Posts Tagged glucose tests
Diabetes Screening
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
Gestational diabetes mellitus is actually a disorder characterized by high blood glucose, which is related to insulin resistance. It can be discovered at any point during pregnancy. This is specifically because there are no known causes for this disease, and many women do not exhibit symptoms. Gestational diabetes mellitus is found only in pregnant women. There is a similarity between gestational diabetes mellitus and Type 2 diabetes.
Because not all pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus experience symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult. This is one reason why screening for gestational diabetes when pregnant is so important. There are a number of tests involved with screening gestational diabetes when pregnant. These may all be performed on the pregnant woman, or simply a few.
Women, with gestational diabetes mellitus, who do experience symptoms can see a variety. One of the symptoms is experiencing increased thirst. This is often accompanied by increased urination. Another symptom of gestational diabetes mellitus is nausea and vomiting. Some women even contract infections. The most common is yeast and bladder infections.
The primary purpose for the screening process is to detect if there is a high level of glucose in the expectant mother’s blood. So, samples are drawn in a very specific way. The method, of screening, doctors do to determine if gestational diabetes exists, is very thorough. Some of the testing process is less than fun for the pregnant women. But having the knowledge of her own condition is completely worthwhile.
The screen process is not only important to define the status of the mother, but how it may affect her unborn child. There are three non-challenge blood glucose tests in the screening. Each has its own individual importance and reading. Testing this way allows doctors to see the difference between a blood glucose reading at different times in a woman’s day. Tests focus on her status when she’s eaten, and when the pregnant woman has not eaten.
One of the non-challenge blood glucose tests is the fasting glucose test. This one is as its name implies. It is done on the pregnant woman when she has not eaten any food. Doctors typically give their patients instructions about how this test will be done. They will also instruct them on what hours, to eat and what hours, they should not.
Another test done to determine gestational diabetes is the 2-hour postprandial test. The postprandial test is done after the pregnant woman has eaten a meal. These results are very specific and have an important meaning. Doctors understand what range a woman’s glucose should be after a meal. If the numbers are too high, at this specific time, the woman is at risk for this disease.
The random glucose test is another test done in the screen process. Just as the other tests this one is time sensitive as well. Blood is drawn and tested for glucose levels. Again, the blood should be within a certain range to receive a normal rating. If the woman’s glucose level is above 126mg after fasting, no further tests are needed. She would be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
You can find helpful information about screening for gestational diabetes when pregnant and everything you need to know about gestational diabetes mellitus at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Diabetes Screening
The Jelly Bean Study
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 19th, 2009
One of the most important components of diagnosing gestational diabetes, is the screening process. One test that has become popular, in the screening process, involve the use of jelly beans for gestational diabetes. Since many women to not see specific symptoms of this disease, diagnosis can be difficult. And since there is no certain cause of gestational diabetes, it is hard to connect the dots between symptoms and this condition.
Yes, caring for gestational diabetes when pregnant, is important, which is why testing is done. There are a number of tests that are a part of the screening. These are used essentially, to determine whether there are inappropriately high levels of glucose in a pregnant woman’s blood samples. These tests fall under the line of the non-challenge type of glucose tests.
The tests include a fasting glucose test, a 2-hour postprandial glucose test, and a random glucose test. The postprandial test focuses on the state of the pregnant woman’s blood after she has eaten. Then there is often a screen glucose challenge test performed. In the past there have been problems with this testing. Some pregnant women became nauseated or vomited, during one component of the screening.
This was generally the portion where they were expected to drink a thick, sweet cola like drink. Many of these women had problems keeping this drink down, which effected the testing process. Prompted by these troubles in determining gestational diabetes, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology stepped in.
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology did a study on women who consumed this old cola like drink. They also looked at them in comparison to women who consumed jelly beans for getational diabetes testing. This study was very specific in its criteria. In the study there were specific types of jelly beans for gestational diabetes are used. They used jelly beans for gestational diabetes studies, made by the Brach & Brock company. They also used a certain number of jelly beans for gestational diabetes results.
In the traditional test, 50mg of oral glucose is used. This is administered in the sweet cola liquid. They found that anywhere from 10 to 15% of pregnant women vomited after drinking this liquid. So, the jelly bean alternative entered the picture. In the study women were given 18 jelly beans to eat. Use of this particular brand of candy, it equals the amount of glucose, needed in the screening process.
The traditional test required a certain period of time, before results could be checked. These pregnant women would be given tests, requiring a specific time interval for results. But women who were given the jelly bean test, results could be checked within 2 minutes of eating them. A venous plasma glucose value reading could be determined. This test unlike the ones of the past didn’t have to wait because of time restraints. The results of these tests allow you to focus on caring for gestational diabetes when pregnant, after receiving a diagnosis.
The jelly beans for gestational diabetes test did require a focus on whether a woman had eaten, or even when her last meal was. The study found that this test was a success and could be used instead of the cola drink.
You can find helpful information about caring for gestational diabetes when pregnant and everything you need to know about jelly beans for gestational diabetes at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: The Jelly Bean Study
