by Harmony Wells

Created on: December 17, 2011   Last Updated: December 18, 2011

During pregnancy, women are given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to screen for gestational diabetes. This test takes up to three hours. Women are asked by their doctors to fast for at least 10 hours before the test is given, so they usually choose to not eat anything after midnight and go to sleep.

To begin the test, the blood sugar level is taken. Then the woman is asked to drink a liquid containing glucose. Her blood sugar is taken again after 30 minutes, one hour and three hours.

A low value for blood sugar on a glucose tolerance test during pregnancy might mean that a woman is hypoglycemic. This condition happens when there is not enough blood sugar in the body to give the body enough energy. A woman with pre-existing Type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes is at greater risk for hypoglycemia because they are often required to take insulin to combat high blood sugar levels.

The job of insulin is to drain high levels of glucose from the blood and store it in the liver and muscles for energy. If a pregnant woman is taking insulin, it could send the glucose value of a test into the low range.

Some of the symptoms that pregnant women have when they are carrying a baby already place them at risk for hypoglycemia. Some of those symptoms include: morning sickness, susceptibility to flu and colds and problems with digestion.

Some other symptoms of low blood sugar include: sweating, trembling or shaking, tingling or numbness in the lips, mouth or tongue, numbness or tingling in the fingertips, a fast heartbeat, the taste of metal in the mouth, weakness, difficulty talking, mood swings, difficulty walking, blurred vision, paleness and sudden increased hunger. In extreme cases, the body may begin to convulse, become comatose or develop a severely low temperature. Low blood sugar during sleep could cause nightmares, night sweats or sleepwalking.

Pregnant women at risk for hypoglycemia should not avoid or skip meals and eat the right portions. Meals that are too small can create complications, as well. They should follow the diets that their physicians have prescribed for them during the pregnancy.

Although expectant women do not usually consume alcohol out of concern for the health of the unborn baby, it should be noted that alcohol can help create a low blood sugar environment.

To help curb the symptoms of low blood sugar, pregnant women should eat 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate immediately when they feel the onset of symptoms. Some fast-acting carbohydrates

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