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Updated 10/2022
If you are pregnant or are trying to conceive, one important test to be prepared for is the glucose tolerance test (GTT or glucola). This test screens for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a condition in which carbohydrate intolerance develops during pregnancy.
One of the most important things to note is that pregnant persons without any risk factors can still get GDM simply because they have a placenta. The current standard of care in the U.S. calls for all pregnant persons to be screened for GDM with a laboratory-based screening test at 24–28 weeks of gestation with an oral glucose tolerance test (GTT). Early diagnosis and treatment of GDM can prevent life threatening complications for the pregnant person, fetus, and pregnancy. This is why testing is a standard practice in the U.S. You can refuse the GTT, just as you can refuse anything in pregnancy, but be sure to know the potential consequences of undiagnosed GDM.
The GTT is a two-step test based on first screening with the administration of a 50-g oral glucose solution followed by a 1-hour venous glucose determination. Patients whose glucose levels meet or exceed an institution’s screening threshold then undergo a 100-g, 3-hour diagnostic GTT. GDM is most often diagnosed in patients who have two or more abnormal values on the 3-hour GTT.
Early pregnancy screening for undiagnosed pregestational type 2 diabetes, preferably at the initiation of prenatal care, is suggested in those patients who have risk factors for diabetes, including those with a prior history of GDM. According to ACOG, early testing should be considered in those who are overweight or obese (ie, have a body mass index greater than 25 or greater than 23 in Asian Americans) and have one or more of the following additional risk factors:
For pregnant persons who have GDM, pregnancy complications include preeclampsia, urinary tract infection, hydramnios, increased operative intervention and future diabetes mellitus. For the fetus, GDM is associated with macrosomia, congenital anomalies, metabolic abnormalities, and stillbirth.
If you have GDM, it can be managed and you can have a healthy pregnancy and baby. According to the ACOG, it was “estimated that in 2009, 7% of pregnancies were complicated by any type of diabetes and that approximately 86% of these cases represented persons with GDM.” The key is to diagnose it in a timely manner so that you can receive the proper care for your and your fetus’s safety.
In recent years, non-medical social media influencers, bloggers, and other social media accounts have used various tactics to make people believe that the GTT is toxic or dangerous. This type of behavior is used to deepen the divide in the provider-patient relationship and instill fear and doubt in pregnant persons. It often benefits the person sharing the false information at the potential cost of the patient’s health. Avoid influencers, bloggers, and social media accounts who use these fear-based tactics.
One concern is that some GTT drinks contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO). The truth is that many GTT drinks do not contain BVO, and, second, BVO is in many common foods like cake mixes, sports drinks, Jell-O, sauces, boxed macaroni and cheese, candy, chewing gum, butter, cereals, snack foods, cosmetics, beer and more. BVO in a GTT drink should not be a reason to avoid the screening and/or diagnostic test for GDM. The GTT drink IS SAFE in pregnancy; however, undiagnosed GDM is not.
There are multiple types of the GTT drink. If you are still concerned about BVO or any other ingredient such as color dyes, talk to your obstetrical care provider. They will help you pick one that works for you.
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Some patients may experience nausea and/or vomiting after drinking the GTT. Serving the hyperosmolar glucola drink on ice may reduce nausea and vomiting and make it easier to tolerate. If you vomited during the GTT and are willing to come back another day for repeat testing, premedication with an antiemetic drug, like phenerganor zofran, may be helpful.
Alternatives to the GTT should be reserved for those patients who cannot tolerate it. In these patients, home blood sugar monitoring may be the best alternative in those who are considered high risk for GDM. The best alternative for diagnosing GDM in low-risk patients who cannot tolerate the GTT is unknown. The proposed alternatives to GTT, like jelly beans and other food alternatives, have not been studied in large populations. In addition, none of the alternatives have been validated or they perform poorly and, for these reasons, they have not been endorsed by ADA or ACOG.
To summarize, the GTT is an important test and can be a life-saving screening for those who are found to have GDM. If you have questions or concerns about the specific drink you’ll be administered during the test, speak with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can work with you to ensure that you are safe, comfortable, and fully educated on the test and process.
Shannon M. Clark, MD, MMS is a double board certified ObGyn and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist, and founder of Babies After 35. In her roles as a clinician, educator and researcher at UTMB-Galveston, she focuses on the care of people with maternal and/or fetal complications of pregnancy. Dr. Clark has taken a special interest in pregnancy after the age of 35, which according to age alone, is considered a high-risk pregnancy.
Follow Shannon on TikTok @tiktokbabydoc, Facebook @babiesafter35, and Instagram @babiesafter35.
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