The glucose tolerance test (GTT) is a fancy name for the test that checks for gestational diabetes. The test is typically done between weeks 24 and 28 and measures the levels of sugar in the mother's blood an hour after drinking some glucose solution that tastes like orange soda. A blood test before and after looks for the mother's ability to break down that glucose. If her sugars stay too high, she may have to adjust her diet or start medications to regulate her blood sugar.

The glucose tolerance test is one of the very important tests all women should have during pregnancy because gestational diabetes is treatable, and the untreated illness can seriously affect the fetus. Uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy not only leads to large babies with a higher risk of Cesarean section, it can cause birth defects.

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