It's the morning of your bloodwork and your doctor said to fast before the test. But your stomach is growling and you have serious caffeine withdrawal hours before you roll up your sleeve. A bite of toast and a few
gulps of coffee won't really make a difference, right? Not so fast. Your results could come back wrong if you give in to temptation. Fasting means you don't eat or drink anything but water usually for 8 to 12 hours
beforehand. If your appointment is at 8 a.m. and you're told to fast for 8 hours, only water is OK after midnight. If it's a 12-hour fast, avoid food and drink after 8 p.m. the night before. You also shouldn't smoke, chew gum (even sugarless), or exercise. These things can rev up your digestion, and that can affect your results. Take your prescription
medications unless your doctor tells you to skip them. But ask your doctor before you take any over-the-counter drugs. Blood tests help doctors check for certain health problems and find out how
well your body is working. Doctors also use them to figure out how well treatments are working. You don't need to fast before all blood tests. Your doctor will tell you if you need to. These tests typically require fasting: Nutrients in food and drinks go into your bloodstream and can change things measured by the tests, skewing your results. For instance, if you eat or drink before a fasting blood glucose test, your blood sugar probably will be
higher than if you hadn't had anything. When you're fasting, doctors get a baseline result so tests can be compared to give a true picture of your sugar levels over time. If you make a mistake and eat or drink anything besides
water, tell the person taking your blood. Your doctor will want to know so they can interpret your tests correctly. For the best results, they may ask you to reschedule. As soon as your blood is taken, your fast is over. You might want to bring a snack and a drink with you so you can
eat as soon as possible after the test. It's one of the most talked-about prenatal testing milestones when you're pregnant: the glucose screening, sometimes called the "sugar test." Administered to most expecting moms between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy (give or take, depending on whether they're considered high-risk), its ultimate goal is to check for a very treatable condition: gestational diabetes. The glucose screening test (and, if necessary, the follow-up glucose tolerance test) are performed to detect gestational diabetes (GD) and get moms the treatment and care they need for the rest of their pregnancies. Most of the time, the results are ultra reliable. Sometimes, however, they're off. Research suggests that about 15 percent of women get a false-positive on their glucose screening. In other words, they test positive for elevated blood sugar levels, but they don’t actually have gestational diabetes. So why the discrepancy between what the test shows and the number of women who actually have GD? The answer: Some expectant moms test positive simply because of what they ate beforehand. Here’s what should be on the menu before your glucose screening to boost your chances of passing it with flying colors. What to eat before the glucose testWhen you eat, your body breaks down carbs into glucose (or sugar), which is a main source of energy. During pregnancy, two types of glucose tests can check your blood sugar levels to detect and diagnose gestational diabetes. Each requires a different eating strategy, and usually only those who don't pass the first test are given the second one. Glucose screening testBetween weeks 24 and 28 of each pregnancy (and possibly sooner, if you have a higher risk of gestational diabetes), your doctor will conduct a glucose screening, usually in the morning. During this screening, also known as the one-hour or two-step glucose test, you’ll drink a sugary beverage similar to flat soda and have your blood drawn an hour later to check the glucose levels in your blood. Continue Reading Below What to Know About Gestational DiabetesDon't make the mistake of eating a super sweet or simple-carb-laden breakfast, or skipping the morning meal altogether, before this first GD screening, as either can seriously throw your sugar levels out of whack. Instead, make sure you have a balance of healthy carbs and protein the night before and the morning of the glucose test. Foods that serve up “good" or "complex" carbs are higher in fiber and take longer for your body to digest. They enter your bloodstream more gradually, so you won’t have those pesky blood sugar spikes. Complex-carb foods include:
For long-lasting energy, balance your meal with protein-filled foods including dairy, nuts, fish or lean meat like poultry. Here are some healthy breakfasts that may help you pass the glucose screening on the first try:
It’s also a good idea to watch what you eat before your regular prenatal appointments. That’s because every time you see your practitioner while you're pregnant, you’ll likely have to pee in a cup to monitor the sugar levels in your urine (another way to help detect GD). Glucose tolerance testIf your blood sugar levels on the glucose screening are too high, it could mean your body isn’t producing enough insulin to process the extra glucose your system makes during pregnancy. You may need to go back for a glucose tolerance test, sometimes called the one-step test or three-hour glucose test. This time, you’ll have your blood taken when you first arrive, after fasting ahead of time. You’ll then down a sugary, flat-soda-style drink again and have your blood drawn three more times: one hour, two hours, and three hours later. For the glucose tolerance test, you'll need to avoid eating for eight to 14 hours before your scheduled appointment. How to pass the glucose screeningFor the best results before your one-hour (or two-step) glucose screening, try to: Eat breakfastThe morning of your appointment, have a healthy and not-too-copious breakfast containing a balance of complex carbohydrates and protein. (Remember, if you’re doing the glucose tolerance test, you’ll need to fast for at least eight hours beforehand. Not sure which test you’re taking? Confirm with your doctor.) Avoid sugars and refined carbsDon’t eat high-sugar foods or simple carbs (including refined grains) the morning of your glucose screening. The body breaks these foods down quickly, leading to a spike in blood sugar levels. That means avoiding breakfast favorites like:
Take a walkIf you can, try to squeeze in a 10- to 15-minute walk after breakfast and before the screening, which can help get your blood sugar levels in check. If you don’t pass the glucose screeningOn your glucose screening or regular urine tests, it’s possible to get a positive test result that your doctor considers to be "medically insignificant" — meaning it has no impact on your growing baby. But it's still a good reminder to ask your doctor for healthy eating tips. If your test does come back positive and you wind up being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, remember that the condition is usually easily managed (often with diet modifications only) and goes away soon after you give birth. In the meantime, your doctor or midwife will ask you to monitor your blood sugar a few times a day and keep track of what you eat. Other strategies you'll be given to help keep your levels stable: cutting back on sugary, processed foods and loading up on meals that balance complex carbs with protein and incorporate plenty of pregnancy-friendly foods. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. Updates historyOctober 27, 2022 Editor: Catherine Donaldson-Evans
Was this article helpful? How many hours do I need to fast for glucose test?Common fasting blood tests
a fasting blood glucose test (used to test for diabetes) – you may be asked to fast for 8 to 10 hours before the test. an iron blood test (used to diagnose conditions such as iron deficiency anaemia) – you may be asked to fast for 12 hours before the test.
How long before glucose test should you not eat?Glucose tests, which measure blood sugar. One type of glucose test is called a glucose tolerance test. For this test you will need to fast for 8 hours before test.
What happens if you fast too long before a glucose test?IF YOU FAST LONGER THAN 16 HOURS - YOUR RESULTS MAY NOT BE ACCURATE, OR WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM SOME OF THE TESTS.
What should I eat before a fasting glucose test?Fasting means you don't eat or drink anything but water usually for 8 to 12 hours beforehand. If your appointment is at 8 a.m. and you're told to fast for 8 hours, only water is OK after midnight. If it's a 12-hour fast, avoid food and drink after 8 p.m. the night before.
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How long should i fast before glucose test
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