Personal Health Navigator: What tests to expect when you're expecting. At your first visit, we will ask you to complete routine blood work.

Your health care provider would like to know:. An additional monitor will assess your uterus tone and evaluate whether you are contracting. This test can be done during the end of your second and beginning of your third trimester.

The decision to have this test done will be at the discretion of your health care provider. There is no limit to how often this test can be requested. Your health care provider will explain what is being assessed during the testing.

Following this test you will be given instructions on when to meet with your health care provider again. A BPP is a screening test that assesses how your baby is developing inside your uterus. The test provides your health care provider with a score out of 8.

You will be scheduled for an ultrasound in our department where a diagnostic imaging technician will scan your abdomen with an ultrasound tool. We are looking at your baby and will evaluate how well they breathe, move their body and muscles, and volume of amniotic fluid surrounding their body.

Screening for diabetes in pregnancy is done to identify early insulin resistance in pregnancy. The role of insulin in our body is to lower blood sugar levels after eating, and keep it within a healthy range.

Insulin resistance means that your body is less sensitive to its own insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. If you don't go into labor by your due date — or sometimes earlier — your health care provider may induce labor. Delivering after your due date may increase the risk of complications for you and your baby.

Your health care provider will check your blood sugar level after delivery and again in 6 to 12 weeks to make sure that your level has returned to within the standard range.

If your tests are back in this range — and most are — you'll need to have your diabetes risk assessed at least every three years. If future tests indicate type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, talk with your health care provider about increasing your prevention efforts or starting a diabetes management plan.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

It's stressful to know you have a condition that can affect your unborn baby's health. But the steps that will help control your blood sugar level — such as eating healthy foods and exercising regularly — can help relieve stress, nourish your baby and help prevent type 2 diabetes in the future.

You may feel better if you learn as much as you can about gestational diabetes. Talk to your health care team, or read books and articles about gestational diabetes. You may find a support group for people with gestational diabetes helpful. Ask your health care team for suggestions.

You'll likely find out you have gestational diabetes from routine screening during your pregnancy. Your health care provider may refer you to additional health professionals who specialize in diabetes, such as an endocrinologist, a certified diabetes care and education specialist, or a registered dietitian.

One or more of these care providers can help you learn to manage your blood sugar level during your pregnancy. You may want to take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your health care provider. Your health care provider is also likely to have questions for you, especially if it's your first visit.

Questions may include:. On this page. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment. Routine screening for gestational diabetes Screening tests may vary slightly depending on your health care provider, but generally include: Initial glucose challenge test.

Follow-up glucose tolerance testing. This test is similar to the initial test — except the sweet solution will have even more sugar and your blood sugar will be checked every hour for three hours. If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than expected, you'll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

More Information. Glucose challenge test. Glucose tolerance test. Treatment for gestational diabetes includes: Lifestyle changes Blood sugar monitoring Medication, if necessary Managing your blood sugar levels helps keep you and your baby healthy.

Lifestyle changes Your lifestyle — how you eat and move — is an important part of keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Lifestyle changes include: Healthy diet.

A healthy diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein — foods that are high in nutrition and fiber and low in fat and calories — and limits highly refined carbohydrates, including sweets. A registered dietitian or a certified diabetes care and education specialist can help you create a meal plan based on your current weight, pregnancy weight gain goals, blood sugar level, exercise habits, food preferences and budget.

Staying active. Regular physical activity plays a key role in every wellness plan before, during and after pregnancy. Exercise lowers your blood sugar. As an added bonus, regular exercise can help relieve some common discomforts of pregnancy, including back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation and trouble sleeping.

Blood sugar monitoring While you're pregnant, your health care team may ask you to check your blood sugar four or more times a day — first thing in the morning and after meals — to make sure your level stays within a healthy range.

Medication If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar levels, you may need insulin injections to lower your blood sugar.

Close monitoring of your baby An important part of your treatment plan is close observation of your baby. Follow-up after delivery Your health care provider will check your blood sugar level after delivery and again in 6 to 12 weeks to make sure that your level has returned to within the standard range.

Request an appointment. Labor induction. Clinical trials. What you can do Before your appointment: Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. When you make your appointment, ask if you need to fast for lab tests or do anything else to prepare for diagnostic tests.

Make a list of symptoms you're having, including those that may seem unrelated to gestational diabetes. You may not have noticeable symptoms, but it's good to keep a log of anything unusual you notice. Make a list of key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.

Gestational diabetes can be managed well with help from your diabetes care team. At weeks, your physician, NP or midwife will give you a requisition to go to the lab for an oral glucose tolerance test. There are 2 methods of screening for gestational diabetes.

Your healthcare provider will discuss with you the two options of testing. The options are as follows:. Two Step Test: Go to the lab for a 1 hour oral glucose tolerance test. If your 1 hour test result is higher than If your result is between 7. If you have 1 reading higher than the values in the chart on the right, you have gestational diabetes.

One Step Test: Go to the lab for a 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test. If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, it is very important to have good control of your diabetes prior to getting pregnant, as well as throughout your pregnancy.

High blood sugars put you at risk of many complications including miscarriage, congenital malformations, high blood pressure, premature delivery and large birth weights.

These risks can be prevented if you plan and manage your diabetes well. Diabetes Canada. Pregnancy Healthy Lifestyle.

You wait for one hour and then a blood test is done. If the results are normal, you do not have diabetes. If the results are high, you will be asked to repeat the test, but this time after fasting for eight 8 hours usually overnight. This second test is called a glucose tolerance test GTT and involves having your blood taken before you have the drink, one hour after the drink and again two hours after the drink.

If any of these results are not normal, you will be referred to the Diabetes Education Centre where you will be educated about the right diet for you and how to monitor your blood sugar. Learn more on the Diabetes Canada website. Find out more about gestational diabetes on the Diabetes-Pregnancy.

ca website. Exercise, weight control and a healthy diet now can help reduce your future risk. Most women can control their blood sugar with exercise and modifying their diet.

Some women will require insulin to control their blood sugar. If you require insulin, you will be referred by the Diabetes Education Centre to an endocrinologist a doctor who specialized in diabetes management.

Shoulder dystocia is when the baby's head comes out, but the body gets stuck. This can be associated with nerve injury in the arm and very rarely with brain damage. Insulin is safe in pregnancy and can help control your blood sugar and reduce some of the risks described above.

If you are started on insulin, let your doctor know. Pregnant women become diabetic in pregnancy because their placenta is making a hormone that makes it harder for them to metabolize sugar.

If you find that you are on a certain dose of insulin and then the dose needs to be decreased, this could be a sign that the placenta is starting to get old and you should let your doctor know. It is okay if the insulin requirements keep going up. It is generally recommended that if you have gestational diabetes requiring insulin, you should have labour induced at weeks because of the risk of stillbirth after this.

If you do not require insulin to control your sugar you probably do not need to be induced early. Speak to your care provider for more details. Your family doctor will do another GCT about three months after the baby is born to make sure that your sugar is normal again. You can reduce this risk by exercising, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy body weight.

It is rarely used, and is never used to diagnose diabetes. In one version of the IGTT, glucose is injected into your vein for 3 minutes. Blood insulin levels are measured before the injection, and again at 1 and 3 minutes after the injection. The timing may vary.

This IGTT is almost always used for research purposes only. A similar test is used in the diagnosis of growth hormone excess acromegaly when both glucose and growth hormone are measured after the glucose drink is consumed.

Do not eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before the test. You cannot eat during the test. Serious side effects from this test are very uncommon. With the blood test, some people feel nauseated, sweaty, lightheaded, or may even feel short of breath or faint after drinking the glucose.

Tell your provider if you have a history of these symptoms related to blood tests or medical procedures. When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain.

Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Glucose is the sugar the body uses for energy. People with untreated diabetes have high blood glucose levels.

Glucose tolerance tests are also used to diagnose diabetes. Abnormal glucose tolerance blood sugar goes too high during the glucose challenge is an earlier sign of diabetes than an abnormal fasting glucose.

Normal blood values for a 75 gram OGTT used to check for type 2 diabetes in those who are not pregnant:. The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Serious stress to the body, such as from trauma, stroke, heart attack, or surgery, can raise your blood glucose level.

Vigorous exercise can lower your blood glucose level. Some medicines can raise or lower your blood glucose level. Before having the test, tell your provider about any medicines you are taking. You may have some of the symptoms listed above under the heading titled "How the Test will Feel.

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other.

Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, et al. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: standards of care in diabetes Diabetes Care.

PMID: pubmed.

But your health care provider can help you set weight gain goals based on your weight before pregnancy. With your health care provider's OK, aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. If you haven't been active for a while, start slowly and build up gradually.

Walking, cycling and swimming are good choices during pregnancy. Everyday activities such as housework and gardening also count. While you're pregnant, your health care team may ask you to check your blood sugar four or more times a day — first thing in the morning and after meals — to make sure your level stays within a healthy range.

If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar levels, you may need insulin injections to lower your blood sugar. A small number of women with gestational diabetes need insulin to reach their blood sugar goals. Some health care providers prescribe an oral medication to manage blood sugar levels.

Other health care providers believe more research is needed to confirm that oral medications are as safe and as effective as injectable insulin to manage gestational diabetes. An important part of your treatment plan is close observation of your baby.

Your health care provider may check your baby's growth and development with repeated ultrasounds or other tests. If you don't go into labor by your due date — or sometimes earlier — your health care provider may induce labor.

Delivering after your due date may increase the risk of complications for you and your baby. Your health care provider will check your blood sugar level after delivery and again in 6 to 12 weeks to make sure that your level has returned to within the standard range. If your tests are back in this range — and most are — you'll need to have your diabetes risk assessed at least every three years.

If future tests indicate type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, talk with your health care provider about increasing your prevention efforts or starting a diabetes management plan.

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. It's stressful to know you have a condition that can affect your unborn baby's health.

But the steps that will help control your blood sugar level — such as eating healthy foods and exercising regularly — can help relieve stress, nourish your baby and help prevent type 2 diabetes in the future. You may feel better if you learn as much as you can about gestational diabetes.

Talk to your health care team, or read books and articles about gestational diabetes. You may find a support group for people with gestational diabetes helpful. Ask your health care team for suggestions. You'll likely find out you have gestational diabetes from routine screening during your pregnancy.

Your health care provider may refer you to additional health professionals who specialize in diabetes, such as an endocrinologist, a certified diabetes care and education specialist, or a registered dietitian.

One or more of these care providers can help you learn to manage your blood sugar level during your pregnancy. You may want to take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible.

Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your health care provider.

Your health care provider is also likely to have questions for you, especially if it's your first visit. Questions may include:. On this page. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment.

Routine screening for gestational diabetes Screening tests may vary slightly depending on your health care provider, but generally include: Initial glucose challenge test.

Follow-up glucose tolerance testing. This test is similar to the initial test — except the sweet solution will have even more sugar and your blood sugar will be checked every hour for three hours.

If at least two of the blood sugar readings are higher than expected, you'll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. More Information. Glucose challenge test. Glucose tolerance test. Treatment for gestational diabetes includes: Lifestyle changes Blood sugar monitoring Medication, if necessary Managing your blood sugar levels helps keep you and your baby healthy.

Lifestyle changes Your lifestyle — how you eat and move — is an important part of keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Lifestyle changes include: Healthy diet. A healthy diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein — foods that are high in nutrition and fiber and low in fat and calories — and limits highly refined carbohydrates, including sweets.

A registered dietitian or a certified diabetes care and education specialist can help you create a meal plan based on your current weight, pregnancy weight gain goals, blood sugar level, exercise habits, food preferences and budget.

Staying active. Regular physical activity plays a key role in every wellness plan before, during and after pregnancy. Exercise lowers your blood sugar.

As an added bonus, regular exercise can help relieve some common discomforts of pregnancy, including back pain, muscle cramps, swelling, constipation and trouble sleeping. Screening for Gestational Diabetes At weeks, your physician, NP or midwife will give you a requisition to go to the lab for an oral glucose tolerance test.

The options are as follows: 1. Diagnosis of GDM during COVID A1C. Managing Gestational Diabetes Your physician, NP or midwife will refer you to a Diabetes Education Program to learn how to manage your gestational diabetes.

If you would like to print a referral to take to your physician, NP or midwife click here Eat three meals and 3 snacks a day with one snack being a bedtime snack Check your blood sugars 4 times a day, before and after your meals.

You will receive a meter at your Diabetes Education Program Stay active if possible Sometimes you may need to take insulin. This will help keep your blood sugars in the target range.

Once your baby is born, you will likely no longer need the insulin Supplement your nutrition with a multi-vitamin Check your urine for ketones as directed to make sure you and your baby are getting enough nourishment.

Target Blood Sugars Fasting. After your pregnancy: Breast-feeding is strongly encouraged Between 6 weeks and 6 months, you should have another oral glucose tolerance test. Because you had gestational diabetes, you are at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes outside of pregnancy.

Return to your pre-pregnancy weight as soon as you can If you are planning another pregnancy, start taking 1 mg Folic Acid 3 months before conceiving. If you are weeks pregnant, contact your Diabetes Education Program or send a self-referral form.

If you have Type 1 or 2 Diabetes If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, it is very important to have good control of your diabetes prior to getting pregnant, as well as throughout your pregnancy.

Pre-pregnancy planning 3 to 6 months before conceiving : Make an appointment with your Diabetes Specialist and Diabetes Education Program. You wait for one hour and then a blood test is done. If the results are normal, you do not have diabetes.

If the results are high, you will be asked to repeat the test, but this time after fasting for eight 8 hours usually overnight. This second test is called a glucose tolerance test GTT and involves having your blood taken before you have the drink, one hour after the drink and again two hours after the drink.

If any of these results are not normal, you will be referred to the Diabetes Education Centre where you will be educated about the right diet for you and how to monitor your blood sugar.

Learn more on the Diabetes Canada website. Find out more about gestational diabetes on the Diabetes-Pregnancy. ca website. Exercise, weight control and a healthy diet now can help reduce your future risk.

Most women can control their blood sugar with exercise and modifying their diet. Some women will require insulin to control their blood sugar.

If you require insulin, you will be referred by the Diabetes Education Centre to an endocrinologist a doctor who specialized in diabetes management. Shoulder dystocia is when the baby's head comes out, but the body gets stuck. This can be associated with nerve injury in the arm and very rarely with brain damage.

Insulin is safe in pregnancy and can help control your blood sugar and reduce some of the risks described above. If you are started on insulin, let your doctor know.