Question
How are gestational diabetes standard values determined? Is gestational diabetes harmful?
Answer
Gestational diabetes standard values are determined through glucose screening tests and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). The glucose screening test requires pregnant women to take 50 grams of glucose orally, and then have their venous blood glucose levels tested one hour later. If the blood glucose level reaches or exceeds 7.8 mmol/L, it is considered abnormal, and further OGTT is required. During the OGTT, pregnant women, after fasting for 8-14 hours, take 75 grams of glucose and have venous blood glucose levels tested at 1 and 2 hours later. Normal values should not exceed 5.1, 10.0, and 8.5 mmol/L, respectively. If any test result exceeds the normal value, gestational diabetes can be diagnosed. High blood glucose levels may increase the incidence of macrosomia, raise the risk of difficult labor, perineal injury, and cesarean section. Moreover, if the pregnant woman develops diabetic ketoacidosis, it not only endangers her own health but also has adverse effects on the fetus or newborn.