Can i drink milk before glucose test

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Here’s what to eat before a pregnancy glucose test, which foods to avoid, and what happens if you don’t pass!

If you’re a first time mom you might be nervous to take your first glucose test which happens around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

But, don’t fret!

This post will help relieve any fears and help you understand how to prepare and what to expect.

So, here’s what to eat before a glucose test, foods to avoid, and what happens if you don’t pass!

RELATED: 22 Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy (Plus what’s safe!)

Table Of Contents

1. What is a pregnancy glucose test?
2. Foods to Eat Before a Pregnancy Glucose Test
3. Foods to Avoid Before a Pregnancy Glucose Test
4. What Happens If You Don’t Pass
5. FAQs
6. The Bottom Line
7. Want More?
8. Your Turn

What is a pregnancy glucose test?

Before we cover what to eat before a glucose test, let’s dive into some specifics about what’s measured in the test and why.

A pregnancy glucose test sometimes referred to as a gestational diabetes test, measures a pregnant woman’s blood glucose levels between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.

If these levels are high, it may mean the body isn’t producing enough insulin to manage the excess glucose from pregnancy.

This condition is known as gestational diabetes.

If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor will help you with a special care plan to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy.

What happens during the glucose test?

For the 1 hour glucose test, you’ll consume a glucose drink that tastes like an extremely sugary fruit juice or flat soda.

You’ll then provide a blood sample 1 hour after your last sip. Every doctor has a different way of doing the glucose test, and the process has changed over the years.

Some providers provide the drink on the day of and want you to drink it in the doctor’s office. Others will give you the glucose solution to take home and drink at your convenience on your way to your appointment.

Either way, you have about 5 minutes to drink the solution and you’ll have to provide the time you finished so the office can correctly time your blood draw.

If the test comes back normal, no further action is required.

NOTE: Some women have sought alternatives to the test in favor of a more natural and organic option. If you’d like to try something different than the traditional Glucola drink, you can opt for “The Fresh Test.” You can find more information on this glucose test alternative and order your test at freshtest.com.

RELATED: 26 Foods That Increase Sperm Count Naturally

Foods to Eat Before a Pregnancy Glucose Test

In order to pass the glucose test, you should plan to eat a healthy diet as soon as you become pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.

Changing what you eat a day or a week before your glucose test won’t make much of a difference (though, it’s still a good idea to do so!).

When planning your meals, focus on complex carbohydrates, fiber, lean proteins, and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables.

Here are some healthy foods to incorporate into your diet starting early in your pregnancy to help maintain optimal blood sugar levels:

• Whole grains (i.e. whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat pasta)
• Non-starchy vegetables (i.e. leafy greens, broccoli, tomatoes, and green beans)
• Legumes (i.e. beans and lentils)
• Fresh fruits (i.e. berries, apples, and watermelon)
• Healthy proteins (i.e. eggs, chicken breast, and salmon)
• Nuts/nut butters and seeds (i.e. walnuts, almond butter, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds, )
• Dairy (i.e. pasteurized cheese, milk, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese).

On The Day of Your Glucose Test

Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast or lunch that is low in carbs and high in protein.

Examples of foods to eat for breakfast would be:

• Scrambled eggs with cheese
• Plain Greek yogurt with blueberries 
• Wheat toast with low-sugar peanut butter
• Cottage cheese oat pancakes with berries
• Spinach and Swiss cheese omelet 
• Protein shake with a side of bacon and eggs
• Avocado toast
• Breakfast burrito filled with scrambled eggs, black beans and salsa

Examples of foods for lunch would be:

• A salad with a low-sugar dressing
• Grilled chicken breast with a side of broccoli
• Beef stir fry
• Crustless quiche
• Lettuce wraps
• Lasagna zucchini boats

And if you can, take a quick 10 minute walk after you eat. This can help to regulate your glucose levels further.

Don’t be tempted to skip out on breakfast, because it can actually throw your glucose levels out of whack!

Foods to Avoid Before a Pregnancy Glucose Test

And here’s a list of foods you shouldn’t eat before your glucose test. The main foods to avoid are refined carbohydrates and sugars.

Skip the following food items on the day of your test:

• Refined grains (white bread, white bagels, and white rice)
• Junk food (i.e. chips and crackers)
• Sweet toppings (i.e. jam, syrup, and caramel)
• Sugary breakfast cereals
• Pastries and cakes (i.e. donuts, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and muffins)
• Ice cream
• Candies
• Sugary drinks (i.e. fruit juice, soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, and flavored coffee)

NOTE: It’s okay to have the occasional indulgence with these items throughout your pregnancy, but it’s also very important to enjoy these foods in moderation.

RELATED: Can pregnant women eat cream cheese?

What Happens If You Don’t Pass

Even if you try your best to eat well before your glucose test, some women don’t pass.

It’s also possible to receive a false positive. So if your test results aren’t in the normal range, you may not have accurate results.

Your doctor may have you repeat the blood test or take things a step further with what’s called the three-hour glucose test.

Three-Hour Glucose Tolerance Test

With the three hour test, you’ll undergo four different blood draws. But this time, you won’t be able to eat or drink beforehand.

You’ll need to fast for 8-14 hours leading up to your appointment (no eating or drinking anything except sips of water).

On the day of your test, you’ll receive a baseline glucose test to measure your levels while fasting.

You’ll then guzzle down the same type of sugary drink solution as before (except it will have 75 grams of glucose), and provide a blood sample at 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours.

If your glucose levels are still high, you may be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

2-4% of women will develop gestational diabetes, which happens when pregnancy hormones interfere with the way a woman’s body breaks down food.

Any pregnant woman can develop gestational diabetes, these groups are at a higher risk:

• Women over the age of 25
• Women who are of African, Asian, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Island

Other factors that may increase your chances of gestational diabetes include:

• Personal or family history of gestational diabetes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Previous birth of a baby weighing nine pounds or more
• Previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Inactivity
• Obesity

It’s a serious condition, but with proper intervention, most women go on to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Your healthcare provider will create a treatment plan to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your baby.

However, left untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to health problems during pregnancy and delivery including:

• Preeclampsia
• An overly large baby
• C-section
• High blood pressure
• Birth defects

Experiencing gestational diabetes is also one of the risk factors for developing type II diabetes later in life, but it’s by no means a guarantee.

Continue to follow your doctor’s instructions and a healthy diet and exercise regimen for the best results and outlook.

RELATED: What’s the normal weight for a pregnant woman?

FAQs

Can you eat before the glucose test?

Yes, you can eat before the 1-hour pregnancy glucose test and most doctors will recommend that you do.

A few years ago, some doctors or midwives may have recommended fasting before the 1-hour glucose test, but unless your doctor specifically tells you to fast, you should eat a healthy breakfast before the test.

If you fail the 1-hour gestational diabetes test, you will have to take the 3-hour glucose test. The 3-hour screen is a fasting test, so you should not eat for 8-14 hours beforehand.

What can I drink before my 1-hour glucose test during pregnancy?

It’s best to drink only water before your 1-hour glucose test. Avoid juice, flavored coffee, and smoothies.

If you’re taking the 3-hour glucose test, you’ll need to fast for 8-14 hours before your test and only drink water. If you’re not sure which test you’re taking, be sure to clarify with your doctor. It’s important to prepare properly for each test for the most accurate results.

Can I brush my teeth before the glucose test?

Yes, you can brush your teeth before both the 1-hour and 3-hour glucose tests. Brushing your teeth will not affect the accuracy of your results. You can also take any required medications with sips of water.

Can you eat fruit before the 1-hour glucose test?

While fruits are often a healthy option to satisfy a sweet tooth, they do have natural sugars in them, which translates into carbs. Steer clear of any fruit the night before or the morning of your glucose test, just to be on the safe side.

What should I eat for dinner the night before my glucose test?

Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugars before your glucose test, and focus on complex carbohydrates, proteins, and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables instead. An example dinner before a glucose test might be brown rice, grilled chicken breast, and roasted broccoli.

How common is it to fail the 1-hour glucose test?

15-25% of women fail the 1-hour glucose test. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have gestational diabetes. It’s possible to get a false positive result.

So, if your glucose levels come back outside of the normal range, you’ll likely be asked to take a more extensive glucose intolerance test to verify the results.

Can you decline to take the glucose test?

Yes, you can, but the trade-off is that you’ll have to check your blood sugar levels several times a day for a few weeks and report your findings to your doctor.

Because the American College of Obstetricians and the American Diabetes Association recommend all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes, your health care provider is required to test you either with a glucose test or by monitoring your blood sugar levels.

What is a passing score for the glucose test in pregnancy?

For the one hour test:
-The normal level is anything lower than 140 mg/dL.

For the three hour test:
-A normal fasting blood glucose level is lower than 95 mg/dL.
-One hour after drinking the glucose solution, the normal level is lower than 180 mg/dL.
-Two hours after drinking the glucose solution, the normal level is lower than 155 mg/dL.
-Three hours after drinking the glucose solution, the normal level is lower than 140 mg/dL.

The Bottom Line

Follow these tips for the best chance of passing your screening:

• Make healthy eating a priority throughout your pregnancy.
• If you haven’t been eating healthy, start as soon as you can.
• Focus on complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugars.
• On the day of your test, be sure to include complex carbs and protein in your meal and try to fit in a 10 minute walk.
• Don’t skip breakfast on the day of your one-hour glucose test. This can throw your sugar levels out of whack.
• If your initial glucose results are abnormal, you may be asked to take a 3 hour glucose intolerance test. Continue to eat healthy balanced meals, and be sure to fast from all foods and beverages (other than water) for 8-14 hours before the day of your test.

It’s important to take your glucose screening test seriously. Failing to do so could result in pregnancy complications and health risks for you and your baby.

However, if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, this doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to have an unhealthy pregnancy or a more difficult delivery.

If you follow your doctor’s treatment plan, you can still have a happy and normal pregnancy journey.

Want More?

If this post on what to eat before your pregnancy glucose test was helpful, be sure to check out:

• 10 tips for first time mom labor
• 3 first time mom books worth a read
• The ultimate baby registry checklist
• Pregnancy workout ideas for a quick burn
• How being induced works, step-by-step

Your Turn

We’ve covered what to eat before a glucose test, foods to avoid, and what happens if you don’t pass. Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!

Can you have milk before glucose test?

What should you not drink before a glucose test?

What can I drink before my pregnancy glucose test?

Can I drink water before glucose test?