3hr Glucose low?

JmUDuuuukes 07

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this type of result. I took my 3 hour today and don't have an appointment for another week, I searched Doctor Google, the boards and nada. Sorry if I missed a better thread for it!

Fasting- in range
1 hr - mid-range
2 hr - mid-range
3 hr - low (58mg/dL, limit 70)

Is that considered gestational diabetes? Is it hypoglycemia? I didn't feel strange at all. I would think if my blood sugar was that low, I would feel it. 

glitterfish-2

Oh wow, I don't know about your results, sorry, but is it time to do this already?? It hasn't been mentioned to me yet...

JmUDuuuukes 07

GlitterFish said:

Oh wow, I don't know about your results, sorry, but is it time to do this already?? It hasn't been mentioned to me yet...

The lovely side of being overweight means you get to do it twice! Blegh

glitterfish-2

Hmm, I'm definitely overweight, but maybe they didn't notice?? Haha

cssme13

@GlitterFish I have to do mine before my appointment on Thursday because I'm overweight and my initial blood draws were too high. 

yellow1daisy

Yeah I'm sorry I can't decipher those results for you. Hopefully they communicate with you soon and tell you what it means. 

I have to have a GTT at my next appointment (although I don't think it's the 3 hour) and I'm not even overweight. My dad has diabetes and apparently that puts me at greater risk (hooray?). Bummer but I get they're trying to be safe about it. I didn't have it last pregnancy so hopefully I'll be cleared again this time.  

cssme13

@yellow1daisy with my last pregnancy I had to take it early because I'm Native American and diabetes is more prevalent in native Americans, even though it doesn't run in my family it was a little annoying. 

ginger1228

I'm sorry, I don't know what it means either. 

I have to one one at my next appointment bc diabetes runs in my family. I'm not overweight nor do I have other risk factors (besides having a placenta!). Then I have to do it again at 28 weeks, which is then normal time. 

AnnaKaie

I am not diabetic but reactive hypoglycemic. My body makes too much insulin instead of not enough like a diabetic. I can't speak for your results, I don't know your body and I'm not your doctor. But your results are kinda what I'm expecting out of mine. My sugar is going to spike so high after drinking that horrible drink and then I'm gonna crash. 

AdaByron

I'm not a doctor, so feel free to ignore me, but I did have GD last time so I know a tiny bit about it. I don't think this would get you a GD diagnosis. That happens when your sugar is too high. Low blood sugar could just be the result of fasting for a while. 

Personal anecdote: I have been having low blood sugar issues when I don't eat for more than about 2 hours. I get light headed and have blacked out a couple of times. I talked to my doctor about it and mentioned that I had GD last time and she implied that it is common in pregnancy would be completely unrelated to my GD history. I still won't do the GTT until 25-ish weeks.

optbaby2017

Based only on this test alone, there is a chance you have Reactive Hypoglycemia. Your doc will probably want to compare this with an A1C (blood test that essentially tells an average blood sugar over the past few months, which they probably ran early in your pregnancy) and general medical history. Sometimes results like this can be a sign of pre-diabetes or another out-of-whack enzyme issue, sometimes it is just your body reacting to so much sugar, especially if you typically eat pretty healthy or were dehydrated. If they are really worried, there's another test called MMTT that they can run. It's similar to the glucose test, but the drink contains protein and fat as well, to see how you react to something other than straight sugar. Again based solely on the results you shared, I would be surprised if they ordered this. Instead, they will likely coach you on eating several smaller, high protein, high fiber snacks throughout the day and avoiding sugary things - good advice for all of us. 

[I'm a mental health therapist/medical social worker, and used to work with a clinic that served a lot of people with diabetes and eating disorders. So not a medical professional, but have seen these tests ordered - usually on people with much crazier numbers.] 

JmUDuuuukes 07

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the personal input. I messaged the doctor to find out if there is anything I should be doing/changing between now and next week. Thankfully we do eat a healthy diet regularly, high in lean protein, vegetables and natural fiber. And right now I hate all things sweet. So hopefully I don't have to change much. Will let you know what I hear, in case it can help someone else later on.

JmUDuuuukes 07

The doctor messaged me today. He said my results look great and that what the last number tells him is that I need to eat more frequently, and not fast. He recommended me eating every 2-3 hours when I'm awake, and eating things like nuts, veggies, and lower carb fruits high in fiber because they should help me avoid "the crash." So thankfully, I passed this round. I get to take it again in 4 months (boo!) Thanks everyone for your feedback- I hope all those taking it soon pass with flying colors!

AnnaKaie

JmU Duuuukes 07 said:

The doctor messaged me today. He said my results look great and that what the last number tells him is that I need to eat more frequently, and not fast. He recommended me eating every 2-3 hours when I'm awake, and eating things like nuts, veggies, and lower carb fruits high in fiber because they should help me avoid "the crash." So thankfully, I passed this round. I get to take it again in 4 months (boo!) Thanks everyone for your feedback- I hope all those taking it soon pass with flying colors!

Great news!!

Pricelessmommy3

Those drinks make me so sick! You can refuse any test you don't want to take though, you know. 

yellow1daisy

Pricelessmommy3 said:

Those drinks make me so sick! You can refuse any test you don't want to take though, you know. 

You could refuse but my midwife (in my last pregnancy) said if I opt out of the GTT then I will be treated as though I have gestational diabetes because they wouldn't have any way of knowing whether I have it or not. 

She does let me do an alternative test though that doesn't require the drink. 

oheliza44

OP the app won't let me tag you but I am glad you got a good report following your results!

Reading everyone's response about their experiences with GD is very enlightening. Before I got pregnant I was having undiagnosed GI issues that they thought were related to how my body processed sugar and my insulin levels. (Basically, I would get episodes where food would not move through my digestive track and would just stay in my stomach for very extended periods of time.) All my blood tests came back normal but the exploratory tests were where they found the issue. I was supposed to get another round of testing but since my BFP they had to be put on hold. I have no idea if these issues will be amplified during my pregnancy. So far I've had the same symptoms on occasion but chalked it up to digestive that are common symptoms during the first trimester so we shall see. I'll be interested to know how the GTT turns out. 

JAM85

@yellow1daisy what is the alternative test? I hate that chemically processed colored crap 

yellow1daisy

JAM85 said:

@yellow1daisy what is the alternative test? I hate that chemically processed colored crap 

@JAM85 I don't know if your doctor or midwife would be open to it but my midwife said she's done it a few times before for women who couldn't have the drink for medical reasons (although my reason is not medical per se but I'm very strict about my diet and the thought of 'ruining' my several year clean eating bout makes me anxious).

Anyway, basically I come in the morning fasted, they draw my fasting levels, then I leave, have breakfast, and come back an hour later I think (can't remember if it was 1 hour or 2), and they draw my blood again. 

JmUDuuuukes 07

One of my friends couldn't keep it down, so she was given the option to use a glucose meter for 2 weeks and log all food. She said it was soooo much better than the syrup.

yellow1daisy

JmU Duuuukes 07 said:

One of my friends couldn't keep it down, so she was given the option to use a glucose meter for 2 weeks and log all food. She said it was soooo much better than the syrup.

I actually suggested I do this instead to my midwife after doing some research but she wasn't a fan--not sure why. She said she prefers serum levels. 

I did track my sugar at home though even after passing her test to be doubly sure my body was behaving.