Testing for Gestational Diabetes

If you are pregnant and at average risk of gestational diabetes, you will receive a screening for the common disease between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. At your appointment, you will be given a syrupy glucose solution to drink. One hour after you drink the concoction, you will have a blood test to determine your blood sugar level. If your blood sugar level is higher than normal, you will have a similar follow-up test and will have your blood drawn every hour for three hours. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will be provided a proper diet and depending on the severity, may need insulin during the rest of your pregnancy. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia, which makes an early delivery more likely but not absolute. We will follow you closely to monitor the health of the baby. The good news is gestational diabetes resolves within months of giving birth. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, contact Women’s Health and Menopause Center in West Bloomfield, Michigan today to schedule an appointment with one of our caring, expert obstetricians.