subject: Gestational Diabetes Sugar Levels – Important Facts [print this page] Gestational Diabetes Sugar Levels Important Facts
It is not a rare occurrence for women to have increased blood sugar levels in their body during their period of pregnancy. Before, this used to be regarded as a life-threatening condition, but now it has been found that it can be treated. Some approaches are even completely natural and do not at all require medicine or prescription drugs. If the condition is diagnosed and is also given proper and timely treatment, then you can expect yourself and the baby to get through without harm. This condition is similar to regular diabetes in the sense that it occurs when the body is no longer able to break down and process glucose, so that there is more sugar that remains in your blood. As a routine precautionary procedure, the gestational diabetes sugar levels of pregnant women are tested at any time between their 24th up to the 28th month of pregnancy.
The procedure of checking gestational diabetes sugar levels is not complicated at all. The pregnant woman is asked to consume a beverage that has high sugar content which of course, will get her sugar level up. After an hour, a blood sample will be taken from her for testing of blood glucose levels. Through this, it can be determined if the mother's body is not able to process properly the sugar that came with the drink. If the pregnant woman's sugar level hits about 140mg/dL an hour after drinking the sugary substance, she may be found to have gestational diabetes sugar levels and will be advised to undergo further observation.
If such is the case, the mother will be recommended to go through another gestational diabetes sugar levels test which may last for approximately three hours. This test is also called the glucose tolerance test. This procedure will require the mother to consume a special diet, which entails intake of extra carbohydrates during the three day period before she again undergoes another blood test. Also, the pregnant woman is prohibited from smoking and drinking within about eight hours prior to the conduct of the test. The test is usually administered early in the morning. For this second test, the woman will be asked to drink a beverage that is much sweeter than the previous drink. Blood sample will be drawn from her before consuming the drink, one hour after taking the drink, and also at two and three hours after drinking the beverage. In all, 4 blood samples will be taken from her.
If two or more of the samples taken during the gestational diabetes sugar levels test show high glucose levels, that's when the mother is diagnosed with gestational diabetes. However, this should be no cause for alarm, as gestational diabetes is a common condition during pregnancy that is also proven treatable.
