Reasons for failed glucose test?

ECT2012

Hi everyone,

 I know there have been so many posts about this lately - tried to do a bit of searching but couldn't find an answer to my specific questions - sorry if this question keeps coming up!

 I just found out I failed the 1 hr test and am taking the 3 hr on Saturday. I had a 140 - any thoughts on chances of that turning into a pass/fail on Saturday?

 My question is this - could I have done something to be sure I would have passed the 1 hr? My understanding prior was that no matter what you try and do to your diet, etc, it's just how your body processes the glucose and you can't try and influence that. Is that correct, or should I have laid off those extra cookies lately?

 Also -  would fasting before the 1 hr have changed anything? I didn't think I needed to.

Thanks so much for any help/advice!

kkfeb04

Unless you ate those cookies while you drank the glucola, it didn't have any affect on your test.  It's really hard to state if you have it by failing at 140.  It all depends on how your body handles insulin.  Fasting before the one hour is unnecessary, you only need to fast for the two hour or the three hour since they are going to take a fasting blood sugar.  I'm not a doctor but I've taken the one hour test 4 times, the three hour twice and the two hour about 4 times.

Honestly, just follow the doctor's orders for the 3 hour.  The risks aren't worth it for you to try to "cheat" the test by trying to pass it when you may actually have GD.  Not tthat I've heard of a way to pass it when you have it.

Loribelle73

While about only 20% of women who fail the 1 hr test also fail the 3 hr test, you can't be sure based off your 1 hr number.  I got a 141 on the 1 hr test, and my numbers for the 3 hr were in the 200's (obviously failing).  I don't want to freak you out, but all my friends told me that I would surely pass the 3 hr since my 1 hr number was so low, and unfortunately that was not the case.  Having GD doesn't have anything to do with what you did, it's all about hormones from the placenta.  Good luck, and I hope you pass your 3 hr!

BitsKD13

I failed the 1 hour and passed the 3 hour (which I took the Wednesday after Christmas- and I didn't pass up the yummy goodies).  

The guide lines for the 1 hour can vary a bit so changing your habits wouldn't have that much impact on the results.  

diskobride09

I failed the one hour with a 135 passing was 134 and passed the 3 hour splendidly. I ate regularly up until the fasting required for the 3 hour glucose test. The worst of the 3 hour is the first half hour after drinking that drink it is hard to keep down. Good luck and don't stress, my nurse had told me with my original number she thought I would pass the 3 hour just fine and she was right !

fredpuma

FYI, they really recommend that you "carb-load" for 2-3 days before a 3 hours test to get the most accurate results.  That means eat the way you normally would, don't cut out or down on carbs before the test.  If your body gets out of the habit of processing carbs, your numbers on the 3 hour test could be unnaturally high.  Also, eat some protein the night before your test right before you go to bed- apples and peanut butter, or a protein shake.  Try to get only 8-10 hours of fasting and starting the test- shorter time means sugar could still be hanging around from your last meal, and longer means your liver could start turning glycogen back into glucose, both resulting in false highs. 

As far as I have been able to tell, there's not really much you can do to falsely pass the test, but there are things you can do to cause yourself to fail.  

Drink lots of water before the 3 hour test.  Getting dehydrated before or during that test will really make things rough on you.  And I brought a small snack to munch on immediately after the last blood draw (graham crackers) because a lot of ladies get a sugar crash toward the end. 

shannm

You understand it correctly.

Don't worry, most people that fail the 1 hour do just fine with the real GTT.  And if you don't, it is totally manageable.

Good Luck! 

frasey

I just found out I failed the 1 hr test and am taking the 3 hr on Saturday. I had a 140 - any thoughts on chances of that turning into a pass/fail on Saturday?

Same happened to me - failed the1 hr, aced the 2 hr (we don't do 3 hrs here). Try not to worry about it, just follow your OB/MW's instructions.

My question is this - could I have done something to be sure I would have passed the 1 hr? My understanding prior was that no matter what you try and do to your diet, etc, it's just how your body processes the glucose and you can't try and influence that. Is that correct, or should I have laid off those extra cookies lately?

You're right - its just about how your body processes sugar. Nothing you can really do to influence it. Think of it like being lactose intolerant - you are or you aren't. 

Also -  would fasting before the 1 hr have changed anything? I didn't think I needed to.

No, unless they told you to fast and you didnt. I didnt fast before the 1 hr. Keep it mind its all about the PROCESSING of sugar.

Laynelover

Actually, dehydration plays a huge factor in glucose testing. Also, if you have not slept well- I just got done reading about this on the Livestrong website. I had to get up 6 hrs before I normally do ( I work graveyard shift ) for my test and did not drink anything until the syrup. So, naturally, my test was borderline.

24karat

Zombie thread.

mikrinikki

I had 137 and they made me take the 3 hour. I passed with flying colors even though I fasted with both tests. Who knows.... you will be ok though

spacepotatoes

Laynelover said:

Actually, dehydration plays a huge factor in glucose testing. Also, if you have not slept well- I just got done reading about this on the Livestrong website. I had to get up 6 hrs before I normally do ( I work graveyard shift ) for my test and did not drink anything until the syrup. So, naturally, my test was borderline.

1. This thread is 2 years old.

2. Livestrong is not a very reliable source of information. I would take anything there with a grain of a salt unless it can be verified by a more credible source.