All you need to know about Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
Diabetes and Types
Gestational Diabetes is when a non diabetic pregnant woman, has high blood sugar levels as a result of her pregnancy. According to American Diabetes association, Gestational Diabetes occurs in eighteen percent of pregnancies, usually in their second trimester.
Type 2 diabetes develops during adulthood, unlike type 1 diabetes, which occurs during childhood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In this type, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, the hormone in the body that metabolizes sugar, or the cells in your body are resistant to insulin.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
A oral glucose tolerance test measures how well your body is able to break down glucose, or sugar. Those who suffer from diabetes cannot efficiently process oral Glucose, as the body is not able to make enough quantity of Insulin. This test is also used to diagnose gestational and type 2 diabetes.There are two kinds of glucose tolerance tests: the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which is more common, and the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IGTT).This test is also called fasting blood sugar test (FBS).Most healthcare providers recommend that all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes. Experts recommend this test to pregnant women who are between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy (Lowdermilk). This test is also recommended for anyone suspected of developing adult diabetes.
Prepare yourself before the test :
Normally, the one-hour test is a screening for diabetes. Most women who have low risk factors for developing diabetes will take this test to rule out the condition.If you have risk factors for gestational or type 2 diabetes, your doctor will probably have you take the two- or three-hour test.
There are somethings you need to do to prepare yourself before the test.
1)Eat normal diet to the days leading up to your test
2) Tell the doctor about the medications that you are consuming.
3)Abstain from food atleast for 8 hours before the test.Water is allowed.
4)Abstain from smoking and drinking for 24 hours before the test.
5)Avoid going to the bathroom just before the test
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test :
The test may take place in a diagnostic centre or a clinic. When you arrive, they will draw a small sample of blood and urine.After giving the sample, you will be asked to drink Oral Glucose water (Vitcose D dissolved in water),within five minutes.After this you will need to wait till your blood glucose levels be tested again.If you are taking the 50gm Oral Glucose (50gms Vitcose D in water), or one-hour test, they will take your blood sample after one hour. If you are taking the 75gm Oral Glucose (75gms Vitcose D in Water), or two-hour test, they will take a blood sample every hour for two hours. If you are taking the 100gm Oral Glucose (100gms Vitcose D in water), or three-hour test, they will take a blood sample every hour for three hours.
By taking several samples of your blood as your body processes the Vitcose D Glucose drink, your doctor will be able to tell how quickly your body can process sugar.
Normal glucose levels are:
50gm Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (50gm OGTT one-hour test): equal or less than 140 mg/dL
75gm Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (75gm OGTT two-hour test): fasting levels 60-100 mg/dL ; one-hour levels less than 200 mg/dL; two-hours less than 140 mg/dL
100gm Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (100gm OGTT three hour test): fasting levels less than 95 mg/dL ; one-hour levels less than 180 mg/dL; two hours less than 155 mg/dL; three hours, lesson than 140 mg/dL
