When is one asked for a test for gestational diabetes?

If you are planning to conceive, get your blood glucose tested. This is important as high blood sugar levels during conception and in the first trimester increases the risk of multiple birth defects and miscarriage/stillbirth. If you are pregnant your doctor will recommend tests to rule out gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. If you are high risk of gestational diabetes or have had gestational diabetes before, your doctor will recommend tests before the 13th week of pregnancy. Blood sugar examinations --random, fasting and post-prandial are usually done to screen for diabetes. The tests may be done in the first trimester or/and the second trimester of pregnancy. If the random, fasting or post-prandial blood sugar examinations are high it is confirmed by the glucose tolerance test. Based on the results of the test gestational diabetes is diagnosed. Some other tests which may in done in a woman with gestational diabetes are;

• HbA1C (this shows the diabetic state or sugar control in the last 3 months)
• Kidney or renal function tests
• Urine culture, if urinary tract infection is likely
• Ultrasound, to assess growth and development of fetus and fetal well being

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