Failed glucose test

DiFazette

@mforinger if you want to blame anyone, blame your placenta!!  This is nothing you did, nothing you could have prevented either.  It is a chemical reaction of your placenta - very similar to preeclampsia.  Here's the science if you care:
The elevated blood glucose level in gestational diabetes is caused by hormones released by the placenta during pregnancy. The placenta produces a hormone called the human placental lactogen (HPL), also known as human chorionic somatomammotropic (HCS). It’s similar to growth hormone (so it helps the baby grow), but it actually modifies the mother’s metabolism and how she processes carbohydrates and lipids. HPL actually raises the mother’s blood glucose level and makes her body less sensitive to insulin—less able to use it properly. If the body doesn’t use insulin as it should, the blood glucose level goes up. The HPL hormone elevates the blood glucose level so that the baby gets enough nutrients from the extra glucose in the blood.

cayaylonglegs

@difazette - I love science. Thanks for the explanation.

sammyl1221

Soooooooo just left my doctors. Got a lot of information. I have to log everything for the next week but she is cautiously optimistic based off my numbers since they aren't SUPER high I can just do a low carb and sugar diet and monitoring. But wow the diet is SAD. One of the nurses did tell me that the Drs don't let women go past their due dates because of gd causing complications and normally induce around the due date. Anyone else hear this?? 

mjgf

@DiFazette that is by far the best explanation I've heard so far, and does make me feel a little better! I appreciate your science! I think once I'm better educated I'll feel better overall about it. Tomorrow morning I go to the diabetic clinic so we'll see what they have to say. 

DiFazette

@mforinger I turned to only scientific explanations when my severe preeclampsia nearly killed me and DS.  I put so much blame on myself for our situation it was unhealthy.  I had a wonderful Doctor that sat down and explained the science behind what had happened in my body.  I try to remove the emotion from the information because it negates blame - and you, or anyone else here, is not responsible for your GD diagnosis.  

princesslockness

sammyl1221 said:

Soooooooo just left my doctors. Got a lot of information. I have to log everything for the next week but she is cautiously optimistic based off my numbers since they aren't SUPER high I can just do a low carb and sugar diet and monitoring. But wow the diet is SAD. One of the nurses did tell me that the Drs don't let women go past their due dates because of gd causing complications and normally induce around the due date. Anyone else hear this?? 

Both of my OBs have/had a policy that they induce between 39-40weeks if you have GD. The reason is that all of the sugar issues cause the placenta to deteriorate more rapidly, thus causing issues with LO.

DiFazette

+1 to @Kate08Young, this is standard practice for GD.

squiddy224

Well ladies, looks like I am joining the GD club as well.  My fasting level was good, my one hour was elevated by one point, and my two hour was elevated by 13 points.  The three hour level was good, but since I had two that weren't, I'm scheduled to see the dietician and the diabetes specialist next week.  Not what I wanted to hear, but I have a family history of diabetes anyway, so I am willing to take any precautions to keep our Bean healthy (and not let her get too big so I have a smooth delivery!)  Positive vibes to all of us... we've got this!

yellingbanana

sammyl1221 said:

Soooooooo just left my doctors. Got a lot of information. I have to log everything for the next week but she is cautiously optimistic based off my numbers since they aren't SUPER high I can just do a low carb and sugar diet and monitoring. But wow the diet is SAD. One of the nurses did tell me that the Drs don't let women go past their due dates because of gd causing complications and normally induce around the due date. Anyone else hear of this? 

Stuck in the box...

yes! A very good friend of mine has gd with her first, so they tested her way early with her current pregnant and she has gd. She is getting induced 1 week before her due date.

I just want to say to all the positive GD bumpies, I ditto what other posters said- it's not your fault. Our bodies just react differently to pregnancy, and it's usually not easy. I swell insanely in the last 2 months, I usually gain more fhan 1 lb per day in water retention. It's just what my body does no matter what I do. I eat low-sodium, whole grain, lots of veg/fruit, no msg or HFCS, super healthy... But I can only control so much. Our bodies will do as they please! So keep your heads up, we can do this!

sammyl1221

@yellingbanana -  that sounds rough!! I'm sorry mama. Hopefully this time around it isn't so bad. I just keep telling myself it's pregnancy and everyone is different. Our bodies go through this AMAZING transformation and sometimes there are not so fun side effects to go along with it. But as long as our LOs come safe and sound- it's all worth it in the end. 

capps42613

Currently mid-3 hour test. I was shocked that this lab corp facility has a "comfort" room where I can sit by myself in a room with a tv and recliners while I wait vs being in the general waiting room  

phoebecar

I'm so sorry  @squiddy224 and @mforinger. I know getting a GD diagnosis is extremely difficult. I got mine a week ago today.  I have been pricking my finger and logging my food and numbers since last week. I'm scheduled to go to a class tomorrow morning on what I assume is the dos and don'ts. of GD plus nutritional information since my OB's office gave me zero information to go on for a week.

Overall the pricking and testing hasn't been hard at all.  Pricking your finger 4 times a day sucks slightly but it's not too bad.  The worst thing I think about the whole thing is the diet change.  I crave sweet things normally it's always heightened in pregnancy and staying away from stuff like is annoying.

Does anyone care if I start a GD check in on Tuesdays?  We could share tips, recipes and what works for us.  Plus it wouldn't make me feel so frustrated.  While I know it's not my fault and it wasn't my sweet tooth that caused this, it is none-the-less frustrating.

I'm so sorry everyone that got diagnosed with GD, but like I said to @cayaylonglegs- we can all form a club

sammyl1221

@phoebecar I feel ya. Today is my first day on the diet and all I want is a donut. Ughhhh!! But def start up the weekly thread. We can share meal plans, check ins, and bitch sessions. 

mysteryship

I passed the 3 hour yesterday - I would have killed for a comfort room, I was stuck in a brightly lit hallway with painful chairs and only sports magazines

Sending best wishes to everyone who is dealing with GD - my BIL is an OB and made sure to reassure me that it's not anyone's fault, that if your body is gonna have it, it's gonna have it no matter what. That made me feel better before the test.

squiddy224

I'm in for the weekly check-ins!  Attempting to alter my diet for the time being.  I won't start my finger sticks until next week because they are trying to go through my insurance to get me a glucometer, so they will set me up with that once I have my appointment with the diabetes educator next Tuesday.  I do have to call my insurance company (hopefully tomorrow if I get some time) to find out which meter is covered.

sourlemon

Anyone take their 1 hour test in the afternoon? Am I stupid for trying that? My doctor said it was fine just don't eat a donut and coke for lunch that day and go about 2 hours after I eat.

tinattt23

@sourlemon I had mine at 1:15. It was fine. I had some leftover stew for breakfast to avoid sugar. Skipped my morning OJ. And just didn't eat lunch until after the appointment. I passed. I was pretty hungry after, but it wasn't too bad. 

maamawaabangi

@sourlemon
It might actually benefit you from what I've learned. If you eat a protein packed breakfast (low carb, no sugar) and make sure and avoid sugar I think chances are you're more likely to get more accurate (or negative) results. 

sourlemon

Thanks that's good to know! I'll definitely skip my sugar cereal for breakfast that day.

ErikandAfton

I take my 3 hour on Saturday.  I'm hoping I pass this one. If not I know I'll figure it out but it's still so frusterating.

SaraRose83

Damn it, I totally failed my one hour. And they didn't call with my results till today... More than a week after I took it! Asshats. And I'm anemic to boot. I'll be so upset if I have GD. I really want to have a natural birth and I'm worried my doc will push a csection on me. Arrrrgh!

capps42613

Passed the 3 hour test. Good luck to all retesting.

babycoconut85

I failed the first test with a 173 - abnormally high. I had been on a dessert tear for a few weeks before I took it, soI was a bit worried going into the 1 hour.

I was really scared about the 3 hour, which I took it a week later after fasting for 12 hours before. Ended up passing it with flying colors. Still watching my diet and trying to avoid refined sugar and eat low carb.

A few of my friends have failed the 1 hour and gone on to pass the 3 hour, so don't fret! Good luck, mama!

princesslockness

SaraRose83 said:

Damn it, I totally failed my one hour. And they didn't call with my results till today... More than a week after I took it! Asshats. And I'm anemic to boot. I'll be so upset if I have GD. I really want to have a natural birth and I'm worried my doc will push a csection on me. Arrrrgh!

There are a whole slew of things that YOU can push for before your doc even mentions CS. If you are able to control your sugars with diet and exercise, then baby should be perfect. If you can only control on insulin, if you can still keep your numbers stable at a good level you should be fine.

You should also advocate for an induction before automatic CS. Not ideal, but unless something else pops up, there should be no need for a routine/scheduled CS.

whitneyp26

Well get ready for this ... I failed my one hour with a reading of 207. Am I going to die? I'm so upset I can't even. I don't see that there's any way I could pass the three hour. 

dmontgo

Here's a question for those on BP medication--do you eat breakfast before drinking the Glucola? If I take my meds on an empty stomach, it knocks me on my ass. But I also do not want to fail. Should I just wait to take my morning dose until after they draw my blood, even if my dose is late?

princesslockness

@dmontgo are you allowed to eat? My doc didn't specify, so I loaded up on protein: bacon, eggs, cheese. Then I could still take my metformin and not have issues.

dmontgo

@Kate08Young I'm going to call my OB's office for clarification, but the lady explaining it had a very thick accent. She said not to eat sugars and carbs the night before or I will fail, but I don't have to fast. To drink it exactly one hour before my appointment. I guess I will load up on the proteins too.

Mamax2

@dmontgo, my OB had me eat a slice of bacon, 1 egg, and half a piece of toast 1 hr prior to drinking the drink. Call your OB, and explain the situation to them. They may give you a meal plan to eat that day.

ETA: both times my numbers were well below the high end. My OB says anything over 139 is failing. My numbers were 93 the 1st time, and 97 6 weeks later.

sourlemon

@dmontgo I took mine at 215 (blood at 315). You bet I wasn't fasting. I tried to eat less carbs during the day but my Dr knew I was taking it in the afternoon and said just don't eat a bagel with coke for breakfast and lunch. And wait at least 2 hours after lunch.

It's really hard for me to get time off work in the mornings which is why I had to do it later. I just did it yesterday so no results yet. I also did it later in the day my last pregnancy and it was fine. 

AbriannaO

I just spoke to a nurse at my office to prepare for my appointment on Thursday. She said the only thing she could tell me was to not have anything sugary within 3 hours of the appointment and that I did not need to fast. Her example was to not add sugar to my coffee if that's how I drink it since my test is at 7 am. I'll probably have a couple hard boiled eggs an hour to two before the appointment and plenty of water. 

cgss11

I can't get help with the bp part, but my instructions were to have only water and either 1 egg or 9 almonds before the test, not my typical breakfast. It was right away in the morning. 

SaraRose83

So interesting to see what different practices see as failing or not. My doc wants me under 130, which seems kind of low. I'm reactive hypoglycemic which I thought would somehow mean I couldn't fail it, but I guess it makes me more likely to have a bad reading, at least on the hour test. 

whitneyp26

Has anyone else had numbers over 200? Do I have any hope?

ajstevenson

Sorry @whitneyp26 I'm of no help here. I haven't tested yet but it blows my mind that you have to take this stupid test to see if you're in a "normal" range and yet you can't eat your normal meal. Wouldn't it make sense to eat your normal diet, ya know, so your levels are within YOUR normal range? I don't get it. I have no symptoms and no family history and am seriously contemplating declining the testing all together to save myself from stressing and worrying about whether or not I'll pass the stupid thing.

sourlemon

@ajstevenson it has very little to do with symptoms or family history. It's how your body reacts to pregnancy. Most people have no symptoms. 

cayaylonglegs

@sararose83 - I am hypoglycemic and my diabetic nurse said she wasn't surprised I failed so bad with how wonky my body reacts to sugar.

@whitneyp26 - at my Drs office if you get over 200 on your one hour test they don't even bother with the 3 hour, you automatically start GD protocol. Not trying to bum you out, just telling you how my dr does it.

ErikandAfton

I'm doing the 3hr tomorrow. My doctor said to eat dinner normally tonight and then between 10pm and midnight I need to eat a half sandwich and glass of milk or cheese and crackers and a glass of milk. Then nothing for the next 8to 10 hours and I need to be at the lab before I hit the 10 hour mark. I'm going at 7am. They said I could drink water and bring water with me to drink during the test. 

emisi

Welp, add me to the "I failed my GD test" club.  I passed with flying colors my first pregnant, but definitely failed this time.  I'm sure at least part of it has to do with the horrible schedule I'm on at work - 2 weeks on day shift, 2 weeks on night shift.  I had just transitioned to nights when I took the test.  But I'm going to follow the diet - it's only 10 weeks, it's healthy, and I want a healthy baby out of this.  No more ice cream sucks though.

sammyl1221

@emisi it doesn't mean no more ice cream!! Just small servings in moderation and then going on a long walk after. you gotta work now for the good stuff lol.