The Doctors: Oral Glucose Tolerance Test & Gestational Diabetes

The Doctors TV Show was on the topic of “What Tests Do I Need” and so one lady, Darleen, asked what tests specific to being pregnant should she know about.  Darleen is 7 months pregnant, eats well and takes care of herself, but she wanted to make sure she was not missing anything.  The Drs TV Show expert Dr Lisa Masterson, of course, took this question.

The Drs: Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Dr Lisa Masterson said that when you are 24-28 weeks pregnant, you should have an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.  The placenta should be thought of as a 2-way refrigerator where the mom puts food and nutrients in for the baby and there are hormones inside of the placenta to help maximize the transmission of those nutrients to the baby.  However, these same hormones can cause insulin resistance.  Your pancreas makes insulin and breaks it down into sugar so that sugar does not stay in your blood, but if you are pregnant and get Insulin Resistance, then the baby can grow huge and that can lead to c-sections, still birth or pre-term labor.

The Drs: Gestational Diabetes Test

Darleen said that Diabetes runs in her family and wanted to know if that increased her risk for getting Gestational Diabetes.  Dr Lisa Masterson said that it can increase your risk for getting diabetes while pregnant.  Also, you should have the sugar in your blood checked before pregnancy because, if it is not where it should be, there is a heightened probability of miscarriage.  When you get the results of a Gestational Diabetes Test, you want a number below 130 – and Darleen had a healthy 111.  If the results come back abnormal, will you usually get sent for a three hour Glucose Test and go from there to modify your diet and lifestyle.