You can generally eat before the initial one-hour pregnancy glucose test (called the glucose challenge test), but it's recommended to avoid high-sugar foods and simple carbohydrates before the test, as these may affect your blood sugar results. For the longer three-hour glucose tolerance test, fasting is required for 8 to 14 hours beforehand.
Eating Before the One-Hour Glucose Test
- Eating a meal with complex carbohydrates, fiber, and protein is recommended before your test.
- Good options include foods like wholegrain toast, oatmeal, eggs, berries, yogurt, lean meats, legumes, nuts, and non-starchy vegetables.
- Avoid sugary drinks, pastries, white bread, processed foods, and refined grains; these can lead to higher blood sugar readings.
Fasting Requirements
- For the initial one-hour glucose challenge test, fasting is not required, and a normal breakfast is usually allowed.
- For the follow-up three-hour glucose tolerance test, fasting for at least 8 hours is mandatory.
Dietary Advice
- Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for your specific test—guidance may vary slightly based on local procedures.
- Eating balanced, low-sugar foods and avoiding simple carbohydrates on the test day can help avoid artificially high readings.
If you are unsure which test you’re scheduled for, check with your doctor to clarify whether fasting is required.