- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
January 2013 Moms
mrsodonnell12
member
Glucose Tolerance Test
mrsodonnell12
member
I know we have another month or so until this, but I have been reading up on it and I am curious if any STMs will be skipping this test. Is there a reason they test you if you have no symptoms or issues? I am planning to talk to my midwife about it today and see if she will allow me to skip the test... unless I am missing something, I am just not seeing a reason to do it if I am not having any symptoms. Thoughts anyone?
ETA: I guess we have more like 2 months until this... sorry, I was thinking it was done at 24 weeks.
Mom to Carter, Kendall, Kiersten and Baby O #4
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Glucose Tolerance Test
*My Blog*
10/50 Read
my read shelf:
I guess that part that I am confused about is that if it comes back positive you should have symptoms, correct?
TBH, I'm not really sure about that. Thankfully, I've never had GD. I do have a close friend who had it recently with her 2nd pregnancy and she didn't have any symptoms early on or at the time of her test. She was able to control it through diet and didn't have any specific symptoms that I actually know of, but that's probably because she did what she had to do to control it. If she let it go she probably would have developed obvious symptoms, so maybe it's the type of thing you don't really want to wait for symptoms of? I'm not really sure.
I'm guessing it's also the type of thing where there's a range of experiences. Meaning, some people probably have it "worse" than others, if that makes sense.
*My Blog*
10/50 Read
my read shelf:
Definitely not true that you would have symptoms. MANY people have GD with no symptoms whatsoever. And my MWs who will let you opt out of just about anything (including things like ultrasounds and HIV bloodwork) require the GD test. It has something to do with their liability for caring for patients who have GD go undetected. Undetected GD is very common because there are very few or no symptoms.
I actually have to do the test next week and again at 28 weeks. I did not have GD with my first pregnancy, but my son was very big (just a couple ounces shy of 10 lbs). And I had hypoglycemia indicating that my pancreas was having issues during pregnancy. So again, this is from MWs who are very relaxed in their approach - are requiring me to test now and later . . . just to make sure we aren't missing something.
It's one of those tests, that I don't really understand why you would skip it. It's riskless, and it could detect a problem that may otherwise go completely undetected and put you and your baby at risk for complications.
It made me really sick with DS, that is why I am considering opting out.
What are the risks of GD if untreated?
From what I understand of the women that had it during my last pregnancy they didnt all have symptoms, nor we're they overweight or eating unhealthy.
My Profile
Nevermind.... I looked it up. It can increase the risk of CS so yep- I will be getting the test. The test was horrible with DS, but its better than a CS!
What do you think it was the made you sick? Because there are alternatives. Basically you should be able to drink anything with a certain sugar content (so, for example, you could drink grape juice). There is also a different way to do the test where you fast and then have a meal and then go for the blood draw. I really don't know if there are any additional risks with doing the test alternatively (meaning, are they as reliable results-wise, that sort of thing) because I just started looking into it and haven't yet had a chance to discuss with my MW.
ETA: As far as possible complications - birth defects, unnaturally large baby, which of course can lead to needing an early induction and higher chance of C/S, there are risks with baby's own blood sugar post-partum. It's actually a really good chance of bad things happening if left untreated, these complications can still happen even if GD is treated, but you know, it definitely lowers the risk.
*My Blog*
10/50 Read
my read shelf:
I really wouldn't want to skip it... GD can be a very serious and life threatening for the baby.
I had it with my first. I already tested in 1st tri & passed. I will test again at 26 weeks. If I have it, no big deal (I was diet controlled with my first). If I don't, great.
I had no syptoms, there really aren't any unless your tolerance is REALLY off.
It was just the sugary drink.... did not sit well. I will talk to my MW about alternatives.
Not necessarily. I know mama's that had no symptoms at all and fortunately were therefore able to be controlled easily with diet alone. It is much easier to control if you catch it early before symptoms show up and there are more serious complications. It is a non-invasive test and is one of the pretty important ones IMO, so I will be doing the test.
I wasnt aware that there are no symptoms. I will be doing the test now that I know that.... of course I will not risk harming my baby and I completely agree- the test is horrible (for me)... but SO worth it for my baby! Looking into alternatives now.... I read somwhere that I can eat pancakes with lots of syrup.. I would be in heaven if my midwife let me do that instead of the nasty drink!
I'm not sure. I'd definitely ask that of your MW to see what they have to say. To me it seems like it would be easier just to do the test at 28 weeks and get it out of the way, but if the periodic checks are possible and that's what you want to do then sure. I think if I were you I'd see how they feel about the option of doing the fast, meal, then blood test so you don't have to deal with the artificial blood sugar spike, KWIM? My OB never presented any alternatives as an option last time, but I certainly think it's worth asking about this time around to see what all the options are.
*My Blog*
10/50 Read
my read shelf:
Mine didnt present any alternatives either.... so I will check today. Hopefully we can both do something a little different!
OP - first of all I apologize for saying I don't know why anyone would skip the test. I'm a low intervention person too, and that was sort of a judge-y thing to say. The test made me sick too - really sick. I mentioned I had hypoglycemia . . . My GTT result with DS was 54. The lowest my doctor had ever seen in 20 years of practice. Most people start to feel sick when their blood sugar gets under 70 and many people pass out with blood sugar levels below 50. So I certainly understand. I don't like the test. And I'm not happy about having to take it twice.
BUT, GD is so common. I have 4 close friends who have had it. And none of them have had any of the risk factors (not even close to over weight, not gaining too much weight during pregnancy, no family history of GD or diabetes etc) and 2 of the 4 friends only had GD in their 3rd pregnancies - no history of GD or big babies in their first pregnancies. Of the 4 people I know, all were able to manage it without insulin (just diet) and all had babies of what I consider relatively normal size - none close to 9 lbs.
Even if the only risk of GD was a huge baby - I would do the test. I vaginally delivered an almost 10lb baby once in my life. I would love not to do it again. Aside from the increased risk of c-section with big babies, there is a significant increase in shoulder dystocia from vaginally birthing a large baby. And big baby or not, GD increases the likelihood that the baby will have it's own blood sugar problems after birth which can require bottle feeding of special formula and/or sugar water which can significantly disrupt early BFing. It can also predispose your baby to type 2 diabetes later in life.
I know the test sucks. But in the whole scheme of things - if you are just detecting something that can usually be controlled with a healthy diet, it's one of those things to me where the benefits of detection and treatment significantly outweigh the side effects of the test.
Question: How do you control GD with diet?
ETA: You didnt offend me
I posted this for honest feedback and you gave it to me, so for that, I thank you! I sometimes feel like becuase I am against interventions and tests that I seem to go overboard... it seems like that is the case on this topic... so it is nice to be grounded, especially by other moms with similar views as me.
Also, am I weird for wanting a big baby? haha! I was over 9 pounds when I was born... H has 4 brothers and sisters and they ranged in size from 9 pounds up to 12 pounds and MIL had no issues vaginally delivering each and everyone of them.
Controlling GD with diet has to do with the amount of carbs you take in at meals. You see a nutritionist who gives you set guidelines for all meals. And then trial and error for things that do and don't work for you.
For me, I couldn't eat fruit with breakfast no matter what. My numbers would be way high. But I could have it any other time of the day.
I was allowed 30g of carbs at every meal. 15 at every snack. High proteins at all meals when possible.
It's about watching what you eat while making sure you eat enough. I would have breakfast test 2 hours later then a snack. 2 hours later eat lunch. Test 2 hours later then a snack. Eat dinner 2-3 hours later. test 2 hours later. Have a snack right before bed. High in protein, lower on the carbs. Test at waking for fasting.
From the way my friends have explained it to me, it's doing anything to keep your sugars from spiking. Which when you hear about the diet - it's really just what anyone by any standard would consider eating very healthy.
Eat small meals frequently, avoid sugars and simple carbs, combine healthy carbohydrates with protein as protein helps slow the body's absorption of sugar, eat tons of veggies and lean protein, etc.
And then you track your blood sugars after each meal. Some doctors care more about what your sugars are at 1 hour, some 2 hours and some want to know both. But basically if your 1 and/or 2 hours numbers are within normal limits - then you are good to go. It's if you have changed your diet and your 1 and/or 2 hour numbers are still high that you may have to consider more significant management like insulin.
But you do raise an excellent question - about can you just start tracking this yourself to avoid the GTT test. And I may talk to my MWs about that too - considering the reaction I had to the GTT test last time.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and I had no symptoms so I've been more willing to do tests especially ones that could affect LO. I would've never known had it not been for the routine tests they perform. I'll do the GD test when offered.
As for watching your sugars before testing - it's a catch 22. Your insurance company isn't going to pay for the monitor and other testing supplies needed (which isn't cheap for an OOP expense) without the doctor saying you have GD and actually need these things.
I tested for a couple of weeks during my first tri, because I had stuff left over from last time, but once I passed the 3 hour in first tri, that was it, they weren't going to write me a script to get more because it meant putting on paper I have something I don't.
ETA: The biggest fear with GD is the if your body isn't processing sugars properly then the extra sugars and crap break down the placenta way too early. This is why you have NSTs 2x a week for like the last 10 weeks, and why kick counts are important, etc. undiagnosed GD can lead to still births. I was diet controlled and still did it all because I didn't even want to chance anything like this. I ended up induced at 37 weeks for pre-e, and my son was born with no sugar issues.
Kind of weird :P
But of course you also have to consider that your body naturally growing a larger-sized baby is different than a larger-sized baby grown because of something like GD. If your body naturally grows a baby it's unlikely that you won't be able to deliver it vaginally. Your body grew the baby to be the right size for you. If the growth is affected by something else it's entirely possible that they'd have to induce early for a vaginal delivery or just do a C/S to get baby out, KWIM?
*My Blog*
10/50 Read
my read shelf:
I had GD with my first and no symptoms.
This is what I am doing in lieu of the test. I don't do well with sugary, carbonated drinks, so my OB wrote me a prescription for a blood glucose tester. A few times a week they want me to take a fasting blood sugar and a few times a week they want me to test about an hour after eating.
You can always ask.
Actually not so much. I had GD with my DD and had no symptoms at all. Mind you I was able to control it with diet only and didn't need medication but I'm glad I was tested. Also, the test is usually given between 24-28 weeks unless you had it in a prev. pregnancy then they will test earlier.