What is the difference between blood sugar and glucose tolerance

1. What is blood sugar check for pregnant women?

Continuous high blood sugar in the mother causes increased blood sugar in the fetus, stimulates fetal pancreatic islet proliferation, and causes hyperinsulinemia. Fetal hyperinsulinemia is associated with stillbirth, hypoglycemia, dyspnea syndrome, and other fetal complications. The amino acid level in the blood of pregnant women with diabetes increases, which enters the fetus' body and causes excessive fetal growth, resulting in macrosomia. It is recommended to go to the gynecology department of a regular hospital and develop specific treatment measures under the guidance of the attending physician. Therefore, blood sugar checks for pregnant women can effectively prevent various diseases caused by high blood sugar in the fetus and help pregnant women and fetuses to smoothly go through the pregnancy.

A blood sugar check is a screening test for gestational diabetes. It is performed during the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. Water containing 50 grams of glucose is taken orally, and blood is drawn one hour later to measure the plasma blood sugar level. If it is ≥7.8mmol/L (or 140mg/dL), it means the screening is positive and a further 75g glucose tolerance test is required to determine whether gestational diabetes is present.

What is a glucose tolerance test?

If the expectant mother's sugar screening results show high risk, doctors will generally recommend continuing with a sugar tolerance test - a glucose tolerance test, to confirm whether she has gestational diabetes.

The glucose tolerance test, also known as the glucose tolerance test, is a laboratory test method for diagnosing diabetes. There are two main types: intravenous and oral. The intravenous glucose tolerance test is suitable for special patients such as those after gastrectomy or malabsorption syndrome, while the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the most common clinical examination method.

3. What is the normal blood sugar level for pregnant women?

For most people, the normal fasting blood sugar value can be maintained in the range of 3.9~6.1mmol/L. However, due to the special situation of pregnant women, the normal blood sugar value is controlled more strictly, and the normal fasting blood sugar value for pregnant women is stipulated to be 3.1-5.6mmol/L.

1. Normal blood sugar level for pregnant women 1 hour after meal: The blood sugar level 1 hour after meal is generally used to detect diabetes in pregnant women. Authoritative data show that the normal blood sugar level for pregnant women 1 hour after meal should not exceed 10.0mmol/L.

2. Normal blood sugar level for pregnant women 2 hours after a meal: The normal blood sugar level after a meal is generally not allowed to exceed 11.1mmol/L, and the normal blood sugar level for pregnant women 2 hours after a meal is not allowed to exceed 8.5mmol/L.

If you do a 75g glucose tolerance test, the normal blood sugar reference value is:

Fasting blood glucose 5.8mmol/L.

Blood sugar levels reach their peak one hour after eating, generally between 7.8-9.0mmol/L, with a peak value not exceeding 11.1mmol/L, not exceeding 7.8mmol/L in 2 hours, and returning to normal fasting blood sugar levels in 3 hours.

Pregnant women’s blood sugar level should be 3.1-5.6mmol/L before meals and 4.4-6.7mmol/L 2 hours after meals.

3. Precautions for glucose tolerance test during pregnancy

Pregnant women can have a glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. The glucose tolerance test is very necessary for all expectant mothers, as it can help screen for gestational diabetes. Generally speaking, older expectant mothers, women with high blood pressure or who are overweight are at high risk for glucose tolerance screening. Next, let’s take a look at what pregnant women should pay attention to when doing a glucose tolerance test.

Expectant mothers should not drink water or anything else after 10 pm the night before the examination. The next morning, two tubes of blood should be drawn on an empty stomach. Then drink glucose water immediately (it is recommended to go to the hospital one day in advance to get a sugar screening order. After paying the money, the hospital will give you a packet of glucose, which should be prepared with 200-300 ml of water at home on the day of the examination). One hour after drinking the glucose water, do the second blood draw, and one hour later the third blood draw will be completed. Before the three blood draws are completed, except for drinking glucose water after the first blood draw, you cannot drink water or eat breakfast.