Reason for Test

Your physician has recommended you complete the 3 Hour Glucose Tolerance Test.  The test will take at least 3 hours to complete, and it is necessary to have an appointment for the test.

Based on your initial glucose screen you may have, or be at risk for developing, gestational diabetes.  This test will help your physician recommend the best options for your care if you have gestational diabetes.

Instructions

  1. You must follow a 3,000 calorie high carbohydrate diet for 3 days prior to the test (see menu pattern and acceptable foods below).
  2. On the third night, you CAN NOT have anything to drink or eat after midnight.
  3. The following morning, you should report on time for your scheduled screen (usually 8:30am).

Menu Pattern

BREAKFAST:
    1 egg or 2 sliced of bacon
    1 cup of 2% milk
    1 cup orange or grapefruit juice
    1 fruit
    3 starches
    2 fat
    2 tsp sugar (used in coffee, tea, or cereal)

LUNCH:
    3 oz meat
    1/2 cup green or yellow vegetables (no potatoes)
    1 cup of 2% milk
    2 fruit
    4 starches
    2 fat
    1 teaspoons sugar

DINNER:
    4 oz meat
    1/2 cup green or yellow vegetables (no potatoes)
    3 fruit
    3 starches
    2 fat
    2 teaspoons sugar

SNACK:
    Milk shake made with 1 cup 2% milk and 2 cups ice cream (any flavor)

FREE ITEMS:  water, tea, and coffee can be consumed as long as nothing extra is added

Below you will find equivalent items for fruits, starches, and fats listed above.  Acceptable vegetables are also listed.

1 FRUIT equals...

  • Apple: 1 small unpeeled apple OR 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce OR 4 dried rings
  • Apricots: 4 whole fresh OR 8 dried halves OR 1/2 cup canned
  • Banana: 1 small banana
  • Blackberries: 3/4 cup
  • Blueberries: 3/4 cup
  • Cantaloupe: 1/3 melon (11 oz) OR 1 cup cubes
  • Cherries: 12 fresh OR 1/2 cup canned
  • Dates: 3 dates
  • Figs: 1.5 large fresh OR 2 medium fresh OR 1.5 dried
  • Fruit cocktail: 1/2 cup
  • Grapefruit: 1/2 large OR 3/4 cup canned sections
  • Grapes: 17 small
  • Honeydew melon: 1 slice (10 oz) OR 1 cup cubes
  • Kiwi: 1 kiwi
  • Mandarin oranges: 3/4 cup canned
  • Mango: 1/2 small fruit OR 1/2 cup
  • Nectarine: 1 small nectarine
  • Orange: 1 small orange
  • Papaya: 1/2 fruit OR 1 cup of cubes
  • Peach: 1 medium fresh OR 1/2 cup canned
  • Pear: 1/2 large fresh pear
  • Pineapple: 3/4 cup fresh OR 1/2 cup canned
  • Plums: 2 small plum OR 3 dried prunes
  • Raisins: 2 tablespoon
  • Raspberries: 1 cup
  • Strawberries: 1.25 cup whole berries
  • Tangerines: 2 small 
  • Watermelon: 1 slice (13.5 oz) or 1.25 cup cubes

1 FRUIT equals...

  • Apple juice or cider: 1/2 cup
  • Cranberry juice cocktail: 1/3 cup regular OR 1 cup reduced-calorie
  • Fruit juice blends: 1/3 cup
  • Grape juice: 1/3 cup
  • Grapefruit juice: 1/2 cup
  • Orange juice: 1/2 cup
  • Pineapple juice: 1/2 cup
  • Prune juice: 1/3 cup

1 STARCH equals...

  • Bagel: 1/4 bagel
  • Bread (white, whole-wheat, rye, raisin): 1 slice
  • Bread (reduced-calorie): 2 slices
  • Bread sticks: 4 sticks (2/3 oz)
  • English muffin: 1/2 muffin
  • Hot dog or hamburger bun: 1/2 bun
  • Naan: 1/4 piece
  • Pancake: 1 - 4" pancake
  • Pita: 1/2 pita
  • Roll: 1 roll
  • Tortilla: 1 - 6" corn or flour OR 1/3 - 10" flour
  • Waffle: 1 reduced-fat 4" waffle

1 STARCH equals...

  • Bran cereal: 1/2 cup
  • Bulgar: 1/2 cup
  • Cereal, cooked: 1/2 cup
  • Cereal, unsweetened: 3/4 cup
  • Cereal, puffed: 1 1/2 cups
  • Cereal, sugar-frosted: 1/2 cup
  • Cornmeal (dry): 3 tablespoons
  • Couscous: 1/3 cup
  • Flour (dry): 3 tablespoons
  • Granola, low-fat: 1/4 cup
  • Grape-Nuts: 1/4 cup
  • Grits: 1/2 cup
  • Kasha: 1/2 cup
  • Millet: 1/3 cup
  • Muesli: 1/4 cup
  • Oats: 1/2 cup
  • Pasta: 1/3 cup
  • Rice, white or brown: 1/3 cup
  • Shredded Wheat: 1/2 cup
  • Wheat germ: 3 tablespoons

1 FAT equals...

  • Bacon: 1 cooked slice OR 1 teaspoon grease
  • Butter: 1 teaspoon stick OR 2 teaspoon whipped OR 1 tablespoon reduced-fat
  • Coconut, sweetened shredded: 2 tablespoons
  • Coconut milk: 1 tablespoon
  • Cream, half and half: 2 tablespoons
  • Cream cheese: 1 tablespoon regular OR 1.5 tablespoons reduced-fat
  • Shortening or lard: 1 teaspoon
  • Sour cream: 2 tablespoons regular OR 3 tablespoons reduced-fat

1 FAT equals...

  • Avocado: 2 tablespoons
  • Oil (all types): 1 teaspoon
  • Olives: 8 large black or 10 large green
  • Nuts: 6 almonds/cashews/mixed OR 10 peanuts OR 4 pecan/walnut halves
  • Peanut butter: 1/2 tablespoon
  • Sesame seeds: 1 tablespoon
  • Tahini (sesame paste): 2 teaspoons

1 FAT equals...

  • Margarine: 1 teaspoon regular OR 1 tablespoon lower-fat
  • Mayonnaise: 1 teaspoon regular OR 1 tablespoon reduced-fat
  • Salad dressing: 1 tablespoon regular OR 2 tablespoons reduced-fat
  • Miracle Whip: 2 teaspoon regular OR 1 tablespoon reduced-fat
  • Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower): 1 tablespoon

Acceptable VEGETABLES are...

  • Artichoke
  • Asparagus
  • Beans (green, wax, Italian)
  • Bean sprouts
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Green onions or scallions
  • Greens (collard, mustard, kale, turnip)
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leeks
  • Mixed vegetables (without corn, peas, or pasta)
  • Mushrooms
  • Okra
  • Onions
  • Pea pods
  • Peppers (all varieties)
  • Radishes
  • Salad greens (endive, escarole, lettuce, romaine, spinach)
  • Sauerkraut
  • Spinach
  • Summer squash
  • Tomato
  • Turnips
  • Water chestnuts
  • Watercress
  • Zucchini

Equivalents