- Then, you wait for 1 hour at the doctor’s office (bring a book!).
- They then draw your blood to test the blood sugar level.
- You usually get your results in the next 1-3 days.
Results and what they mean: If you get higher than a 135 mg/dL then you have to come back another day and take the 3 hour glucose test.
During this pregnancy with baby #2, I got a 151 mg/dL after the 1 hour glucose test. Three days later, I’m in for the 3 hour glucose test.
How does the 3 hour glucose tolerance test work?
- You fast from midnight the night before the test. Some practices will allow you to drink water during this fasting period, others won’t. I opted to not drink any water, for minimal affect on my test.
- Go to the doctor/hospital and have your finger pricked to insure your fasting blood sugar level is between 70-105 mg/dL. (Mine was 77 mg/dL, enabling me to proceed with the test.) If so, they draw your blood for initial fasting levels.
- Then you drink a non-carbonated, artificially flavored/dyed beverage that contains 100 grams of glucose within 5 minutes.
- You wait 1 hour and have your blood drawn again.
- You wait for a second hour and have your blood drawn again.
- You wait for a third hour and have your blood drawn a last time.
- Then, you receive your results within 1-3 days.
Results of the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and what they mean:
- Initial fasting blood drawing should be between 70-105 mg/dL.
- After 1 hour, your level should be between 90-155 mg/dL.
- After hour 2, your level should be under 155 mg/dL.
- And after hour 3, your level should be between 70-105 mg/dL.
I ended up passing my 3 hour glucose test with a ratings of 77 mg/dL for fasting, 132 mg/dL after the first hour, 126 mg/dL after the second hour (not so good) and 90 mg/dL after the third hour (awesome!). Thank goodness! I was nervous because my mother had gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with me. However, she didn’t have any glucose issues with my other three sisters. The body is so strange during pregnancy.
If you don’t pass the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and have gestational diabetes, don’t fret. You may have to do something as minor as watching what you eat or as major as testing your blood sugar levels throughout the day, along with a restricted diet and implementing exercise.
Tips for the Glucose Tolerance Test
- Wear comfortable layered clothing – Most likely, you’ll be like me and feel nauseous all throughout the test and you’ll want the most comfortable clothing to wear. You’ll especially want looser fitting clothing around the belly, as your stomach will not feel so good. Also, be sure to wear layers. Doctor’s offices and hospitals are kept cold and waiting their so long, you won’t want to freeze. Also, because of the nausea, you may go through some hot flashes and need to strip some layers.
