How Is Sugar Loaded During Pregnancy?

The sugar load test is a very important test in the screening of gestational diabetes, which jeopardizes the health of the mother and baby. It is possible to protect the health of both mother and baby by performing this test at the right time and giving appropriate treatments to the necessary people.

What is a Sugar Load Test?

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), also known as sugar overload test, is a test to evaluate the body's response to sugar. The sugar overload test is a method used especially in Type 2 diabetes screening. The gestational diabetes test is also used to investigate the presence of gestational diabetes in expectant mothers.
Gestational diabetes is the condition that the expectant mother is diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy. Diabetes occurring in pregnancy is usually 20-24. comes out weeks later. If diabetes is detected earlier in the mother, there is a high probability that diabetes will also exist in the pre-pregnancy period. Pre-existing diabetes in women may become more pronounced under the influence of pregnancy hormones. In gestational diabetes, a healthy expectant mother faces the problem of diabetes in the later stages of pregnancy.
It is very important to diagnose gestational diabetes and to keep the blood sugar of the expectant mother within the ideal range. In order to prevent health problems that can affect both the mother and the baby during and after pregnancy, every pregnant woman should have a diabetes test. Women diagnosed as a result of diabetes mellitus should strictly follow the treatment applied by the doctor and go to regular doctor checks. Keeping the mother's blood sugar in the ideal range throughout pregnancy is effective in preventing complications related to gestational diabetes.

When is the Sugar Loading Test Performed?

One of the most frequently asked questions by expectant mothers is the question 'What week is the sugar load done?'. The ideal time for the sugar challenge test, namely the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), differs from person to person. When determining the appropriate time interval for the test, the risk factors of the expectant mother for gestational diabetes are taken into account. If the expectant mother:

• Over the age of 35,
• If she has an obesity problem, that is, if her Body Mass Index is more than 30,
• If she has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes in her previous pregnancies,< /li >
• If she has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS),
• If she has given birth to a larger baby for the week of birth,
• If she has a family history of diabetes, she is considered to be at high risk for gestational diabetes.

High-risk mothers should be identified and these people should be tested for a glucose load at the first doctor's appointment. In these expectant mothers, it would be beneficial to do the test in the early period without waiting for any week. In this way, gestational diabetes in the mother is recognized and its treatment is started.
It would be a more accurate approach for women in the high-risk group to have a diabetes test before pregnancy and to plan a pregnancy according to the result. In this way, pre-pregnancy diabetes, if any, can be noticed in the woman, and measures can be taken for the situation.

No family history of diabetes,

Conditions where she has not had any problems in her previous pregnancies are considered low risk.

The ideal time for glucose load testing for the intermediate risk group between high and low risk is 24-28. for weeks. Although there are people who think that the low-risk group does not need to be screened for gestational diabetes, experts think that screening every pregnant woman would be a more accurate approach.

What are the Things to Do Before Sugar Loading?

Things to do before sugar loading may differ depending on the sugar dose to be loaded.
50 g sugar loading can be done regardless of whether the pregnant woman is hungry or full. is a test. Pregnant can go to a doctor's control without having to do anything before sugar loading. During the doctor's control, the pregnant woman is asked to drink a solution containing 50 g of sugar. Blood sugar is checked 1 hour after the expectant mother drinks the solution. Values ​​above 130 or 140 are considered suspicious and further investigations are needed for diagnosis.
There is no significant difference between 75 g sugar loading and 100 g sugar loading. Before both tests, the pregnant woman is asked to come for control with a fasting of at least 8 hours. Before the test, a blood sample is taken from the patient and fasting blood sugar is checked. Then the patient is asked to drink the solution containing 75 or 100 g of sugar. The mother's blood sugar is checked at 1, 2 and 3 hours after the solution is consumed. As a result, 4 different blood sugar values ​​are obtained as fasting, 1st hour fullness, 2nd hour fullness and 3rd hour fullness. If 2 or more of these 4 results are above the limit, the patient is diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The limits used for diagnosis vary slightly from center to center, but are generally 105-190-165-145, respectively.
Different types of sugar loading tests can be used in different groups. For the high-risk group, a one-step method with a direct 100 or 75 g glucose load test can be used. Again, in this group, a two-step method in which 75 or 100 g loading test is applied can also be applied to those with 50 g sugar loading and abnormal results. People in the middle and low risk groups are given a 50 g sugar load test.

Is Sugar Loading Harmful?

The sugar overload test is a very safe screening test. Sugar loading side effects are not seen in most women tested. In those with side effects, conditions such as weakness, sweating, nausea and dizziness may be observed after sugar loading.
Experts; Considering the harms and benefits of sugar loading, it would be more accurate to apply the test. Very serious complications may be encountered in expectant mothers who are not diagnosed with gestational diabetes and therefore do not receive appropriate treatment. Undesirable conditions that can be caused by gestational diabetes:

• Birth of the Baby Overweight: High blood sugar of the mother may cause excessive weight gain in the baby. Babies of diabetic mothers can reach a weight of 4.5 kilograms and more, and the mother may not have a chance to choose normal birth.
• Premature (Premature) Birth: High blood sugar increases the probability of premature birth. Again, excessive weight gain in the baby may cause preterm birth. Babies born to mothers with high blood sugar problems may experience a drastic drop in blood sugar shortly after birth. This drop in blood sugar can cause the baby to have a seizure. lyre For this reason, babies born to diabetic mothers should be encouraged to suckle immediately after birth or glucose (sugar) should be given intravenously to the baby.

are also at risk for post-pregnancy diabetes. A woman who has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes is called for control again approximately 6 weeks after delivery. In this control, the patient's blood sugar is re-evaluated. Thus, it is understood whether the patient has a high blood sugar problem only due to pregnancy, or whether he or she is normally diabetic. Thanks to this control, serious diseases such as gestational diabetes, gestational blood pressure (preeclampsia) can be noticed and necessary interventions are made to pregnant women.

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