- Reference values of the glycemic curve
- How the exam is done
- Oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy
The examination of the glycemic curve, also called an oral glucose tolerance test, or TOTG, is an exam that can be ordered by the doctor in order to assist in the diagnosis of diabetes, pre-diabetes, insulin resistance or other changes related to pancreatic cells.
This test is done by analyzing the fasting blood glucose concentration and after ingesting a sugary liquid supplied by the laboratory. Thus, the doctor can assess how the body works in the face of high concentrations of glucose. TOTG is an important test during pregnancy, being included in the list of prenatal tests, as gestational diabetes can represent a risk for both mother and baby.
This test is usually requested when fasting blood glucose is altered and the doctor needs to assess the person's risk of diabetes. As for pregnant women, if the fasting blood glucose is between 85 and 91 mg / dl, it is recommended to do the TOTG around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy and investigate the risk of diabetes during pregnancy. Learn more about risk
Reference values of the glycemic curve
The interpretation of the glycemic curve after 2 hours is as follows:
- Normal: less than 140 mg / dl; Decreased glucose tolerance: between 140 and 199 mg / dl; Diabetes: 200 mg / dl or more.
When the result is decreased glucose tolerance, it means that there is a high risk of developing diabetes, which can be considered pre-diabetes. In addition, only one sample of this test is not sufficient for the diagnosis of the disease, and one should have a fasting blood glucose collection on another day to confirm.
If you think you may have diabetes, understand the symptoms and treatment of diabetes mellitus better.
How the exam is done
The exam is done with the objective of verifying how the organism reacts to high concentrations of glucose. For this, the first blood collection must be done with the patient fasting for at least 8 hours. After the first collection, the patient should drink a sugary liquid that contains about 75 g of glucose, in the case of adults, or 1.75 g of glucose for each kilo of the child.
After the consumption of the liquid, some collections are made according to the medical recommendation. Normally, 3 blood samples are taken until 2 hours after drinking the drink, that is, samples are taken before taking the liquid and 60 and 120 minutes after consuming the liquid. In some cases, the doctor may request more dosages until the 2 hours of liquid consumption are completed.
The collected samples are sent to the laboratory, where analyzes are made in order to identify the amount of sugar in the blood. The result can be released in the form of a graph, indicating the amount of glucose in the blood at each moment, which allows a more direct view of the case, or in the form of individual results, and the doctor must make the graph to assess the health condition of the patient.
Oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy
The TOTG exam is essential for pregnant women, as it allows the risk of gestational diabetes to be verified. The exam is done in the same way, that is, the woman needs to be fasting for at least 8 hours and, after the first collection, she must take the sugary liquid so that the dosages can be made according to the medical recommendation.
Collections should be made with the woman lying comfortably to avoid malaise, dizziness and falling from height, for example. The reference values of the TOTG test in pregnant women are different and the test must be repeated if any changes are observed.
This exam is important during prenatal care, it is recommended to be performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestational age, and aims to make the early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. High blood glucose levels during pregnancy can be dangerous for both women and babies, with premature births and neonatal hypoglycemia, for example.
Better understand what the symptoms, risks and diet should be like in gestational diabetes.
