The test for the detection of tolerance to such a substance as glucose is gaining more and more popularity. It is of great importance for every person, especially for a woman who is expecting a baby. The analysis demonstrates abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism, if any. Around the analysis of GTT (glucose tolerance test) there are many questions: how is it done, why and to whom is assigned, for how long and what does it indicate? Let's get it right.
General characteristics of the study
Glucose is a very important simple carbohydrate, it enters the human body with products. From the small intestine enters the bloodstream. The substance acts as a source of energy for all body systems, therefore it is important to maintain the norm.
It is especially important for a pregnant woman to maintain normal glucose levels, because all this affects the development and condition of the fetus. For a person, the presence of 5 grams of sugar in the blood is quite normal, this ensures the normal operation of all systems, does not entail deviations and violations.
Why prescribe an analysis of GTT during pregnancy? During the period of gestation, some systems begin to work in an altered mode, which means that glucose tolerance decreases. So-called “bad” results may not be the same at all - lowering blood sugar levels is normal. This is also due to the fact that the pancreas of the fetus is included in the work, which means that sugar is processed not only in the woman’s body, but also in the baby’s systems.
What do the results say?
An analysis of GTT shows the level of sugar in the body and helps diagnose a number of diseases. If the level is lowered, then for sure there are diseases of the liver, kidneys or pancreas. The reason for this result may be a diet that eliminates the consumption of sweets, from which the glucose level drops sharply, and the brain begins to work slower.
High glucose in most cases diagnoses diabetes. But other deviations are possible, for example, in the work of the endocrine system, liver, inflammatory processes in the body. Each of the diseases has a number of symptoms, which, together with the results of the analysis of GTT, indicate the presence of pathology. For pregnant women, the study is at the discretion of the doctor, all women or only those who have indications may fall under it.
Who is assigned the analysis?
An analysis can be prescribed to any person if there is evidence, but we are interested in women in position. In this case, the following factors are important:
- The presence of excess weight, which was both before pregnancy, and gained during it.
- The presence of a genetic predisposition to diabetes (the disease is recorded in close relatives).
- If the previous child at birth weighed more than 4 kg.
- There were cases of the birth of a dead child.
- Frozen pregnancies occurred, especially over long periods.
- The presence of cysts or cystic formations on the ovaries.
- Detection of sugar or acetone in urine tests.
- He was previously diagnosed with diabetes.
- Blood glucose tests show a result above 6 mmol / L.
- Before pregnancy, drugs - glucocorticosteroids were taken.
If during pregnancy a girl has noticed at least one of the factors, the doctor directs her to undergo a GTT analysis to exclude pathologies and dangers for the child.
When is the analysis scheduled?
In the event that a woman is diagnosed with diabetes or there is a high risk of developing this disease, the analysis is carried out at any time. In addition, it is repeated monthly to exclude the development of complications and deviations in the development of the baby.
If there is no diabetes, then during pregnancy, the analysis of GTT is carried out at an early date - 14 or 16 weeks. During this period, the baby’s body does not reject insulin and immunity mechanisms are not developed, which allows treatment. If the result is negative, then re-examination is carried out already at 26-28 weeks.
Preparing for the test
We determined in which cases an analysis of GTT is prescribed during pregnancy and why it is needed at all. Now let's move on to the preparation process, because the study is different from the usual collection of blood, which means that the preparation stage is different. The quality and the correctness of the results depend on how well a woman is prepared.
- Three days before the analysis, it is not recommended to load yourself with serious physical exertion, you need to live in the usual mode and not strain. If the level of physical activity increases, the sugar level in the muscles will drop, which will affect the result.
- A few days before the study, you can not eat fatty foods and carbohydrates, which are quickly absorbed, because this will increase the level of sugar in the body. Before analysis, you can’t eat at all in the morning, you need to perform the procedure on an empty stomach.
- A calm and measured life, eliminating stress and the manifestation of negative emotions. Also, you can not go for an examination with temperature, infectious diseases, because then the result will definitely be distorted.
- A hungry stomach, as mentioned earlier, is one of the main conditions, otherwise the significance of the analysis will be reduced to zero. 10-14 hours before the test, it is strictly forbidden to eat, as well as smoke, drink alcohol.
- Taking medication, if possible, should be ruled out. After all, what is a GTT blood test? This test, which reflects the level of sugar - any external factor, including tablets, can affect it. Warn your doctor about the course of treatment, so that when evaluating the result, this should be taken into account.
Examination Procedure
Girls who first go to such a procedure, ask the question: how to take an analysis of GTT? First of all, you need to take a solution with glucose with you. It can be issued at the antenatal clinic during analysis, or you can bring it with you, then you need to get it at the pharmacy. It is sold in the form of a powder of 50, 75 or 100 grams, the amount of the substance will be determined by the doctor. You need to dilute the required amount of glucose in one or two glasses of water.
The solution tastes very sweet, so it can cause nausea, this is normal, because the woman did not eat 10-14 hours before. You need to overcome your sensations and drink the solution completely. After this, blood is immediately drawn. Then, after an hour, the blood is taken again if 50 grams of glucose is drunk. If 75 or 100 g is drunk, then you need to take blood 3 times at intervals every hour.
This type of examination is more accurate and complete than a glucose test with an indicator and stripes. Under the supervision of a doctor and subject to all recommendations, the analysis will not cause harm to the child and mother, so there is nothing to fear.
Deciphering the results
The most popular is the use of 75 g of glucose, this examination will show the full result and will not cause harm. Decoding of the result should be carried out only by a doctor. The norm of analysis of GTT during fasting pregnancy should be 5.5 mmol per liter, after 60 minutes the indicator can reach 10 or less, and after 120 minutes, 7.2 or less.
Then, when the results are more than 7.8, but less than 10.6 mmol per liter, then there is a need to re-examine with a volume of 100 g of glucose. Note that reanalysis should not be performed earlier than 14 days later.
In the event that there is a significant deviation from the norm of the GTT analysis - 10.6 mmol / liter or more, then the woman is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
If 100 g of glucose is used, then curves and graphs are built that reflect changes in sugar every 30 minutes. This allows you to detect latent diabetes and the presence of other threats. More informative will be the comparison of the results of 1 trimester with other periods of pregnancy.
Contraindications
Having received a full-fledged characteristic of the analysis, we see that it is very specific, and therefore has its own contraindications. GTT analysis is not recommended:
- If the diagnosis of diabetes is made and there is no doubt about it. In this case, it makes no sense to re-confirm it by GTT.
- In the presence of fractures and other cases where the mobility of a woman is limited or completely absent.
- With hepatitis or pancreatitis. Any such disease will affect the result, it will be false.
- In the presence of diseases of the stomach and intestines, which entail delayed absorption of sugar in the body.
- The presence of infectious diseases and temperature - influenza, tonsillitis, SARS and others, because of which the delivery of the analysis will have to be postponed.
Importance of Analysis During Pregnancy
The sugar tolerance test during pregnancy is important; it helps identify hidden threats that can harm both the expectant mother and her baby. An examination also reveals any form of diabetes. The analysis is simple and cannot harm in any trimester. It can be carried out regularly, the main thing is to withstand the time between studies. If you adhere to the above recommendations and the advice of a gynecologist, then the results will be accurate, correct and complete. The main thing, remember that the decoding of the results should be carried out exclusively by a specialist, he takes into account all the factors that could influence the result.
If you did not do the analysis before the 3rd trimester, then you should not start it, after 32 weeks the result will be inaccurate and it will be impossible to predict anything.