What Is Gestational Diabetes?
4. Screening
Due to the negative impacts both mother and child may have, a risk assessment for gestational diabetes is performed during the first visit. The mother is then classified as high, average, or low risk. High-risk patients are screened as soon as their pregnancy is confirmed. If negative, they will be retested at 24 to 28 weeks. There are several screening and diagnostic tests that can be used to detect high glucose levels.
One method is to use screening tests and using a diagnostic test to follow up suspicious results from screening tests. For women with a high risk of gestational diabetes (such as those with acanthosis nigricans or polycystic ovarian syndrome), a more involved diagnostic test can be used during the first prenatal visit. The blood glucose level can be determined at any random time, when fasting, and 2 hours after a meal. Challenge tests will require the patient to drink a glucose solution and measure the blood glucose levels after. In individuals with diabetes, the levels will remain high.
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