The sugar test in pregnant women, what does it consist of?
The sugar test or O’Sullivan’s Test is performed in pregnancy to detect gestational diabetes. We tell you everything about this test.
Along with pre-eclampsia , gestational diabetes is one of the most common complications that can occur during pregnancy and is the subject of frequent routine monitoring by doctors.
Gestational diabetes is the presence during pregnancy of high blood glucose, that is, an amount of sugar in the blood that is above normal. These sugar levels can rise if some pregnancy hormones block the work of insulin. Gestational diabetes can be the cause of symptoms in the mother such as blurred vision, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, an increased risk of infection , complications in pregnancy and a greater probability that the delivery will have to be carried out by caesarean section. As for the baby, he will be more likely to have low blood sugar levels in the first days of his life , which is called hypoglycemia, and, in addition, to be born with a size and especially a weight that is higher than normal.
To assess blood sugar levels and thus make an early diagnosis of gestational diabetes, the O’Sullivan Test , known colloquially as “the sugar test”, is carried out.
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WHO GETS TESTED FOR SUGAR?
In Spain, it is carried out routinely to all pregnant women who are between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. It is possible that if a woman is at high risk for gestational diabetes or if she has already had high blood sugar levels in previous routine tests, this test will be carried out already in weeks before this date . Instead, there is a possibility that this test will not be performed in women who have a very low risk of gestational diabetes. These types of women must meet all of the following characteristics:
– Be less than 25 years old and of normal weight, according to their height.
– That they have never had sugar levels higher than normal throughout their lives.
– Because of their place of origin they have a low risk of suffering from diabetes. In general, Latina women are always at higher risk.
– That they do not have a first degree relative who suffers from diabetes.
– That, having had previous pregnancies, they have not had any type of complication during pregnancy or during childbirth.
Given the difficulty of meeting each and every one of these characteristics, the most common is that all women undergo the O’Sullivan Test screening test.
HOW IS THE TEST PERFORMED?
The O’Sullivan Test is often remembered by many women as the most unpleasant test they have ever had during pregnancy. On the other hand, for others, the test is not so bad and they carry it out without any problem. It consists of the following:
To perform the O’Sullivan Test, no prior preparation is necessary. Women do not have to fast before the test or change their diet. First, a blood draw is performed and sugar levels are measured. Next, the woman will have to drink a liquid that is high in glucose, about 50 grams.
On certain occasions, this liquid causes nausea in women and they may vomit the sugary solution, having to repeat the test later. Because of its very sweet taste, some women do not tolerate it well . Others, on the other hand, ingest it without much difficulty. After one hour, a blood draw will be done to check the sugar level again.
THE TEST RESULTS
A normal result means that your blood sugar level is equal to or less than 140 mg / dL. If this condition occurs, it means that the woman does not have gestational diabetes. If the glucose level is above 140 mg / dL , a second oral glucose tolerance test will be performed.
The biggest problem with the O’Sullivan Test is that it generates many false positives. That is, in many cases the test is positive but in the second test the presence of gestational diabetes is ruled out. Specifically, it is estimated that between 15 and 23 percent of women test positive in the O’Sullivan Test, when the incidence of gestational diabetes is much lower than that figure, around 10 percent of women. pregnancies
THE GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST
The second test that is carried out if the results of the O’Sullivan Test are pathological, is the Glucose Tolerance Test (TTOG) or glucose curve.
In this case, prior preparation is necessary. The doctor will recommend taking an extra 150 grams of carbohydrates during the three days prior to the test. In addition, it will be necessary to go on an empty stomach.
The procedure is very similar to that of the O’Sullivan Test. This time, a previous blood test is done again to determine the sugar level. T Ambien should ingest a glucose solution, only this time the concentration is higher , 75 grams of glucose, which can make it unpleasant when ingesting. Afterwards, the blood sugar level will be tested again, but this time it will take three hours.
If the result is positive on this occasion, the woman will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The fact of having it does not imply that a woman cannot give birth to a healthy baby without major complications. Most babies are delivered to term successfully. It will be necessary to follow a proper diet , exercise and regularly monitor blood sugar levels . Although the possibility that the delivery should be by cesarean section is higher, if the gestational diabetes is not very severe, it will not be necessary to induce labor.
Between 10 and 20 percent of women with gestational diabetes may require drug treatment during childbirth, although following appropriate guidelines significantly reduces the risk of complications. It also increases the possibility that a woman who has had gestational diabetes will develop type II diabetes in the future, however, in most cases this does not occur, although it is recommended to monitor blood sugar levels during months after delivery.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.