A nurse is providing education to a pregnant client about the screening test for gestational diabetes.

The nurse explains that the test involves measuring blood sugar levels at different time points.

Which of the following blood sugar level readings would confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes?

The correct answer is choice B. Impaired glucose tolerance.

This means that the client’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal blood glucose level two hours after drinking the glucose solution is lower than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L).

A level between 140 and 199 mg/dL (7.8 and 11 mmol/L) indicates impaired glucose tolerance, and a level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher indicates diabetes.

Choice A is wrong because normal glucose tolerance means that the blood sugar levels are within the normal range after drinking the glucose solution.

The client’s 1-hour and 2-hour levels are above the normal range.

Choice C is wrong because gestational diabetes means that the blood sugar levels are too high during pregnancy and can cause complications for the mother and the baby.

The client’s fasting blood sugar level is within the normal range,

The correct answer is choice C. Fasting: 90 mg/dL, 1 hour: 185 mg/dL, 2 hours: 160 mg/dL.

This is because these blood sugar levels exceed the normal ranges for a pregnant woman undergoing a screening test for gestational diabetes.

The normal ranges are:

• Fasting: less than 95 mg/dL

• 1 hour: less than 180 mg/dL

• 2 hours: less than 155 mg/dL

Choice A is wrong because these blood sugar levels are within the normal ranges.

Choice B is wrong because only the fasting blood sugar level is slightly above the normal range, but not enough to confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Choice D is wrong because only the 1 hour and 2 hours blood sugar levels are slightly above the normal ranges, but not enough to confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.