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2nd Trimester
XP: Opting out of GD testing...opinions?
My DH has juvenile diabetes (Type I) and gave me his spare tester when I became pregnant so I could test my bs when I wanted. My family has a history of Type II diabetes, so we figured I might as well test often since I'm at a slightly higher risk. It costs us nothing, and doesn't really hurt (I'm VERY used to needles, so it's no big deal for me). I have a new lancet (never used before me) and I've been testing my sugar 1 hour after meals and 3 hours after dinner every other day since I got to the 12 week mark. I keep a log of what I eat, my #s, and when I test so I can show my doctor.I'd rather not do the GD testing at my OB's office since I feel it will be a waste of time and money, plus I'll have to miss half a day of work for it when I don't think it's necessary. Of course, if my sugars start to go high, I'll alert my doctor ASAP and immediately go in for the test. My sugars have never gone over 115 so far and my fasting sugars are consistently between 81-89. I'd rather skip the formal testing if I'm keeping track of my sugars at home and can bring in my bs log to show my OB.?What do you think? Is there any reason to go in for the testing that I'm overlooking??
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Re: XP: Opting out of GD testing...opinions?
Discuss it with your doctor
And why would the 1 hr glucose take half a day? I had my blood test at 7:30 a.m. and drank the stuff at home so the test only took the 5 minutes for the blood draw...
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
I also replied to this same thread on the high risk board... but I just wanted to be sure that you got this.
GD is nothing to mess with. Do I like having it? No. But, the test is there for a REASON.
The test does not take a half a day. It's a one hour after drinking, blood draw. The three hour may be what you are thinking of, and that doesn't come unless you fail the first one.
You may not be getting accurate readings with your diet, etc. So please, for goodness sakes, just take the test.
The office where they do the GD testing is not near my school (I'm a teacher), so it will take an hour to get there, an hour plus any waiting for the test, and then an hour to get back. By that time, the school day is over. So for me, that's half a day that I have to take off.
I just don't see the point of doing the test at all if I'm testing at home with a professional grade blood meter. It honestly seems pointless to me. I can basically do the same thing at home by drinking or eating the same amount of carbs that are in the sugar solution they give you, and then test 1 hour later. Am I missing something? It costs us absolutely nothing for the testing supplies since DH has thousands of them and they're all free through our ins plan. DH and I are both a little stumped.
Ask your doc what they think. You seem to be very proactive about your nutrition and monitoring your blood sugars. I would let your doc know about your monitoring and hear what they think.
The test is optional where I live. I took it at 25 weeks (just because I could and wanted to know if I have GD) and am waiting for results.
I would not be testing sugars erratically at home. What does your OB think of this "opting out" of the glucose tolerance test??
I drank the stuff in 5 minutes, went to the lab & had my blood drawn an hour later. In & out, no big deal. It doesn't take half a day.
In addition, testing your sugars now means nothing unless you are high risk for GD (overweight, etc). You need to wait until closer to 3rd tri (24-28 weeks) for it to be accurate.
Testing now allows me to track my bs through my entire pregnancy to establish a baseline. I'll of course continue daily testing throughout the whole pregnancy. I am slightly high risk due to family history and being overweight.?
I follow DH's instructions regarding lancets, meters, etc carefully. He's very experienced and helps me keep my log. I'm definitely learning what it's like to be diabetic with the daily testing and record keeping. I feel badly for my DH who has lived with this disease for 15 years. He tests 6-8 times a day, is constantly attached to a pump, and has numerous complications, despite his A1C being below 7%, as is recommended for T1s. It's very difficult for him.?
I just feel it is unnecessary to be testing yourself daily at this point...but obviously it's your decision. I read somewhere (I can't remember the source so I apologize) that the placenta starts producing more hormones at around 24 weeks, which can affect your glucose tolerance. GL.
What time do you get out of school? I've never worked at a school that ended after 3pm. You can get to the lab by 4. And just about every lab has a day that they are open late. My insurance even offers a lab that is open until 10 one night a week. And usually they have the Saturday hours too. It seems like you think you've got it under control and are just looking for a reason not to go. Truthfully all you have to do is miss 1 or 2 periods. That isn't 1/2 a day, it's 2 hours of sick/personal time, tops.
Definitely ask your doctor and then do what he/she says. Strangers on a message board can tell you what they would do but they aren't medically trained. But truthfully, neither are you. And the meters are accurate most of the time, but not always. My dad is diabetic and his lab tests always vary at least slightly from his home tests, and a few times greatly.
Also I think you might just be going a little overboard. I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure. But I haven't taken my dads old meter, and I haven't gotten a bp test either. Watching your nutrition is a great idea, but testing your blood sugar 3x's a day (it sounds like 3x's) just seems a little pointless. A family history doesn't even mean that you'll get diabetes or gd.
I highly doubt your Dr. will let you not take it.. There's no MEDICAL reason why you can't take it, so suck it up. ?
EXACTLY!!! You are NOT a Dr. and although you may know the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes- what is a high/low blood sugar, how to test for it-- Type 1 is not GD and you are not qualified to make any assumptions.
For liability alone your Dr. will not let you opt out of GD testing. Gestational Diabetes (as I am sure you know) has potentially very severe effects on both mother and child resulting in many complications prior and after birth.
Lastly, my DH also has type 1 and although I know 100% I don't have GD from testing my blood sugars on my own I understand the Dr.'s obligation to test and have record.... not just my word! I am sure there is a way you will be able to schedule it and it should not take the entire day.
Unless you are drinking 50 mg of glucose before testing I don't think you are getting the same readings that you get from the glucose test. Eating regular meals is not going to be the same. I would definately still get the test. Maybe you could set up the appointment like mine is set up. I am going in 15 mins early and drinking the drink then having my regular check-up with the doctor and then waiting whatever time may be left. That way you aren't missing that much more than you would with a regular appointment.
GD test isn't something that should be considered optional, IMO. I would talk to your OB about the complications and risks that can arise from having untreated and undiagnosed GD.
When you go into labor they will ask if you have GD. What will you say? "Well, I don't think so..."?
It's just an hour for the health of your and your LO. I'm shocked each and everytime someone brings up that they want to skip the test.
You are asking pregnant women their opinion on whether or not you should take a medical test that would detect something as serious as GD.
This is what you have an OB for.
FYI, all of my doctor's appointments are a HUGE inconvenience. In DC traffic, it often takes me 90+ minutes to get to and from my appointments. Your doctor could very easily schedule your GD test for the same time as one of your regularly scheduled prenatal appointments and then you'd be there anyway.
I do think it would be a good idea to have this in your record though.
My BFF is a doctor and performed many of the blood tests on herself at work, instead of going to her doctor. Her doctor flipped out and said that those results needed to be part of her record, not just something she did on her own.
Honestly, with all of the excuses you're making in response to the opinions you've gathered here, it's my opinion that you're not actually interested in what we have to say, you're looking for validation. You're unlikely to get it here.
If your insurance is so good that they'll cover your H's testing suppllies, then they'll cover this, too. Get the test.
This. Get the test.
I'm pretty much doing the same thing... have been testing periodically throughout this pregnancy. I did have GD with my last pregnancy so my Dr. said it was a good idea to at least keep a periodic check on my blood sugar throughout this one. Last Dr.'s visit it was brought up that I'd need to get the drink for my 1 hr test... so I asked that since I'd been testing already and so far my numbers are great, if I would really have to take the test. My Dr. agreed that I wouldn't have to!!!
I say it's definitely worth asking about! I certainly wouldn't recommend that just anyone ask to waive the test... but since you have been testing already and your numbers look pretty good then I'd say you have valid reason to not take it.
This, exactly. But at least ASK your DOCTOR, not a message board full of internet strangers.
It sounds like no matter what anyone on here says, you're still going to try to not do the GD test. Why ask for opinions then? Did you just want validation?
Honestly you sound very silly trying to play doctor at home. Talk to your OB about this and listen to their reasoning since you won't listen to anyone on here.
Schedule the test for 7:30. Chug the drink at home at 6:30. You'll be out of there and on your way by 7:35. Even with an hour drive, you'll be at work by 8:30. That is NOT half a day missed for the test
They might even be able to do the test on a Saturday depending on the lab
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
Yes you are missing something here. The drink they give you is a glucose drink that has a very specific amount of glucose. Not all carbohydrates (sugars, starches, etc) contain glucose and most contain fructose which is absorbed and metabolized differently in the body. Fructose does not cause the same response as glucose when it comes to insulin which is important in a glucose tolerance test.
It does also depend on where the clinic takes the blood. There are differences in finger prick and venous concentrations. Albiet, not a huge difference but it is something to consider when comparing your values to your doctors.
I have administered glucose tolerance drinks for a 3 hour test for research and it is NOT the same as using a meter. We considered using a glucose meter but it was not as sensitive as the laboratory assay that we performed.