3 Hour Glucose Test - anyone done it yet? (UPDATE: or skip it?)

kristin172429

Okay, so my doctor sent me to the one hour glucose test early due to my weight.  I just got a message that I need to do the 3 hour glucose test.  Has anyone done this yet?  I am seriously wanting to just ask my doctor if I can skip it and just monitor my blood sugar and diet as if I have gestational diabetes.  I don't see why I can't just monitor my numbers instead of going through this test.  

I am just working on getting over my fear of blood draws (just posted about that yesterday).  I can handle one blood draw and be okay.  I do not think I can handle doing five blood draws (or however many it is) in a three hour period.  It is asking my to essentially submit myself to a form of mental torture.  I know that sounds extreme, but I seriously think I will freak out.  I would prefer not to have a full-blown panic attack in the middle of the lab, thank you very much.  Why do they have this horrible test?  There must be an easier way.

Jeter1028

I highly doubt they will just let you skip this test.  It is a pretty important thing to do actually, especially if you could have gestational diabetes. 

mamaofboys

Jeter1028:

I highly doubt they will just let you skip this test.  It is a pretty important thing to do actually, especially if you could have gestational diabetes. 

Yes, especially if the one hour was unsatisfactory 

kristin172429

Here's the thing: I am not wanting to skip the test and pretend that nothing is happening and live in some sort of denial.  I am fine with working under the assumption that I have gestational diabetes.  Give me the diet and exercise plan and I will monitor my blood with finger pricks.  I have absolutely no problem with that!  I would never neglect my health or the health of my child.  I just can't see submitting myself to the test when if I fail, I would be given the diet and exercise plan and asked to monitor my blood.  I honestly can't see the harm in that.  

anardi

The three hour test sucks. All you can do is ask your doctor but I doubt they will let you pass on it. You never know and it doesn't hurt to ask.

kristin172429

anardi:

The three hour test sucks. All you can do is ask your doctor but I doubt they will let you pass on it. You never know and it doesn't hurt to ask.

I have an appointment on Monday and I definitely plan on talking to her about it.  In my doctor's office, you see the nurse practitioner for the first few visits and then see the doctor mid-way through.  I'll be honest - if she says no, I will ask to speak with the doctor.  I don't want to be a difficult patient, but I know myself better than to think I can handle this three hour test.  I am not sure what a three hour test can tell them that monitoring my blood sugar and following a diet and exercise plan for weeks couldn't.  There are a few things where I will stand my ground.  Having a severe anxiety issue about blood draws and being asked to subject myself to multiple draws in a matter of hours is something I will try and find an alternative for!

<i>***I feel like such a drama queen right now!  I swear, I am not.  It is just this particular issue*** </i>

Lilena

Just suck it up and do it hon.

I failed my 1hour, took the 3 hour it was fine.

 

Had to do it again later on to check again and passed. ( I have actually had the 3 hour done 4 times now cuz they messed it up at one point)

The only way you will get over the blood draws is to just do them. I promise you I H A T E needles, but after all the blood draws and shots and ivs etc from the last pregnancy they are actually not bothering me anymore.

I go for my 1 hour next month again and I'm sure I'll fail it like I did last year and have to do a 3 hour. Who knows. It's just one of the sh!tty things we gotta do during pregnancy.

selena61307

The false positive rate on the 1 hour is very high I would ask to do a repeat and say you are only willing to submit to the 3 hour if you fail it again.  At the end of the day you are in control of your care they can not MAKE you take the test if you refuse.  There are ways around this test I am not taking either of them because my body can not handle the amount of sugar needed for the test.  You have to be your own advocate,  if you don't want to take do the research come prepared to fight for yourself.  You do not have to take the test despite what people are saying there are other options.  Be an informed consumer!

 

Edit to add- I don't know why everyone thinks they have to do everything their OB tells them If you do the research and present you choice to your DR they can not just tell you that you must do what they say.  We are not children because I said so is not an answer anyone should take when it comes to their own bodies!  It infuriates me when women act as if they have no control over the care they receive from their OB's.  This is your pregnancy your body your baby.  Stop letting people make choices for you.  I am not saying go make a choice with no information but for heaven's sake go look it up and make a choice.  Ugh it is your responsibility to know what your choices are and decide for yourself.

StangJK13

I had GD with my first baby and the 3-hour test was awful! I'm afraid of needles too. If I fail the one hour test this time, I am going to do the same as you and ask to skip it and just be diagnosed with GD. Honestly, monitoring your blood sugar and adjusting your diet to keep it in control won't HURT the baby even if you don't have GD, so as long as you are willing to take the GD diagnosis, I think the doc should be fine.

mamaofboys

I'm imagine they really need to do the test to see if you do have it or not.  While it is a pain and blood draws and all, it is only 3 hrs of your life. If you don't have GD wouldn't you rather know that? You may NOT have GD but they may just let you assume you do have it instead of taking the test. Worth asking

HEmery

I know my doctor wouldn't allow such a thing. I know you're not trying to be a drama queen but I do believe your blood will be drawn a couple of more times throughout the pregnancy. At least for me it will.

mrsrp2sw

kristin172429:

Okay, so my doctor sent me to the one hour glucose test early due to my weight.  I just got a message that I need to do the 3 hour glucose test.  Has anyone done this yet?  I am seriously wanting to just ask my doctor if I can skip it and just monitor my blood sugar and diet as if I have gestational diabetes.  I don't see why I can't just monitor my numbers instead of going through this test.  

I am just working on getting over my fear of blood draws (just posted about that yesterday).  I can handle one blood draw and be okay.  I do not think I can handle doing five blood draws (or however many it is) in a three hour period.  It is asking my to essentially submit myself to a form of mental torture.  I know that sounds extreme, but I seriously think I will freak out.  I would prefer not to have a full-blown panic attack in the middle of the lab, thank you very much.  Why do they have this horrible test?  There must be an easier way.

 

This is what is completely involved in the test:

1.) take blood at normal with fasting for the night

2.) drink the yucky orange drink

3.) take blood once every three hours (total 3 blood drawn)

4.) wait for result call...

 

Why you need to do this:

This is what can happen to you and the baby: 

Delivery-related complications due to the infant's large sizeDevelopment of diabetes later in lifeIncreased risk of newborn death and stillbirthLow blood sugar (glucose) or illness in the newborn
I hate needles too cannot handle getting my blood drawn but as long as I let them know ahead of time and not look the lab tech is usually really nice about it.You have to get the test done in case you need insulin....there is no controlling it unless you are on the strict diet and some need insulin to help and the only way to know this is by doing the test.  

 

kristin172429

This is what is completely involved in the test:

1.) take blood at normal with fasting for the night

2.) drink the yucky orange drink

3.) take blood once every three hours (total 3 blood drawn)

4.) wait for result call...

 

Why you need to do this:

This is what can happen to you and the baby: 

Delivery-related complications due to the infant's large sizeDevelopment of diabetes later in lifeIncreased risk of newborn death and stillbirthLow blood sugar (glucose) or illness in the newborn
I hate needles too cannot handle getting my blood drawn but as long as I let them know ahead of time and not look the lab tech is usually really nice about it.You have to get the test done in case you need insulin....there is no controlling it unless you are on the strict diet and some need insulin to help and the only way to know this is by doing the test.  

 

Monitoring your blood sugar with a glucometer is going to give you the same information - are you blood sugars high or not?  How can it not be more accurate to monitor your blood sugars 4 times a day over a two week period than to do some crazy sugar-loaded 3 hour test?  Real, live day-to-day data seems much more valuable to me than this one test.  I get it is a diagnostic tool, but not every tool is right for every person.  I am still waiting to hear back from the doctor's office to find out how many points I failed by - maybe it was a point or two or maybe it was a lot.  

I completely understand the severity and risks of gestational diabetes.  I am asking that they just treat me like I HAVE it and not make me take the 3 hour test.  From everything I read, most doctors have you monitor your blood for a few weeks with a finger prick before deciding on insulin anyway.  I'm just skipping a step, not ignoring a problem.   

balihaigirl

Take the test.  Your baby's life may be at risk if you have undiagnosed GD.  I hate needles too.  I just don't look at the needle when they put it in my arm.  And, in all honesty, it's part of pregnancy.  You will see several more needles the day you go to deliver.  Just an FYI.

cathom7

I did it last time and passed.  This time, he asked me to check my sugars for a week.  I did, and I am SO NOT doing well!  I go in tomorrow, where I think he will for sure label me with Gestational Diabetes.  In fact, he will likely be putting me on INSULIN tomorrow!  SUUUUUUUCK!!!!!  But if this is the worst that happens, I'll take it.  Your doc wants the 3 hour bc it gives an "official" baseline to go off of and see how bad it is and determine what meds to put you on, if necessary.  Also, I think even already having the diagnosis, I will be getting 3 hour test.  There is a lot of error on the poke tests you do at home, and the one in office wth blood draw has no error.  Plus, he may need it for your insurance- to prove necessary tests, including extra u/s. 

roxygirl1281

Just do it - I took it and failed. It involved 4 blood draws and a finger prick. I'm terrified of needles but I will do anything for my baby. I'm thinking your insurance may not cover the monitoring if you aren't properly diagnosed either. I started my monitoring yesterday.

greeneyed_bride

Honestly, it sounds to me like you've already made up your mind, and you've decided that you know everything there is to know about diagnosing and treating gestational diabetes, so I'm not sure why you bothered asking anyone else's opinion.

For the record - my husband has type 1 diabetes, and testing your blood sugar four times a day absolutely does NOT give you better/more accurate information than a diagnostic test. But you've apparently decided that it does, so there's not really anything I can say to convince you otherwise.

kristin172429

All,

First - thank you for all of your feedback.  I really do appreciate people taking the time to respond to my posts.

Second - I just wanted to clear the air a little bit.  Some of my responses may seem a little strong and it is not intended to discredit any particular response.  I think it was a combination of things:

- the extreme anxiety about undergoing this test (seriously - it's not a minor fear, squeamish thing - it's panic attack freak-out level) which I think just heightened my level of response here.

- wanting to defend myself from those that implied that I would skip the test and go on undiagnosed, possibly endangering my child.  I would never do that!  I want another way to be diagnosed, that's all.  I would never risk the life and well-being of my child!  I just think that there has to be another way.  What about the people who can't keep the sugar solution down?  They must test them using another method? 

- I am not one who thinks we should bow down to the medical profession as the end all, be all and we must do whatever they tell us.  I know I am not a doctor, but I do know that there is almost always more than one option and questioning a test or a doctor's advice is our job as a responsible patient.  I guess I react a little stubbornly to being told I have to do something because a doctor says so or whether my doctor will "allow" something.  

So, I'm not sure if that helped anything cause I am still feeling a little wound up (just in general - not at the posters here).  So, please excuse my stress-filled posts that may have come across as harsher than intended.  And thank you again for taking the time to reply.

DBride2006

As someone who had GD with DS#1, these are my thoughts:

- I'm surprised to hear that you think finger pricking FOUR times a day and potentially going on insulin is "easier" or better than one three-hour test. 

- If you don't need more blood drawn DURING your pregnancy, you're definitely going to have all sorts of it in the hospital while you have your baby (IVs, daily blood draws, etc.)

- It's fine to question your medical treatment, but it seems a bit extreme to adopt a diabetic diet and prick your finger four times a day, just to avoid one three hour test. 

Perhaps you can ask your doctor to find ways to help you get over your fear of blood draws... seems like that would be a better solution in the long run. This is just one of a LONG line of things you'll have to do as a mother that are scary, unpleasant, etc. 

kms34

You really shouldn't skip it. I highly doubt any doctor would let you anyway.  If they had you do the 1 hour this early, they have cause for concern.  If it came back elevated you need to do the 3 hour to determine if you are in fact diabetic.  GD is a scary thing, please don't disregard it.

ETA:  Ok, I didn't read any responses befor commenting. I understand your thought process but pregnancy isnt' a time to jack around with stuff.  I don't want to be rude but you need to find a way to calm your anxiety around needles and get over it.  You're going to be poked and prodded a lot during your pregnancy. It's best to find a method of relaxation or something that helps you remain calm.  The benefits of the 3 hour test far outweigh the negatives.