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By Mayo Clinic staffThe glucose tolerance test is done in several steps. When you arrive at your doctor's office or lab, a member of your health care team will take a sample of blood by pricking your fingertip or inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. This blood sample will be used to measure your fasting blood glucose level.
Type 2 diabetes
If you're being tested for type 2 diabetes:
- You'll drink about 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of a syrupy glucose solution containing 2.6 ounces (75 grams) of sugar.
- Two hours later, your blood glucose level will be measured again.
Gestational diabetes
Your doctor may first perform a one-hour blood glucose test to screen for gestational diabetes. If he or she determines you're at risk or need further testing for gestational diabetes, you may take the longer blood glucose test. For this test:
- You'll drink about 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of a glucose solution containing 3.5 ounces (99 grams) of sugar.
- Your blood glucose level will be tested again one, two and three hours later.
After drinking the glucose solution, you'll likely need to remain in the doctor's office or lab while you're waiting for your blood glucose level to be tested. After the glucose tolerance test, you can return to your usual activities immediately.
- Glucose. Labtests Online. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/glucose/test.html. Accessed May 20, 2010.
- Diagnosis of diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/diagnosis.pdf. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- What I need to know about gestational diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/gestationalDM.pdf. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- McCulloch DK. Screening for diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed May 28, 2010.
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