What to eat before glucose screening test pregnancy ?

It is very essential that pregnant mothers to be aware of what they should eat on a proper plan so as to  pass the glucose screening test. Following things are recommended by the doctors to eat before the glucose screening test pregnancy,

• Beans and lentils
• Nuts
• Peanut butter
• Oils
• Soy
• Beef and pork
• Eggs
• Fish
• Brown rice
• Fruits with less sugar

When deciding what to eat before glucose screening tests during pregnancy, you need to be aware of the nutritional values of the food you eat. It is better to consume high nutrient‐dense foods with complex carbohydrates. Fiber consumption is also essential. Because fiber is important to slow down the process of glucose absorption into your bloodstream. Furthermore, fibers provide a considerable amount of essential nutrients that are vital for the growth of the fetus.

What not to eat before glucose screening test during pregnancy?

• Breakfast with simple carbohydrates (cereals)
• White bread
• Crackers and chips
• Biscuits
• Fruit smoothies
• Donuts
• Pasta
• Pastries and muffins
• Cakes
• Ice cream and other sweet candies
• Soda and sweet tea
• Sports drinks
• Juice
• Flavoured coffee

Here are some foods to cut out when figuring out what not to eat before taking the glucose screening test. Avoid simple carbohydrates that are the primary reasons behind high glucose levels. Simple carbohydrates quickly get absorbed into the bloodstream and cause excess glucose to be filtered out through urine. Cakes, cookies, candies, and pastries should be strictly limited. These foods often contain a lot of fat and have very little nutritional value.

Eat 3 meals combined with 2 to 3 snacks per day

Consuming too much at one time can cause sugar levels to go high. Therefore, eat smaller portions and have snacks.

One small portion of fruit at a time

Even though fruits are nutritious, they have natural sugars such as glucose. These sugars are quickly absorbed into your blood. Therefore, eat only one serving at a time. Fruit juice and fruits that have been canned in syrup should be avoided.

Add more fiber to your diet

The fiber in your diet helps to keep your blood sugar levels lower by slowing down the process of glucose absorption. Whole grain bread, brown rice, wild rice, whole oats, millet, barley, or other whole grains are rich in fiber. Also, peas, lentils, and any type of bean are high in fiber.

One cup of milk at a time

Milk has a high nutritional value and it is also a good source of calcium. But milk sugar gets absorbed into the blood quickly. Therefore, drinking too much milk at one time may lead to high blood sugar. So it is best to have one 8‐ounce cup at a time.

Why a glucose screening test should be done during pregnancy?

This is because of the temporary state of diabetes caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy. This condition is known as gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs when your body fails to regulate blood glucose levels within the normal range due to hormonal changes and weight gain during pregnancy. In this case, placental hormones prevent the body from efficient use of insulin. As a result that glucose remains in the blood without being absorbed by the cells. This is known as insulin resistance. To prevent further complications from this diabetic condition, doctors recommend glucose screening test for pregnant mothers. Gestational diabetes symptoms usually disappears following delivery.

Risk factors associated with gestational diabetes

Normally any pregnant woman can develop this condition. Factors that increase the risk of high glucose levels in the blood during pregnancy are,
• Overweight / Obesity
• History of diabetes in the family
• Having given birth previously to an infant with higher birth weight
• Age at the pregnancy – Older woman are at a greater risk compared to the younger woman
• Race
Even though gestational diabetes disappears after the delivery, it can affect your baby’s health. Also, it raises your risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life.

Symptoms

Women with high glucose levels in the blood usually do not show symptoms. Therefore, the condition is diagnosed by a glucose screening test. You may notice,
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Increased urination
Gestational diabetes usually happens in the last six months of pregnancy. Therefore, your doctor will check for it by doing a glucose screening test.

Glucose screening test during pregnancy

The glucose screening test during pregnancy is a conventional test that is used to diagnose gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes can lead to serious complications in both mother and fetus when left untreated. Therefore, this test is recommended for all moms‐to‐be. Gestational diabetes can be managed easily through a good diet and exercise.

Glucose screening tests are done using two methods.
1. Two‐step test/one‐hour test
2. One – step test / three‐hour test

Two‐step tests

• You will have to drink a sweet glucose drink as the first step.
• Then you will wait for one hour to test your blood for glucose.
• If your glucose levels are higher than the expected level, you will have to take the second step of the test.
• In this second step, you will drink more of the glucose drink and your blood is tested at multiple intervals.

One‐step test

In this test, your blood will be drawn first. Then you will have to drink the glucose drink. After that, you will have your blood drawn two more times over the next two hours of a time. If the results show glucose level is elevated in your blood, it indicates that you might not produce adequate insulin to regulate blood glucose level.

Then your doctor may order your glucose tolerance test to confirm whether you have gestational diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, you will probably have to engage with diet plans and exercise along with medications.