Most often, a study such as a glucose tolerance test, or as it is also called the "sugar curve", is faced by pregnant women. However, both women and men can not appoint him. The analysis is necessary in order to find out what is the level of blood glucose on an empty stomach and after exercise.
To whom and when is the study prescribed
The need to find out how the body relates to the sugar load, in pregnant women arises in cases where urine tests are not ideal, in the future mother, the weight increases too quickly or the pressure rises. The sugar curve during pregnancy, the norm of which can be slightly changed, is built several times in order to accurately determine the reaction of the body. However, it is recommended that this study be carried out also for those who have a suspicion of diabetes mellitus or this diagnosis has already been confirmed. It is also prescribed for women with a diagnosis of polycystic ovaries.
Even if you have relatives in your family who have diabetes, then you should periodically check your
blood glucose level. Indeed, the timely identification of problems will make it possible to do only with preventive measures. For example, if the sugar curve has small deviations from the norm, then it is important to control your weight, monitor nutrition and exercise. In some cases, this will be quite enough to prevent diabetes, but sometimes there is a reasonable need to use special medicines that will not allow it to develop.
How is the analysis
The study cannot be called simple, because it requires special preparation and is carried out in several stages - the only way to achieve a reliable sugar curve. The results of the analysis should be interpreted only by a doctor or medical consultant taking into account your state of health, weight, lifestyle, age and related problems.
For the diagnosis, blood is donated several times. Moreover, in some laboratories they take it from a finger, and others from a vein. Depending on what kind of blood is studied, the obtained norms will also vary. The first study is carried out strictly on an empty stomach. It should be preceded by a 12-hour fast, during which you can drink only ordinary water. However, it is important that the period of abstinence from drinks and food does not exceed 16 hours. After blood sampling, the patient takes 75 grams of glucose dissolved in 200 ml of warm water or tea. Ideally, an analysis should then be carried out every 30 minutes for at least two hours. But, as a rule, in laboratories they simply make one more fence 30-120 minutes after drinking sweet liquid.
Study preparation
If you were assigned to check the amount of glucose in the blood, then you should not try to exclude all carbohydrate-rich foods a few days before the study. This can lead to incorrect interpretation of the results. Preparation for analysis is as follows. Three days before going to the laboratory, you must observe your usual lifestyle and do not change eating habits. But it is necessary to refrain from the use of medicines, however, any temporary refusal of treatment should be agreed with the doctor.
Note that a sugar curve blood test may be unreliable if a woman takes it during critical days. In addition, the behavior of the patient also affects the results of the study. So, in the implementation of this complex analysis, it is necessary to be in a calm state, physical activity, smoking, stress are prohibited.
Interpretation of Results
When assessing the obtained indicators, it is important to take into account a number of factors that affect the amount of glucose in the blood. So, to diagnose diabetes with only the results of this test is impossible. Indeed, forced bed rest preceding the study, various infectious diseases, gastrointestinal problems, which are characterized by impaired absorption of sugar or malignant tumors, can affect the performance. Also, the results of the study may distort the non-compliance with the established rules for blood sampling or the use of prohibited drugs. When using caffeine, adrenaline, morphine, diuretics related to the thiazide series, "diphenin", psychotropic drugs or antidepressants, the sugar curve will be unreliable.
Established standards
If you pass the test, then the glucose level should not exceed 5.5 mmol / L for capillary blood and 6.1 for venous. The indicators for the material taken from the finger, in the range of 5.5-6 (and, accordingly, 6.1-7 from the vein) indicate a prediabetes state, while talking about possible impaired glucose tolerance.
With better results, we are already talking about serious problems with the pancreas, namely, what the sugar curve will be like depends on its work. The norm for the glucose level, which is determined after the specified time after the load, should be no more than 7.8 mmol / l, but subject to examination of blood from a finger. If the indicator is in the range of 7.8-11.1, then we are talking about possible violations, and above 11.1 - about diabetes. When collecting venous
blood, indicators should not exceed 8.6 mmol / L.
Laboratory staff should be aware that if the result of an analysis performed on an empty stomach exceeds 7.8 for capillary and 11.1 for venous blood, then a glucose sensitivity test is prohibited. In this case, it can cause hyperglycemic coma. If the indicators initially exceed the norm, then it makes no sense to find out what the sugar curve will be. The results will be clear anyway.
Possible deviations
If during the study you received indicators that indicate problems, it is better to retake the blood. At the same time, it is worthwhile to carefully observe all conditions: avoid stress and physical exertion on the day of blood sampling, exclude alcohol and drugs the day before the analysis. Treatment can only be prescribed provided that both analyzes have not shown very good results.
By the way, if a woman is in an interesting position, it is better to interpret the results with a gynecologist-endocrinologist, only this specialist can assess whether your sugar curve is normal during pregnancy. The norm for women in an interesting position may be slightly different. However, this will not be said in the laboratory. Only a specialist who knows all the features of the work of the body of the future mother can establish whether there are problems.
It should be noted that diabetes mellitus is not the only problem that can be determined using the glucose tolerance test. Another deviation from the norm is a decrease in the amount of sugar in the test blood after exercise. This disease is called hypoglycemia, it necessarily requires treatment. After all, it is accompanied by a number of problems such as constant weakness, increased fatigue, irritability.