The Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) (Easy Read) : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

	In week 28 of your pregnancy, we will ask you to take a Glucose Challenge Test
	A Glucose Challenge Test finds out if you are at risk of developing gestational diabetes – this is diabetes which starts during pregnancy
	There is a higher chance of getting gestational diabetes if you are overweight and or, you had it (or pre-diabetes) in earlier pregnancies – if so, you will do a different test
	The test finds out if you have too much sugar (known as glucose) in your blood
	This can happen when you are pregnant because your body cannot make enough of the insulin that normally controls your blood sugar
	Gestational diabetes is rare – out of 100 women, only 2 to 5 will have it
	Risks It’s important that we find out if you have gestational diabetes
	This is because if it is left untreated, there are risks to you and to the baby
	These risks include giving birth early the baby being too large still birth and jaundice in the baby
	There is a risk to you of developing pre-eclampsia – this is a life-threatening condition which is also a risk to your baby
	We can treat gestational diabetes - simple changes in lifestyle are usually enough to control it for most women
	Where these changes are not enough, we can give you tablets or injections
	Taking the Glucose Challenge Test knock on the door of the blood test room
	we will give you a glucose drink – you can add water to it if you like
	make a note of the time you have your drink – you will need to have a blood test 1 hour after your drink
	do not eat, drink or chew gum during this hour
	sit quietly in the waiting area
	you can go to the toilet during this time if you need to
	5 minutes before the hour is up, knock on the door of the blood test room again
	give your hospital number to the staff in the blood test room
	We will test your iron and blood antibodies at the same time as we test for glucose levels
	If your results are normal, you will get the results at your next midwife appointment
	If your results are higher than we like to see, we will arrange for you to have another test called a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) – your midwife will explain your results and arrange the appointment
	The midwife may also contact you through the UCLH MyCare app
	Maternal Foetal Assessment Unit (MFAU)
	We are an emergency service for women more than 14 weeks pregnant
	We are open all year round, 24 hours a day
	You will find us in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (EGA) building on level 1
	You can call us on 020 34 47 94 00 (press option 2 when asked)
	If you can’t call, just come in