Glucose Challenge Test 50g (Glucose 1 Hour Obstretical)
Understanding Glucose Challenge Test 50g (Glucose 1 Hour Obstretical)
What is Glucose Challenge Test 50g (Glucose 1 Hour Obstretical)?
The Glucose Challenge Test 50g (Glucose 1 Hour Obstretical), also called the one-hour glucose tolerance test, measures your body's response to sugar (glucose). This test is performed during pregnancy to screen for gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy). GCT can be done as early as your first prenatal visit if you're at high risk of gestational diabetes due to obesity, a personal history of gestational diabetes, and a family history of diabetes. A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or higher might indicate gestational diabetes.
Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. However, without careful management, gestational diabetes can lead to various pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, increased risk of having a baby with an excessive birth weight and chances of a C-section delivery.
For this test, the patient should drink a solution containing 50 g of glucose anhydrous (equivalent to 55 g of glucose monohydrate) dissolved in 250-300 mL of cold water and consumed orally over a 5-minute period. The blood sample should then be collected 1 hour after the glucose test load intake. All pregnant women not previously known to have diabetes should be evaluated for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation.
NOTE: Parameters covered- 1 (Glucose challenge at 1 hour)
What is Glucose Challenge Test 50g (Glucose 1 Hour Obstretical) used for?
The Glucose Challenge Test is performed to:
- Screen for high blood sugar in presence of risk factors for diabetes in pregnancy
- Detect gestational diabetes
Interpreting Glucose Challenge Test 50g (Glucose 1 Hour Obstretical) results
Interpretations
Normal range: Less than 130 to 140 mg/dL (7.2 to 7.8 mmol/L)
Gestational diabetes:
A cut-off value of 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) identifies 80% of women with Gestational diabetes.
A cut-off value of 130 mg/dl (7.2 mmol/L) identifies 90% of women with Gestational diabetes.
Blood sugar levels higher than the normal range indicates increased blood sugar due to the inability of the body to process it.
GCT is a screening test for Gestational diabetes and continuously raised blood sugar levels in subsequent tests indicate a strong possibility of gestational diabetes. Further tests like 2-hour or 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Tests (GTT) are performed to diagnose Gestational diabetes.