Screening and Diagnosis
Screening and Diagnosis ( 6 Questions)
A pregnant client has just completed the glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes.
The nurse reviews the client's blood sugar level results.
The fasting blood sugar level was 95 mg/dL, the 1-hour level was 175 mg/dL, and the 2-hour level was 145 mg/dL.
Based on these results, the nurse would interpret them as indicating:.
Normal glucose tolerance means that the blood sugar levels are within the normal range for all three measurements.
This means that the blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to diagnose gestational diabetes. The normal ranges for the glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes are:
• Fasting blood sugar level: less than 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L)
• 1-hour level: less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L)
• 2-hour level: less than 155 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L)
The client’s fasting blood sugar level was within the normal range, but the 1-hour and 2-hour levels were above the normal range, indicating impaired glucose tolerance.
Gestational diabetes means that the blood sugar levels are above the diagnostic threshold for all three measurements:
• Fasting blood sugar level: 92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L) or higher
• 1-hour level: 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) or higher
• 2-hour level: 153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) or higher
Pre-existing diabetes means that the blood sugar levels are above the diagnostic threshold for diabetes before pregnancy:
• Fasting blood sugar level: 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher
• Random blood sugar level: 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher
The correct answer is choice B. Impaired glucose tolerance. This means that the blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to diagnose gestational diabetes. The normal ranges for the glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes are:
• Fasting blood sugar level: less than 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L)
• 1-hour level: less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L)
• 2-hour level: less than 155 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L)
The client’s fasting blood sugar level was within the normal range, but the 1-hour and 2-hour levels were above the normal range, indicating impaired glucose tolerance.
Choice A is wrong because normal glucose tolerance means that the blood sugar levels are within the normal range for all three measurements.
Choice C is wrong because gestational diabetes means that the blood sugar levels are above the diagnostic threshold for all three measurements:
• Fasting blood sugar level: 92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L) or higher
• 1-hour level: 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) or higher
• 2-hour level: 153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L) or higher
Choice D is wrong because pre-existing diabetes means that the blood sugar levels are above the diagnostic threshold for diabetes before pregnancy:
• Fasting blood sugar level: 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher
• Random blood sugar level: 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher