If your healthcare provider believes you may have gestational diabetes, you will need certain exams and tests. You should expect to be asked questions about your health history, symptoms, risk factors and family history of disease. Understanding your background will help your provider make a diagnosis.
He or she may also give you a physical exam that includes:
- A glucose challenge test, sometimes called a glucose screening test, tests your blood sugar one hour after drinking a sweet drink containing glucose.
- An oral glucose tolerance test, which will be performed if the glucose challenge test shows you have elevated blood sugar. This test requires you to fast for eight hours prior to the test. Your blood will be drawn prior to the test, then you will drink a glucose-containing liquid and have your blood drawn every hour for two to three hours to confirm a gestational diabetes diagnosis.
