Left untreated those who are pregnant and have a pre-existing diagnosis of diabetes or find they have gestational diabetes can make for major complications. This is why many physicians and health care providers recommend that pregnant women take a glucose screening test. When checking for gestational diabetes the test is done at around 28 weeks gestation.
The test itself is pretty simple: you will be given a very sweet glucose drink and then one hour later will have some blood drawn. The numbers that come back on the blood test will indicate if your body is producing enough insulin to process the sugar in your system.
If the test indicates that diabetes could be a concern a second test will be scheduled to confirm. This test is similar to the first, except you will be ask to fast and will be given more sugar before the blood is drawn.
You may have diabetes if:
· You become excessively hungry
· You are excessively thirsty
· You are urinating frequently
· You have recurring vaginal infections
· Your blood pressure has increased
There is very little risk involved with a glucose screening test, as long as you do not have other complications, such as a blood clotting disorder. If you are in reasonable health and have no history of diabetes in your family you may not even need to take the test at all, although it is usually recommended to all pregnant women.
Managed properly, a woman with diabetes can have a perfectly uneventful pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child.
