Blood glucose monitoring & ketone testing

If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes—a form of diabetes in which your body doesn’t produce the necessary amount of insulin to regulate sugar during pregnancy—it’s important for you to monitor your blood glucose and test your ketone levels.

We offer advanced diagnosis and monitoring techniques. We start by testing your hemoglobin A1C, which has a glucose molecule attached to it. This leads us to other early identification efforts, which help us protect you and your baby.

Your doctor may also suggest ketone testing. Ketone testing can be done at home through the use of a dipstick purchased at a drug store. Ketones found in your urine can indicate that your blood sugar is out of balance, which puts you and your baby at risk.

Our experts work diligently to educate you on the risks, treatment methods and the importance of early identification. In addition to staying current on the latest guidelines for diagnosis and management of gestational diabetes, we offer exceptional technological advances, such as glucometers. These devices transmit your results directly to your physician, making it easier for us to keep up-to-date on your condition at all times.

The Center for Diabetes in Pregnancy has one of the few programs in the tri-state area recognized by the American Diabetes Association, and is devoted to offering continuous care for pregnant women with diabetes. In addition, our experts dedicate their efforts to advanced testing initiatives and management methods for gestational diabetes that improve your quality of life.

Blood and ketone testing are necessary for the management of gestational diabetes. You should check your blood sugar levels at least four times a day. Your physician may recommend testing your ketone levels during your first morning urine.

When testing for blood glucose, finger stick and insulin devices should not be shared. While there are no major risks associated with these testing methods, some common risks of gestational diabetes include:

Risks for your baby:

• Increased birth weight
• Preterm birth
• Repository distress syndrome—a condition that hinders your baby’s ability to breathe normally
• Low blood sugar
• Higher risk of obesity
• Higher risk for type 2 diabetes

Risks for you:

• High blood pressure
• Preeclampsia
• Eclampsia
• Future diabetes

Depending on the type of glucose test you’re preparing for, you may need to refrain from eating. Your doctor will inform you of the specifics for each test.

Depending on the results of your blood glucose and ketone tests, management of your condition may change. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medications such as Metformin or Glucophage, insulin injections or an insulin pump.

Your physician may also encourage you to focus on your body mass index (BMI) after your pregnancy, in addition to focusing on healthier dietary habits. We will set you up with a nutritionist and a diabetic counselor to help manage your condition. Six to eight weeks after you’ve had your baby, we will retest you through a two-hour glucose tolerance test to see if your diabetes is still present.