Glucose Test

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A: I am wondering what dose of glucose you received in this test and also what your usual level of intake of refined sugars is.

Unfortunately the tests for gestational diabetes are not well standardized and the drink can vary from 50g to 100g of glucose- the equivalent of 10 to 20 teaspoons of sugar. Even the lower dose is a substantial intake.

A sudden large intake of sugar can give a “sugar rush”, akin to a child overdosing on candy. This can make you feel unwell, including increasing your blood pressure and heart rate. If your diet is usually low in sugars (sweet drinks and food, including naturally sweet foods), you may have had a relatively high dose of sugar, making this more likely.

 I am guessing that your blood pressure will be back to normal when retested. There is a small chance, for every pregnant woman, of developing pre-eclampsia, so it is always good to rule out this serious disease.

In contrast, I do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to justify universal screening gestational diabetes, as there is not yet enough evidence for benefit, and some possibility of harm from this diagnosis.

For a very detailed discussion of the pros and cons of testing for gestational diabetes, and the possible risks and benefits of  

this diagnosis for mother and baby, see my book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering at www.sarahjbuckley.com .