It is recommended that all women have this test to check for diabetes during pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes). Most women will need to be tested for this once during their pregnancy, between 24 and 28 weeks gestation, however there are some indications (such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and multiple pregnancies) where women may be recommended to have this test early in the pregnancy (between 14 and 16 weeks).
The test requires a couple of hours of your time and is usually booked early in the morning as you need to be fasted. The first blood test is performed when you arrive. After this you will be given a concentrated sugar drink that contains 75g of glucose (it’s really sweet – like a lemonade drink on steroids!). You will then have two more blood tests, one at 1 hour and then 2 hours after having the drink. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed if any of these results are elevated after which you will be referred to an endocrinologist – a specialist who specialises in diabetes. This will also have implications to your pregnancy which we will discuss and monitor throughout your pregnancy.