Two hour glucose test?

UMichGirl

I had my regular OBGYN appt today, and he gave me the order form for my glucose test (which gets done at the lab in the building where my doctor is).  I scheduled it for the first week of April, so I'll be 27 weeks.

I was surprised when my doctor said it's 2 hours.  I'll get blood drawn at the start, one hour mark, and two hour mark.  According to the instructions sheet I got, I need to be eating at least 80g of protein and 150g of carbohydrates for 3 days prior to the test, and need to fast for at least 8 hours before the test (thankfully my test is scheduled for 8am).  The sheet also says "the patient may have one glass of water two hours after the glucose is taken".  ONE glass?  Wow, thanks. 

Anyone else have their GTT be 2 hours??  And were you given any rules about what to eat ahead of time?  Thanks!

amandaleigh1

I think the 2 hour tests leads to fewer failures thus avoiding the 3 hour test.

I am doing the one hour with a lot fewer dietary instructions! I am doing mine earlyish at 24 weeks. 

ELF4321

It's becoming more popular because it is less likely to give a false-positive like the 1-hour screening.  Basically, instead of the 1hr+3hr combo, they have found that the 2-hr is more effective in identifying GD.  That means that if you fail the 2hr, though, there's no "second chance" like you get with the 3hr -- you'll be diagnosed with GD based on the 2hr results.   I suspect it is going to become the new standard over the next few years. 

vanessagorc

amandaleigh1:

I think the 2 hour tests leads to fewer failures thus avoiding the 3 hour test.

I am doing the one hour with a lot fewer dietary instructions! I am doing mine earlyish at 24 weeks. 

this is exactly why.  I failed the one hr, false fail.  I had to take the 3 hr, which was awful.  I had a major hypogylcemic event leaving the office.  I almost fainted on the street.  I knew i was going to pass out cold.  My 3 hr sugar came back at 41...and that was before trying to walk home.  I was somewhere in the 30's.  I almost required hospital intervention.  My sister is a type one diabetic...so luckily, i knew what was happening.

Soooo anything u can do to avoid the 3 hr IMO.

UMichGirl

vanessagorc:

amandaleigh1:

I think the 2 hour tests leads to fewer failures thus avoiding the 3 hour test.

I am doing the one hour with a lot fewer dietary instructions! I am doing mine earlyish at 24 weeks. 

this is exactly why.  I failed the one hr, false fail.  I had to take the 3 hr, which was awful.  I had a major hypogylcemic event leaving the office.  I almost fainted on the street.  I knew i was going to pass out cold.  My 3 hr sugar came back at 41...and that was before trying to walk home.  I was somewhere in the 30's.  I almost required hospital intervention.  My sister is a type one diabetic...so luckily, i knew what was happening.

Soooo anything u can do to avoid the 3 hr IMO.

Wow.  Ok this so does not sound like fun...!!!  I'm thinking 2 hours is going to be (almost?!) just as bad as 3!  Hoping not though...

vanessagorc

I think it will be a lot better bc my sugar was still normal after hour 2.  3 was my crash.  Just bring juice and a sugary snack to eat right afterwards.   I had to have dh take me to dunkin donuts, I had a huge apple juice, 4 munchkins, and a bagel sandwich.  Then I was able to make it home. 

 

Its really scary that I could have driven home.  Luckily, I live walking distance from the Ob. I would have passed out behind the wheel. I really could have hurt someone.  

mrsharris15

Starting to wonder if we see the same dr...but anyhoo, my office just changed from a one hr to a two hr because a new high risk dr in the practice said they are more accurate. I have mine in a few weeks too

Yellow_Daisy

amandaleigh1:

I think the 2 hour tests leads to fewer failures thus avoiding the 3 hour test.

I am doing the one hour with a lot fewer dietary instructions! I am doing mine earlyish at 24 weeks. 

Exactly this!  My OB said it's the new standard for all OBs in our medical group in all of Nor CA, they discontinued the 1 and 3 hr right before I got PG.  He said it has been a huge stress reliever for patients and money saver because they do far fewer tests now that they don't have all the false positives.

leolyns

I just took the 2 hour test the other day. 3 vials of blood and managed to drink the glucose drink no problem. I got my results back yesterday evening (which i was told 24-48 hours). I felt really sleepy after the second draw of blood (after hour #1) and managed to chug water once I was able to (wasn't allowed any after blood being drawn). I wish they had cookies in the lab like they do at the blood bank.