North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

What is the acceptable value for a woman’s blood glucose 1 hour after a 50 gram glucose load?

1. 120 or less

2. 130 or less

3. 140 or less

4. 150 or less

The correct answer is: 140 or less

The acceptable value for a woman's blood glucose 1 hour after a 50 gram glucose load is 140 mg/dL or less. This threshold is based on guidelines for gestational diabetes screening, specifically the one-hour oral glucose challenge test. In this context, a blood glucose level of 140 mg/dL or lower indicates a normal response to the glucose load, suggesting that the woman's body is efficiently managing glucose levels. Values higher than this may indicate potential issues with glucose metabolism and could warrant further testing, such as a follow-up 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Understanding these thresholds is crucial for midwives and healthcare providers because it helps in identifying women who may be at risk for gestational diabetes, allowing for timely interventions and management to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.