At each antenatal visit, your urine will be tested for the presence of glucose. lf the sample is given shortly following a large meal, sugar may be detected and you will be asked to repeat the sample. lf the second sample still shows the presence of sugar a blood test will be taken earlier as part of the glucose tolerance test (GTT). This test is routinely offered by some doctors to all women at 28 weeks gestation.
Certain women are at higher risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy and may be identified when there is a history of the following:
- diabetes in a close relative
- recurrent miscarriage
- unexplained stillbirth
- congenital abnormality
- a previous baby whose birthweight was greater than 4.5kg at 40 weeks
- previous gestational diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance
- obesity or persistent sugar in the urine during pregnancy.
A GTT is offered to those women during pregnancy to assess the glucose status.