Glucose Test During Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know

Pregnancy is a time of significant change and increased physical demand. Mainly due to hormones, pregnant women are at an increased risk for conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. These issues almost always resolve after giving birth because the placenta causes them. However, it’s essential to know whether you have these conditions during pregnancy to keep you and your baby safe, and a glucose test can do that.¹

Gestational diabetes is when your body has trouble producing enough insulin to break down the carbohydrates and sugar in your diet during pregnancy. This causes your blood glucose level to be elevated.³ Your medical provider can perform a glucose test to diagnose gestational diabetes.¹² Many pregnant women wonder if there’s something they can do to prevent gestational diabetes or ensure they pass the glucose test. Others are concerned about the ingredients in the glucose drink and wonder about alternatives for gestational diabetes screening. Here, we’ll explore these topics and more!

What Is a Glucose Test?

Typically, between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, you’ll undergo a glucose challenge test as a screening tool to check for gestational diabetes. It involves drinking a beverage containing 50 grams of sugar within five minutes and checking your blood sugar one hour later. Typically, providers want to see a blood glucose level below a threshold of 130 or 140 mg/dL to feel comfortable saying you don’t have gestational diabetes.¹

If your one-hour blood glucose test exceeds the threshold, you may have to repeat the test after fasting. This second test requires drinking a larger quantity of a sugary drink and checking your blood sugar every hour for three hours. You may be diagnosed with gestational diabetes if any of your three hourly values exceed their respective cutoffs.¹

What Is Glucola?

Glucola is a drink that contains the 50 grams of sugar you need for the glucose test during pregnancy. It contains water, dextrose from corn, and preservatives. Depending on the brand, it may also contain additional flavorings and colorings.²

Do You Have To Take the Test?

Historically, if a woman was at low risk for developing gestational diabetes, her provider may not have screened her for it. To be considered low risk for gestational diabetes, you had to meet all the following criteria:¹

• Younger than 25
• Not a member of an ethnic group at high risk for type 2 diabetes
• BMI less than 25 kg/m2
• No previous history of glucose intolerance
• No immediate relative with diabetes

Experts now recommend that every pregnant woman be screened for gestational diabetes.³ But nothing is mandatory, and you’re free to research and advocate for yourself if you prefer to skip certain medical interventions. However, if you do have gestational diabetes, it’s best to know about it. Undiagnosed and untreated gestational diabetes can have negative health implications for both the mother and baby. If your provider thinks the test is necessary, skipping it wouldn’t be recommended.^1,3

Are There Alternatives to Glucola?

Although it isn’t advisable to skip the glucose test during pregnancy entirely, there are some alternatives to glucola if you have reservations about the typical test. Some women have concerns about the ingredients in glucola, while others worry about the side effects of drinking 50 grams of sugar in five minutes or less. It could be worthwhile to research alternatives to glucola. One review showed that women who took the diabetes test using food instead of drink tolerated it better.⁴ Some potential research-backed alternatives include using Twizzlers or jellybeans.^5,6

Your provider may also be willing to skip the test and instead draw a fasting plasma glucose value on you. This means you wouldn’t have to eat or drink anything, and they would look at your blood sugar value when you’ve eaten nothing at all.¹

New Alternative Product for Testing

There are also newer alternatives on the market, such as The Fresh Test, a packet of powder that touts cleaner, organic ingredients while still fulfilling the 50 grams of sugar obligation. The packet gets mixed into water, and you proceed with the blood draw one hour later.

Historically, urine tests were sometimes used to screen for diabetes. Urine typically contains very little to no sugar, but if blood sugar gets too high, your kidneys will excrete some sugar through urination. Using urine glucose tests to screen for diabetes has fallen out of practice because it’s less accurate than a blood test.⁷

How To Prepare for a Glucose Test During Pregnancy

The glucose test doesn’t require many special preparations. Unless your provider tells you otherwise, you don’t have to fast before the one-hour test. However, it’s best not to consume a carbohydrate-heavy meal beforehand.¹¹

If you hope to use an alternative to glucola for your glucose test, be sure to talk to your doctor beforehand. They will need to approve you using a different test substance. Some providers won’t do the blood draw for you if you don’t use their drink. You will also need to receive instructions on what and how much to buy, whether candy, a beverage, or something else. You will likely have to supply your glucose test alternative. If you exceed the blood glucose threshold on the one-hour test, you may have to fast before the three-hour test.¹¹

What If the Glucose Test During Pregnancy Comes Back Too High?

Depending on how high the glucose test results during your pregnancy are, you may be diagnosed with gestational diabetes immediately, or you may need to complete a more in-depth test.⁸

Risks of Taking the Test

According to one study, drinking glucola in five minutes or less can cause side effects. These include:⁴

• Bloating
• Pain
• Nausea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Vomiting

However, most women tolerate the test just fine.⁴ As with any blood draw, there’s also a risk of infection at the needle insertion site.¹³

Benefits of Taking the Test

The main benefit of taking the glucose test during pregnancy is learning whether you have gestational diabetes. If you do have it, you can implement strategies to manage your blood sugar better. This may help you avoid negative outcomes associated with uncontrolled gestational diabetes, such as an increased risk for high blood pressure, a C-section, a large baby, and fetal birth injuries.^1,3

How To Lower Your Blood Glucose Levels During Pregnancy

If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it isn’t your fault. Gestational diabetes is a result of placental hormones counteracting your body’s insulin.¹ However, you can take steps to lower your blood sugar. Some things you can do include:^3,9,10

• Increasing your intake of non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, and spinach
• Decreasing refined grains and added sugars
• Eating protein, fiber, and fat to accompany your carbs
• Getting regular exercise

Many women see the glucose test during pregnancy as a rite of passage into the third trimester. However, if you’re uncomfortable with the standard test, talk to your provider about your options. Although unpleasant, this test provides invaluable information to ensure the rest of your pregnancy is as healthy as possible for you and your baby. While no one wants gestational diabetes, knowing you have it can help you take steps to control and manage your blood sugar through the remainder of your pregnancy.