Glucose Challenge Test(GCT) 75 gms
Glucose Challenge Test(GCT) 75 gms
The glucose challenge test is a non-fasting approach to screen women for the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, a blood sugar problem that develops during pregnancy.
The test involves drinking a solution containing 75 gms of glucose, waiting for 2 hours, and having blood glucose tested. If the test results are irregular, it indicates gestational diabetes may be present. However, this test doesn't actually diagnose gestational diabetes; instead, it helps physicians decide whether further investigations are needed to confirm the diagnosis.
In most cases, this test is usually recommended during the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy since gestational diabetes tends to develop around this time. However, the test may be conducted earlier if elevated glucose levels are detected during regular prenatal check-ups or if the woman has the risk factors for diabetes
What is the Glucose Challenge Test Used For? (Calibri 12)
The glucose challenge test is performed
To screen gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women with following risk factors: • Overweight or obesity(BMI>25) • Family history of diabetes • Polycystic ovary syndrome • Physically inactive for more than 3 weeks
To identify other potential health problems such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes
Symptoms of gestational diabetes are uncommon in most women. But when the sugar level exceeds, some can develop noticeable signs. They are:
Feeling thirsty
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Fatigue
Eating more than usual
Test preparation
As this test can be done at any time, it doesn't require any specific preparation. You can eat and drink as usual before sampling.
Interpretation of the Test Results
Results are interpreted in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per litre (mmol/L).
|
Blood sugar level value |
Interpretation |
|
140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) |
Standard (Normal) |
|
40 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) - 190 mg/dL (10.6 mmol/L) |
Prediabetes, needs glucose tolerance test |
|
190 mg/dL (10.6 mmol/L) or higher |
Gestational diabetes |
FAQs
What does an elevated result on a glucose challenge test mean?
Even though elevated blood sugar levels do not necessarily diagnose gestational diabetes, it surely suggests the need for more testing to confirm the diagnosis
How can gestational diabetes affect my pregnancy?
If left untreated, having gestational diabetes can increase your risk of high blood pressure, premature birth, type -2 diabetes, and preeclampsia. Thus, it's important to manage blood sugar levels to reduce these risks and protect your and your baby's health
What is the difference between the Glucose challenge test (GCT)and Glucose tolerance test(GTT)?
GTT is usually advised when there is suspicion of gestational diabetes, with the sampling conducted at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes. Eating and drinking water during this time is strictly prohibited. On the other hand, for the GCT test, blood sampling is carried out solely after 60 minutes on non-fasting blood
What happens if my GCT results are abnormal?
In case of abnormal GCT results( blood sugar level higher than140 mg/dl), which indicates a high risk of gestation diabetes, the physician may suggest a follow-up examination known as the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) to confirm the presence of gestational diabetes
Related tests
Tests At Lupin Diagnostics