Misdiagnosis of GD?

JenMatt2010 · July 2013

Hi ladies, I posted about this before, but I've now been monitoring my glucose levels for a week and i was finally able to get an appt with the nutritionist/np about my GD diagnosis. My appt is Monday, and I'm hoping you all can help me figure out how to approach this appt and if i should request additional testing.

I have been monitoring my blood glucose levels for a week, and I haven't been able to get above 139. That was a meal of chinese food, where I ate fried chicken pieces in tons of sauce, about 1.5 cups of white rice, and a fried eggroll with duck sauce. After that meal, my 1 hr level was 139 and my 2 hr level was 115. Normally, my post meal numbers range from mid 90's to 120, and the ones in the 120 range are when I try to eat potatoes, ketchup, pizza, etc to see what it does to my numbers. My fasting numbers are low 70s to mid 80s.

I was under a lot of stress when I took my 1 hr and 2 hr test, my grandma was dying, and I ate out of the norm for me the week and a half before my tests because we had family in town and were celebrating bdays, so lots of cake, sugar, restaurant food, soda, etc. Not at all how I normally eat. Also, I then freaked out when I failed my one hour, number was 144, and didn't eat many carbs before my next test, should have been the 3 hr test but dr office screwed up and sent me for 2 hr, which i failed by one number, my 2 hr level was 155 and the nurse told me it should have been under 155, although I've also seen 153 as the cut off.

I'm just hoping you can give me advice on anything to discuss at my appt Monday, and whether it is possible that I've been misdiagnosed, since all of my numbers have been in the normal range.

For all the lurkers, I'm not trying to "beat" the system, but i do wonder if i truly have GD, and I'm nervous that this could change my birth plan of a VBAC.

So, do you think it's worth asking to take the 3 hour test? Do you think there's any chance I was misdiagnosed? Just not sure how I should approach this appt.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

elishabelle · July 2013

A lot of women feel that way at first, but as the pregnancy progresses you have hormone surges where you may see a difference in your glucose levels. Keep doing what your doctor is asking you to do. It's not going to hurt you and it's good for the baby.

KaramelSutra · July 2013

You are still early. What is it going to hurt to keep checking? If your doc was concerned enough to give you the diagnosis, go with it. You are lucky your numbers right now are ok with whatever you eat. I wish I could say the same. Unfortunately, at 23 weeks I COULD eat almost anything. NOW? I'm on 16 units of Lantus daily and can barely have 2 servings of carbs/meal without being in the 130s. The placenta and hormones surge around 28/32/36 weeks and things get worse. I'd hate for you to fight your diagnosis, not get retested, and end up with complications to you and baby. VBACS wi GD are NOT impossible. They can be done. Relax, and enjoy your food

JenMatt2010 · July 2013

Thanks for the info since I haven't talked to my doc or the nutritionist yet, I haven't received any sort of info. The nurse who called to tell me the diagnosis only told me not to drink juice. I was away for a funeral last week, so my appt is Monday...

andthatmakes4 · July 2013

With my previous pregnancy, as long as your GD is diet controlled, it should not affect your birthing options. Mine was. I didn't even get any extra ultrasounds like other GD moms get. It seems to me as PPers have said, that it won't hurt the baby to follow the GD plan. It also sounds like youll be able to tolerate more carbs than most GDers.

ETA: My dr even cut my pricks down to once a day. I just had to alternate between the 4 times so that he would be able to see if there was a change to be concerned about. So it may not be the extreme life change you seem to fear it will be.

JenMatt2010 · July 2013

lmlorenz12:
With my previous pregnancy, as long as your GD is diet controlled, it should not affect your birthing options. Mine was. I didn't even get any extra ultrasounds like other GD moms get. It seems to me as PPers have said, that it won't hurt the baby to follow the GD plan. It also sounds like youll be able to tolerate more carbs than most GDers.

ETA: My dr even cut my pricks down to once a day. I just had to alternate between the 4 times so that he would be able to see if there was a change to be concerned about. So it may not be the extreme life change you seem to fear it will be.

Very happy to hear all this! Thanks so much for sharing!!

cinderin · July 2013

elishabelle:
A lot of women feel that way at first, but as the pregnancy progresses you have hormone surges where you may see a difference in your glucose levels. Keep doing what your doctor is asking you to do. It's not going to hurt you and it's good for the baby.

This.

Lbear8 · July 2013

lmlorenz12:
With my previous pregnancy, as long as your GD is diet controlled, it should not affect your birthing options. Mine was. I didn't even get any extra ultrasounds like other GD moms get. It seems to me as PPers have said, that it won't hurt the baby to follow the GD plan. It also sounds like youll be able to tolerate more carbs than most GDers.

ETA: My dr even cut my pricks down to once a day. I just had to alternate between the 4 times so that he would be able to see if there was a change to be concerned about. So it may not be the extreme life change you seem to fear it will be.

Similar thing happened to me, aroun 35 weeks my doctor told me I could eat whatever I wanted because less than once per week my number was over 120. He said I had to keep testing and if my numbers went high I needed to adjust back to the diet. They never did :

Sea Conquest · July 2013

I agree both with the fact that many women feel misdiagnosed/have a relatively easy time controlling their numbers early or with diet and with the fact that gd doesn't automatically have to impact your birth plans. I was diet controlled with my first but still labored in a birth center with midwives and was not induced. My son came at 41w1d and both he and I were fine. I have GD again, take Glyburide at night, am AMA and my peri is still fine with me going to 41w as long as BPPs are solid. Every woman is going to have a different comfort level and the specifics of medical conditions will vary. Research and talk with your care providers.

manditxg · July 2013

my GD is diet controlled and I have to test 4 times a day still but I can't just eat anything I want and get good results. I have to really stick to the diet. I asked at my hospital birthing class if there would be anything different for me as far as when I get there and how they would do things and she just said they would let me have little bits of food and test every so often to make sure my levels are good. they don't let those without GD have any food so there's a plus!

anewmrsS · July 2013

JenMatt2010:
Hi ladies, I posted about this before, but I've now been monitoring my glucose levels for a week and i was finally able to get an appt with the nutritionist/np about my GD diagnosis. My appt is Monday, and I'm hoping you all can help me figure out how to approach this appt and if i should request additional testing. I have been monitoring my blood glucose levels for a week, and I haven't been able to get above 139. That was a meal of chinese food, where I ate fried chicken pieces in tons of sauce, about 1.5 cups of white rice, and a fried eggroll with duck sauce. After that meal, my 1 hr level was 139 and my 2 hr level was 115. Normally, my post meal numbers range from mid 90's to 120, and the ones in the 120 range are when I try to eat potatoes, ketchup, pizza, etc to see what it does to my numbers. My fasting numbers are low 70s to mid 80s. I was under a lot of stress when I took my 1 hr and 2 hr test, my grandma was dying, and I ate out of the norm for me the week and a half before my tests because we had family in town and were celebrating bdays, so lots of cake, sugar, restaurant food, soda, etc. Not at all how I normally eat. Also, I then freaked out when I failed my one hour, number was 144, and didn't eat many carbs before my next test, should have been the 3 hr test but dr office screwed up and sent me for 2 hr, which i failed by one number, my 2 hr level was 155 and the nurse told me it should have been under 155, although I've also seen 153 as the cut off. I'm just hoping you can give me advice on anything to discuss at my appt Monday, and whether it is possible that I've been misdiagnosed, since all of my numbers have been in the normal range. For all the lurkers, I'm not trying to "beat" the system, but i do wonder if i truly have GD, and I'm nervous that this could change my birth plan of a VBAC. So, do you think it's worth asking to take the 3 hour test? Do you think there's any chance I was misdiagnosed? Just not sure how I should approach this appt. THANK YOU!!!!!!

I felt this same way when I was first diagnosed. I failed 2 hours of the 3 hour test by 3-4 points, and was given the diagnosis. The highest sugar reading I've had since then was a 98. I too was worried about the VBAC option being taken away, but I sat and addressed all of my concerns with my doctor who was able to make me feel much better about things. Yes, I scheduled my RCS due to my GD, but if I go into labor before that, she is more than willing to let me try for the VBAC still as long as there are no other issues.

I say better to do the GD song and dance now, than to have a baby with blood sugar issues at birth!.

anewmrsS · July 2013

JenMatt2010:
Hi ladies, I posted about this before, but I've now been monitoring my glucose levels for a week and i was finally able to get an appt with the nutritionist/np about my GD diagnosis. My appt is Monday, and I'm hoping you all can help me figure out how to approach this appt and if i should request additional testing. I have been monitoring my blood glucose levels for a week, and I haven't been able to get above 139. That was a meal of chinese food, where I ate fried chicken pieces in tons of sauce, about 1.5 cups of white rice, and a fried eggroll with duck sauce. After that meal, my 1 hr level was 139 and my 2 hr level was 115. Normally, my post meal numbers range from mid 90's to 120, and the ones in the 120 range are when I try to eat potatoes, ketchup, pizza, etc to see what it does to my numbers. My fasting numbers are low 70s to mid 80s. I was under a lot of stress when I took my 1 hr and 2 hr test, my grandma was dying, and I ate out of the norm for me the week and a half before my tests because we had family in town and were celebrating bdays, so lots of cake, sugar, restaurant food, soda, etc. Not at all how I normally eat. Also, I then freaked out when I failed my one hour, number was 144, and didn't eat many carbs before my next test, should have been the 3 hr test but dr office screwed up and sent me for 2 hr, which i failed by one number, my 2 hr level was 155 and the nurse told me it should have been under 155, although I've also seen 153 as the cut off. I'm just hoping you can give me advice on anything to discuss at my appt Monday, and whether it is possible that I've been misdiagnosed, since all of my numbers have been in the normal range. For all the lurkers, I'm not trying to "beat" the system, but i do wonder if i truly have GD, and I'm nervous that this could change my birth plan of a VBAC. So, do you think it's worth asking to take the 3 hour test? Do you think there's any chance I was misdiagnosed? Just not sure how I should approach this appt. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Also, as far as the number cut offs, every doctor is different. I've seen people say they have to stay under 140 on some of the glucose tests, but my doc uses 120 as her high number.

kimberlymacrae · July 2013

My number cut off from my Dr is 130 for two hour. However after trial and error i have realized if I am above 105 after an hour my stomach is upset. So I like to stay between 85 and 95...

SopranoMama · July 2013

(Excuse my peaking out of lurkdom)
I also feel I was misdiagnosed, however I believe mine was actually due to a lab error (I knew I should have made a big deal when the tech kept calling me by the wrong name!!) My fasting number on the 3 hour was perfectly fine (the one time I corrected her with my name) the next two were completely out of control (well over 200, and then just about 200) and then the third was one point under the cut off - a 139.

I started off following the GD diet, then on a special occasion I allowed myself to throw it out the window, and still tested fine. Then I started experimenting and can't get a number over 124 2 hours after eating (and that was after sipping on gingerail up to a half hour before I tested.) Last night was our anniversary and I had pasta, then a thick super rich dessert, and even cotton candy... No joke. Cotton candy. I tested a 101 2 hours later.

The nurse practitioner at the MFM that is handling the GD portion of my care says there is no way to remove the diagnosis, but per her instructions I can eat whatever I want on whatever schedule I want and go down to testing "randomly." I'm still upset that I am going to have to deal with this label though and I truly think this whole thing was an error.

lovelyophelia · July 2013

It is rare that it is a misdiagnosis. However, the numbers can get crazy at the end. I had GD last time. My numbers went back to normal because my placenta began calcifying. It didn't mean I was misdiagnosed, but what was causing my GD was failing.

MrsSmith414 · July 2013

Honestly, last week I could have written this myself. It stinks and it is scary to be given a GD diagnosis. Bottom line is you failed the test, stress has nothing to do with it you failed. I would absolutely bring up your concerns to your OB on Monday at your appointment! You could be borderline but you still should be watching what you eat. Testing or trying to fake the system isn't doing good to your body. Ask for them to do a fasting Hemaglobin (sp) C which will tell them how your sugars were for the past 3 months.

My levels throughout the day are easily manageable with very few diet changes and I have even had a few days where I have eaten pizza or ice cream and my levels have been just fine. My OB gets this and is completely understanding about my concerns. But the above ladies are right, throughout your pregnancy this could get worse! Do some research, do/eat what your supposed to be doing, and your baby will be here soon. Its really not that huge of a deal. You just have to come to terms with it instead of ignoring it.

JenMatt2010 · July 2013

Thanks for all the additional replies ladies! I had my GD appt on Monday and we went over my numbers, etc. They did the A1C test and were happy with my results - I got a 4.9. They basically said I can keep eating the way I have been (minus to pizza and chinese that I ate to "test" my numbers) and just keep track to be on the safe side. They put a lot of my fears to rest. I meet with my OB Monday and will discuss the VBAC issue then, but hopefully it won't be an issue since I've been able to control it easily with diet so far.

Thanks!!

MrsSmith414 · July 2013

I'm so glad!!!

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