Gestational Diabetes Screening Test
Gestational diabetes is a condition of pregnancy in which
the mother’s body acts diabetic only during her pregnancy. Identifying the disease will reduce the risk
to both mother and child.
A blood screening test has been developed to help identify
those patients who have developed gestational diabetes. The test will be performed at approximately
28 weeks gestation on all pregnant patients.
Having a screening test prevents all patients from completing a three
hour glucose tolerance test, which is both more expensive and time
consuming. Those patients whose
screening test comes back abnormally high will then need to do the more
definitive three-hour test.
To achieve accurate results drink the complete bottle of
glucose in no more than 10 minutes and be in the laboratory having your blood
drawn exactly one hour later. You do NOT
need to be fasting before you drink the glucola. However, you should not eat or drink anything
between drinking the glucola and having your blood drawn. Also, it is best to avoid a large sugar load
(for example, Cola, candy) prior to drinking the glucola.
Unless otherwise instructed, you will have your blood drawn
at CPL Laboratory in
You will not need an appointment in the laboratory. We suggest having your blood drawn approximately
15 to 20 minutes prior to your appointment time with Dr. Dullye.
You will be called with your test results three to four days
after you have your blood drawn. If your
test is abnormal and you must do the three-hour glucose tolerance test, you will
need to schedule an appointment at the laboratory.