I asked about this on the May 2012 board, but I thought I might get more paleo-informed answers on this board. I've eaten paleo for well over a year (no sugar, no grains, no dairy ... although I'm not super strict about the no dairy).
I have my 24 week appointment next week, and I plan to talk to my doctor about the glucose test for GD and see if there are any testing alternatives, or if I can just opt out of the test altogether. From the things I've read, women on a paleo or very low-carb diet do not get accurate results from this test (because their bodies have converted to a fat-burning state, not glucose burning). I've read several things about women on a paleo diet "failing" the test, then being told to consume a crazy about of carbs before taking the 3 hour test of even more glucose, but these women have very healthy blood sugar ranges with their normal paleo diet.
Anyway, I don't want to take the test because (1) I don't believe the test is going to be accurate or helpful, (2) if I "fail" the test, my diet is already pretty much what they recommend for the GD diet, and (3) I don't see how a 50g glucose binge can be good for me or the baby.
Anyone go through anything similar?
Re: Paleo / GD glucose test question
I went through the same thought process before my test. I eat mostly paleo (some weeks are better than others) and had second thoughts about the test. I've also seen Robb Wolf's thoughts and some other articles about how a glucose bomb like the drink they give you is not good for the baby. Ultimately, I decided just to take the test. I drink milkshakes on occasion, which definitely have more sugar than that glucose drink does, so I figured I couldn't really argue the whole "this is really bad for my baby" line. I also am not sure if I believe that just because you eat paleo that your results will be skewed in responding to the test. If you eat paleo, I don't see why your body would respond like a diabetic to ingesting sugar.
I think it's a decision you have to make. Maybe talk to your doctor about other options that are available? Unfortunately I don't think there are many. I agree that it seems like a poor way to test someone's response to sugar to load them up with it, but again, 50 grams of sugar did not seem like a big enough deal to me to decline the test. But you may feel differently, and if you do, you should try to explore other options.
Edited to add - I think you also have a good point that if you fail, they are just going to tell you to eat paleo anyway, as that is basically what the GD diet is. So if you already eat that way, there's really nothing more you can do. Even more reason for you to talk to your doctor and find out why they think you should take the test if the solution is something you are already doing.
I've been Primal for close to 2 years and have been really low-carb during this pregnancy because carbs are giving me horrible heartburn. I did take the 1hr test at 25w and I got 146 ("passing" is <140). At 28w I did the 3hr test and carb-loaded the three days before. My fasting # was 63 and the others were 76, 73, and 85. It sucked, but at least now the OB won't try sending me to a nutritionist (who I doubt would be Primal/Paleo-friendly).
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Thanks for the responses, ladies! I had my 24 week appointment today and spoke to my doctor about this. She had a general understanding of paleo/primal but said she didn't have experience with other paleo moms-to-be. So she admitted she wasn't familiar with how the glucose test might affect someone on paleo differently, but she was on board with the general idea that, given my diet, having me drink 50g of glucose would be silly and would probably f*** me up. She also agreed that my diet is probably pretty close to what's recommended anyway if I did test positive for GD.
She said she will have to discuss it with the other (5) doctors in her practice on Thursday, but she was comfortable (given my health history and lack of risk factors) having me not take the glucose test. She didn't have me take the drink home with me and sounded pretty confident that the other doctors would be on board. We discussed possible alternatives, like testing my blood sugar after a normal meal.
Anyway, I'm relieved my doctor was open to alternatives and didn't make me feel like I was just being an annoying patient.
Good for you! Sounds like you have a great OB. I never even thought to question it. I guess I should be more out-spoken with my doctors.
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