Gestational diabetes blood sugar standards

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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The diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes involve a pregnant woman undergoing a 75-gram glucose test at any time during pregnancy to measure fasting blood glucose, blood glucose one hour after consuming glucose, and blood glucose two hours after consuming glucose. The thresholds are: fasting blood glucose equal to or greater than 5.1 mmol/L, blood glucose one hour after glucose intake equal to or greater than 10.0 mmol/L, and blood glucose two hours after glucose intake equal to or greater than 8.5 mmol/L. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be made if blood glucose levels exceed these standards at any of the three time points. In China, pregnant women typically undergo the 75-gram glucose test between the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. Women at high risk for gestational diabetes are advised to undergo the 75-gram glucose test early.

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What are the symptoms of gestational diabetes?

The symptoms of gestational diabetes vary depending on the severity of the disease. Most cases of gestational diabetes are symptomless and are only detected when high blood sugar levels are found during diabetes screening. Therefore, it is recommended to perform a 75g glucose screening during pregnancy, at the very least, fasting blood sugar should also be checked because most diabetic patients do not notice any symptoms on their own. If the diabetes is more severe, the patient may experience symptoms such as increased thirst, increased appetite, weight loss, and frequent urination.

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Dietary Guidance for Gestational Diabetes

The dietary principles for gestational diabetes are consistent with those for non-pregnant diabetes. Firstly, the total daily caloric intake should be balanced, with carbohydrates accounting for 50%-60%, proteins for 15%-20%, and fats for 20%-30%. The overall principle is to eat smaller, more frequent meals, ideally adding two to three snacks to the three main meals per day. Common foods primarily include milk, proteins, egg whites, and fruits. Then, generally maintain the level of diet before pregnancy without overly restricting it. It is advisable to consume a significant amount of vegetables, no less than 500 grams daily, to supplement vitamins and fiber.

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Gestational diabetes standard values

The screening for gestational diabetes should be conducted between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. This includes a 75g glucose test, where 75 grams of anhydrous glucose is dissolved in water and consumed within five minutes on an empty stomach. This test monitors fasting blood sugar, blood sugar one hour after the meal, and blood sugar two hours after the meal. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made if any of the following criteria are met or exceeded: fasting blood sugar is greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, blood sugar one hour after the meal is greater than or equal to 10 mmol/L, and blood sugar two hours after the meal is greater than or equal to 8.5 mmol/L.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
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Gestational diabetes standard values

Standards for gestational diabetes, so what is gestational diabetes? It refers to diabetes that either develops during pregnancy or is first detected at this stage, presenting varying degrees of hyperglycemia, including previously unrecognized glucose intolerance or diabetes prior to pregnancy. Pregnancies in known diabetic patients are not included in this category, and may also be referred to as diabetes complicating pregnancy. So, how is gestational diabetes diagnosed? We can conduct a 75g anhydrous glucose tolerance test, where a fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 5.1 mmol/L, and blood glucose greater than 10 mmol/L one hour after, meets the criteria to diagnose gestational diabetes.

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When can gestational diabetes be cured?

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that is somewhat unique. People in this category usually have normal blood glucose levels before pregnancy. However, between the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy, an oral glucose tolerance test is conducted, and if high blood glucose levels are detected, a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made. For such patients, it is generally recommended to conduct another oral glucose tolerance test 6-8 weeks postpartum. If the results are normal at this time, it indicates that the patient does not have diabetes. However, a very small proportion of individuals may still exhibit high blood glucose levels after the 6-8 week postpartum re-examination. In such cases, continued treatment for diabetes might be necessary.