Glucose test concerns go in here

SweetnSassy23

Questions about your glucose test?  Fail and want to talk about the 3 hour test?

We're trying to cut down on multiple threads, so all concerns/advice can go in here.  So what's on your sugar lovin' mind?

Edit:  @bumpadmin can you make this a stickie?

MamaOwl15

Thank you for starting this thread, @SweetnSassy23! I was just about to start a thread because I have a legit question/concern but I don't want to add to the problem.

So here's my question:
How late in pregnancy can you get the test, and how bad is it if you don't? The reason why I'm asking is because I'm currently without insurance, and thus had to cancel my 28 week appointment (which was scheduled for tomorrow), where I was supposed to have my glucose test. I'm not sure when my insurance will be reinstated, though I should have an answer in a couple weeks.

While I don't have any symptoms of GD that I know of, and I don't have a history of GD, I don't want to put my baby at risk.

BTW, this isn't asking if I can skip the test because I don't want to take it, but wondering how bad it is that I likely won't be able to get back to the doctor till I'm 31 weeks because u won't have insurance again till August 1.

And if anyone who lives in VA knows where I could go for FREE testing in the interim, let me know.

FrozenMommy

@mamaowl15, if you are worried in any way about your sugars. You can get a 10 dollar tester from CVS pharmacy, and just test after 2 hours eating a meal. If you are under 120, chances are you don't have anything to worry about. I think that they like to do it before 32 weeks, when baby starts gaining more rapidly. If not controlled that's the time when things would get really out of hand. But it wouldn't hurt to call your lab and see how much out of pocket would be. 

Krysta6

MamaOwl15 said:

Thank you for starting this thread, @SweetnSassy23! I was just about to start a thread because I have a legit question/concern but I don't want to add to the problem. So here's my question: How late in pregnancy can you get the test, and how bad is it if you don't? The reason why I'm asking is because I'm currently without insurance, and thus had to cancel my 28 week appointment (which was scheduled for tomorrow), where I was supposed to have my glucose test. I'm not sure when my insurance will be reinstated, though I should have an answer in a couple weeks. While I don't have any symptoms of GD that I know of, and I don't have a history of GD, I don't want to put my baby at risk. BTW, this isn't asking if I can skip the test because I don't want to take it, but wondering how bad it is that I likely won't be able to get back to the doctor till I'm 31 weeks because u won't have insurance again till August 1. And if anyone who lives in VA knows where I could go for FREE testing in the interim, let me know.

@MamaOwl115 I would call your Dr and see if this is something they can work out with you. I had to take mine at quest so I had to show insurance, but maybe if your OB can draw your blood and give you the drink they can bill your insurance later? The only reason I think that is because since I'm making payments to my OB until delivery they aren't technically billing anything today. All I could find online was that you should take it between 24-28 weeks

baconlady

woot , woot! thank you! 

 

naka92

Its not a concern, but I want to shout it off the rooftops! My OB was very worried about me having GD due to my family history, but I totally aced the 1 hour test. 110 while the cutoff they use is 135. I am SOOO happy! Been worried about this for a good while now, and now there's just 1 less thing to worry about  

WelshMummy1995

My GTT's tomorrow nervous as hell I hate needles

crbpjb

I had posted about this previously, but I am doing regular glucose monitoring with a diabetes testing kit as the earlier comment suggested. They told me to test right when I wake up on day 1 (should be under 90). Next day test 1 hr after breakfast, then next day 1 hr after lunch, etc. those numbers should be under 120. This is done for two weeks. My doc also said to check periodically until the baby comes. So far it's easy and my numbers have all been very low.

twogirlsandagreen

@crbpjb I called my ob to ask if I could do the two week self testing instead of the glucose drink and they said no. I really really really don't want to do the drink because I hardly eat any sugar since it makes me feel like crap. The GD test is going to make me have a headache for 2 days probably and I will be Waiting around for an extra hour after they are done bc I will be so shaky. It has happened twice now with both previous pregnancies. I have never failed but it makes me just feel sooo yucky. Ughhhhhhh. My ob is so frustrating that she won't work with me on this.

brebouds

I am just concerned at the moment of how I will handle the actual drink. At 28 weeks.i am back to having morning sickness ( yay!!) I failed the one hour test miserably this morning. Blood sugar was at 182 when she wanted it under 130! After the orange drink, I felt clammy and lightheaded and was afraid I was going to get sick, but it passed after about 20 minutes. Now I go in for the 3 hour test Thursday, having to fast for about 10 hour prior.
I know I can't control the outcome, and will handle whatever comes my way with results. But boy am I nervous about how I'll react to a drink with twice the glucose! ( especially since I have to drive the 45 minutes to and from the hospital myself)

MamaOwl15

I can call my doctor and ask what they can do. It's worth the cost to me (as long as I can actually afford it) to make sure baby and I are ok.

I just read on another thread about a mama who "felt fine" and ended up being diagnosed with GD.

Thanks, @FrozenMommy and @Krysta6.

BTW, I saw an ad from Rite Aid for a glucometer and test strips that would run me less than $50. So if I can't get to a lab, I can at least try and self-test.

arwestover3

Did anyone have any lingering symptoms afterwards? I took it yesterday and felt fine during the test and my numbers were low, but I feel like complete crud today. Just no energy and trying really hard not to be irritable. Idk if it's normal, but they had me do a fasting two-hour test instead of starting with the one-hour. I should have just called and asked why they did that and if my reaction is normal, but I've been busy and didn't think about it until after they were closed, and know I'm psyching myself out!

nadivalenzuela

I am very worried because I failed the 1 hour test, I got 173 and it should have been less than 140. On thursday I have my 3 hour test and I cant think about something else.
My doctor told me not to worry because many people fail the 1 hour test and pass the 3 hour one. Im hoping I do pass, but dont have high hopes

dparker721

I'm also nervous about my 3 hour test, which is next week. I obviously failed the 1 hour, but they didn't tell me the number or the cutoff for pass/fail and I didnt think to ask. I have to follow a very high carb/sugar diet for 3 days prior to the test and then fast the morning of. I'm nervous about the diet after reading it because I'm not sure I can eat everything recommended and keep it all down, especially since I still have morning sickness at 26 weeks. I want to follow the doctors orders, so I will try but I've seen others saying they weren't told to follow a diet prior to the 3 hour test.

Any of you mommas have to follow this Hugh carb diet or had to in past pregnancies?

nadivalenzuela

I was not given any special diet to follow before the 3 hour test. I was just told to not eat 10-12 hours before the exam @dparker721

kfry22

I'm getting worried about the one hour test. If I eat too much sugary foods or drinks I start to feel shaky and get a headache. The week that I am 28 weeks, my work schedule is wacky so I have to go in at 3pm. I have heard bad things about doing the test in the afternoon but have no choice. I'm not trying to complain about the test itself as I see how it is medically necessary, just voicing some concerns.

margies2010

No special diet before the 3hr here, either. Just to fast midnight on and be at the lab at 0830.

My 1 hour was today, failed by 8 points so they had me schedule my 3 hour for Thursday. Nervous, but feel if I only failed by such a small margin that all should be well. I hope all you other ladies taking the 3 hour have great results!

crbpjb

@twogirlsandagreen that's really unfortunate! I was concerned about what my doctor was going to say when I asked about it, but he was actually super supportive.

FrozenMommy

I'm just saying, there is about as much sugar in the drink as there is in a venti mocha frap. 

sqdiva29

That's my concern. Hubs is trying to save as much days as possible for after the baby comes

gerbies

I am stressed because I have increased amniotic fluid and one big driver can be GD. I took the one-hour and barely passed (132 and my doctors office's cutoff is 135). I just don't want the possibility of GD being dismissed. I think I will ask to retest in a few weeks ( or just do the 3-hour test in a couple of weeks). I don't want anything missed!

alinic916

My neighbor just told me some one told her they got to eat jelly beans instead of drinking the glucola for their gtt!! Wish I had that option! This is what I found after a little research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10561636

germasian

I failed mine today.. I got 150 and doc wants under 140... UGH!!

Hoping we all pass the dreaded 3hr test.

My worry is what the f*** am I suppose to do to entertain myself in the lab lobby for 3hrs?!?!
Might bring a book or something.
Anyone else have ideas?

Tiarabond

I failed my 1 hour by 4 points 144 office wants 140 or less...

bucher1s

Just found out today I have GD:( not happy.

saveinsincity

Failed the 1 hr, heading for a nutritionist consultation instead of the 3hr test per doctors order.

Feel so disappointed and stressed of what the remaining weeks will bring.

Dunno what to expect

leah665

@arwestover3 My midwife has me doing the fasting 2-hour instead of the 1-hour also. She said that it has shown to be a more accurate way of testing.

If you think about it drinking something with 50-75g of sugar in it and then testing glucose an hour later is setting women up for failure. That's why so many people fail and then have to do the three hour test.

LiveNLove44

XP:

When I was unable to post for the last couple days, I kept wanting to post this:

https://americanpregnancy.org/prenatal-testing/glucose-tolerence-test/

You shouldn't need to fast. There is also a lot of science to support why you shouldn't fast. You have a much greater risk of getting a false positive if you: fast or eat a carbohydrate-rich food (not just sweet) before the test. 

Many doctors still recommend fasting because many patients still don't understand the difference between carbohydrates and sweetness in a food. For instance, a cinnamon-raisin bagel, both sweet and carbohydrate-rich, carries an average of 58-60 g of carbohydrate (depending on the size). The glucose drink is 50g. If you eat that before you go to the appointment because that's how you "eat normally," you will most likely get a false positive because you're demanding that your body process 110g of carbohydrate for that test rather than just 50. 

If you eat a protein/fat-rich breakfast and minimize carbohydrate intake, you are doing a couple things. First, the body processes both protein and fat more slowly than it does carbohydrate. This also manages to temper a blood sugar spike when you eat more carbohydrate (or drink a glucose beverage). In order to increase the validity and reliability of the test, it would take a bit more patient education leading up to the test. It's easier for doctors to say, "Fast for a couple hours" or "eat normally." If you have a false positive, it's not skin off their back. It is, however, more time for you. 

Krysta6

@germasian someone posted previously about bringing an adult coloring book. Some other options are a good book, magazine, cell phone fully charged. I plan on bringing an iPad and watching a movie or tv show. 

For anyone else who has to take the 1 hour -- don't stress about it! While I didn't feel well during (shaky, lightheaded and nauseous) it really wasn't that bad looking back.

@livenlove44 I wish I would have read all that before the one hour I think I failed because I fasted which made my blood sugar spike and then crash

smlowe9311

@dparker721 I have to fast From midnight before the test and increase my carb intake too. Either 4 servings of milk or bread or 3 servings of fruit extra 3 days prior so I had to start yesterday as my test is Friday morning.

@LiveNLove44 so based on the article and other information you posted would it be more helpful to maintain my "normal" diet plus the doctor required extra carbs or try to focus on more protein/fat foods the days leading to my 3 hour test? I admit I am one of those that need more education!

dparker721

@smlowe9311, I think I could handle that better. I have to eat sweets 6 times per day and it lists candy bars, pie, cake, milkshakes, pancakes, bread, and milk. Just at lunch alone I have to add two slices of bread and two candy bars along with juice or a carbonated beverage! Then have either a candy bar or a milkshake for an afternoon snack...

My next ultrasound is the same day so I know my baby is going to be doing some serious acrobatics thay day!

LiveNLove44

smlowe9311 said:

@dparker721 I have to fast From midnight before the test and increase my carb intake too. Either 4 servings of milk or bread or 3 servings of fruit extra 3 days prior so I had to start yesterday as my test is Friday morning. @LiveNLove44 so based on the article and other information you posted would it be more helpful to maintain my "normal" diet plus the doctor required extra carbs or try to focus on more protein/fat foods the days leading to my 3 hour test? I admit I am one of those that need more education!

@smlowe9311, great question! The one and the three hour are different, so preparation needs to be different. The "Glucose Challenge Screening Test" is like the 1-hour test people are talking about. The "Glucose Tolerance Test" is more like the three-hour test people may need to take. Your body processes glucose over time differently, and preparing your system is also part of that process. Since the body adapts to make use of the fuel (macronutrients--carbohydrates, protein, and fat) based on your regular intake, the three-hour test requires a different preparation than a one-hour screening. I would listen to your doctor for the three-hour, but also be mindful that "eating more carbohydrates" for many people is just the same amount as they usually do. If you notice, the APA recommends 150g in the days leading up to the test, which is not much more than an average American (and often, it's less than many carb lovers!).

kelsojohnso

Just left the DR. Have to go back in two weeks because I projectile vomited the orange drink the second it touched my stomach. Instant tears... Poor male nurse looked petrified, "oh no! Emotional, puking pregnant woman!"

alinic916

@kelsojohnso so sorry you have to repeat the test.  And I'm sorry, but your story made me laugh.  I can just picture the poor nurse's look!

kelsojohnso

aprosch I called my hubby right after the apt and he was like "I feel for that guy, I'm married to you and I wouldnt know what to say or do!" Let's just say DH was glad he sat this appointment out. 

star8627

Question for everyone... I took the 1 hour test last Friday at Quest and haven't heard anything. My next appointment is this Friday, so I am wondering if I will find out then. But it seems like most of you found out pass or fail right away. When do you typically get your results? 

saveinsincity

I found out in a week. Tested on Monday, received call with results next Monday

cassiemcroy

I went into get my glucose test done today (I'm 27weeks) and all they did was prick my finger and take some blood. They didn't do anything that I've researched and read that they do (drink sugary drink and wait an hour). Did this happen to anyone else? I asked my midwife if that's normal and she said yes so I'm not too worried about it. Just wondering if that happened to anyone else

Krysta6

@star8627 I took the test on a Friday and found out my results Wednesday at my appointment. They should have your results for you

DeeGreer

Lol @ the THREE repeat glucose threads after this was posted to alleviate the redundancy. WOMP WOMP!!!! )

jlculpeps

I took my 1 hour last Friday and found out this morning that I passed!!!!