What you can expect

Before the procedure

For eight hours before the test, you won't be able to eat or drink anything. You might want to fast overnight and schedule the test for early the following morning.

During the procedure

The 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 from 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

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends performing a one-hour blood glucose challenge test to screen for gestational diabetes in low-risk pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Your doctor may recommend earlier screening if you're at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. Risk factors may include:

• Gestational diabetes in an earlier pregnancy
• Family history of diabetes
• Obesity
• Having a medical condition associated with the development of diabetes, such as metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome

If your doctor determines you're at risk or you have a suspicious value on the one-hour test, you may be advised to take a three-hour glucose tolerance test.

For the three-hour test:

• You will be asked to come to the test fasting — not having had anything to eat or drink for the previous eight hours. A fasting blood sugar will be obtained.
• You'll drink about 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of a glucose solution containing 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of sugar.
• Your blood glucose level will be tested again one, two and three hours after you drink the solution.

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 procedure

After the glucose tolerance test, you can return to your usual activities immediately.