| The one-hour glucose tolerance test consists of giving the mother 50 grams of glucose and measuring the serum glucose one hour afterwards. A blood glucose concentration of greater than or equal to 130 mg/dL is considered abnormal. If that occurs, the mother will undergo a three-hour glucose tolerance test, which consists of intake of a diet loaded with carbohydrates for three days, and a subsequent fasting glucose measurement. Then, a 100-gram glucose load is given to the mother, with measurements of blood glucose levels at one, two, and three hours after the glucose load. An abnormal value must include two of the following: a fasting glucose of greater than 95 mg/dL, a one-hour glucose of greater than or equal to 180 mg/dL, a 2-hour glucose of greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL, or a 3-hour glucose greater than or equal to 140 mg/dL. If this test is abnormal, the mother will be treated with changes in diet and exercise as needed, and she will be asked to monitor her glucose. Insulin is the primary pharmacologic therapy for gestational diabetes, with the target fasting glucose of less than or equal to 90 mg/dL, and a one-hour post-prandial glucose of less than or equal to 120 mg/dL. [6] | | | | |