Your blood sugar level can give your doctor important clues about your health, and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) shows how well your body is handling sugar from food. ..

 You can determine if you are at risk for diabetes or if you already have diabetes. A short version of the OGTT test for diabetes during pregnancy.

 Eating normally raises blood sugar. The pancreas, a long gland located deep in the abdomen, secretes a hormone called insulin. It helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy and storage. After that, the blood sugar level returns to normal.

 In the case of type 2 diabetes, the body does not fully use insulin. Glucose builds up in your blood. This excess sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body. Diabetes can cause heart disease, nerve damage, eye disease, and kidney damage.

 When do you need a test?

An oral glucose tolerance test may be required in the following situations:

•  overweight or obese
•  Do you have any relatives with diabetes?
•  have high blood pressure
•  Has high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood)
•  Do you have polycystic ovary syndrome (causing dysmenorrhea)?
•  Giving birth to a baby over 9 kg
•  A short version of this test is done between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy.
•  gestational diabetes in your previous pregnancy. This is called an oral glucose tolerance test.

 How can I be ready?

For accurate results, consume approximately 150 grams of carbohydrates per day for the 3 days before the test. Do not eat or drink anything other than water after 10:00 the night before.

 No special preparation is required before a pregnancy glucose tolerance test. You can eat in the morning. Avoid sugar-rich foods such as scones and orange juice.

 How was it?

OGTTs are available in physician clinics, clinics, hospitals, or laboratories. Here are the ones:

 A nurse or doctor takes a blood sample from a vein in the arm to test the initial blood sugar level. Then drink a mixture of glucose in water. Two hours later, you will have another blood sugar test. During pregnancy, the test will be shorter. You are drinking a sweet liquid. Then, after about 60 minutes, a blood test will be done.

 Do you mind if I take it?

There are almost no problems with OGTT. Some people have mild side effects from sweet drinks and needles.

 The Side Effects are:

•  nausea
•  Vomiting
•  gas
•  headache
•  Hypoglycemia (rare)
•  Possible problems with blood tests include:
•  Excessive bleeding.
•  syncope
•  infection

 More than just trying to find a vein that might hurt a little

What will happen next?

If you have pre-diabetes, your doctor will tell you how to prevent it from becoming a full-blown case. Exercise and weight loss are two ways to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. 

 The test shows you have diabetes, A1C or other tests may be done to confirm your diagnosis. Diet, exercise, and dosing can help control blood sugar levels.

 Good nutrition and physical activity can also help manage diabetes during pregnancy. After the baby is born, blood sugar levels should return to normal. However, gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. You must stick to a healthy diet and exercise program to avoid a future diabetes diagnosis.