater risk of false positives. Insulin might be prescribed when it is not actually necessary.
Urine TestingTesting the urine for high glucose levels is a wide practice, but is not entirely accurate. It is frequently used, because it is inexpensive and may rule out the need for challenge screening or the need for the most accurate gestational diabetes test, known as OGTT. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)This type of testing is conducted in the morning after an overnight fast of 8-14 hours. Eating anything at all will cause an inaccurate result. This is the same type of test that is used to diagnose type II diabetes. In an OGTT, you would drink a solution containing 100 grams of glucose. Blood glucose levels would be measured before the solution is consumed and every hour for the next three hours. Different guidelines have been created for determining how high is too high and making a diagnosis of GDM. The American Diabetes Association considers these levels abnormal; above 95mg/dl after fasting, above 180mg/dl after one hour, above 155mg/dl after two hours and above 140mg/dl after three hours. This is the most accurate gestational diabetes test, but it is also the most time consuming and expensive. Other tests are usually performed beforehand to determine its necessity. Return from Gestational Diabetes test to Your-Healthy-Diabetic-Life
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