Gestational Diabetes Test

court476 · January 2015

I've heard that their are two different ways to test this. My doctor says not to eat anything after midnight the night before and only drink water. Then to come in early (9:00 am) for the test. They are going to prick my finger and see if my blood level is under 100, give me a sugary drink, wait an hour, then prick my finger again to see if my sugar level is under 130.

When I told my mom this she said that they were doing it wrong. That the their are two different tests and they were mixing them up and to refuse to be tested like that because I will come up high.

Now that being said my mom, though I love her very much is not a doctor, but she is one of those "know-it-all-people"

So i guess my question is what are the two different ways to be tested? and

Is she right.....again? lol

P.S. I didn't bring this up to my doctor because I didn't know about it till after I was out of the appointment.

miahbelle · January 2015

That isn't how they do my test... But I guess each doctor could do it differently? Mine just sends you home with the bottle, you drink it about 45 minutes or so before your appointment and then when you get there tell them your blood needs to be tested in 15 minutes. I can also eat and drink normally up until I drink the sugar nasty-ness.

cwiceangel · January 2015

I prefer your drs way... I didn't have to fast but did. I had to go in drink the lemon lime drink wait an hour and then the horrible woman drew four vials of blood.... I would much rather have a prick of the finger twice.

specialsn0wflake · January 2015

There are different ways to do the test, more than 2 to my knowledge.

I'm sure your doctor has their own reasons for choosing the type of test they did. It never hurts to ask.

ETA: There's several different posts on GD, if you read them you'll see that most everyone who shared their experience with their test has had it done differently in some way or another.

karboss · January 2015

A lot of women fast for their 1 hour test. I did not have a fasting blood draw at my 1 hour but I did at my 3 hour. Typically, if you fail your 1 hour you will do a 3 hour as PP have stated. That is basically the same test but they add additional blood draws at the 2 and 3 hour points to see how your body reacts to glucose over time. From discussion with friends and family as well as my doc--fasting before your 1 hour does give more accurate results.

As also stated, this has been discussed at length on multiple posts. Use the search feature.

Boudie49 · January 2015

Chiming in because I've had a different experience than most are having. Not sure if this is because I'm in Canada, but I did the 1 hour test and was told it was not a pass. When I asked what my numbers were I was told "8" which really confused me because I'm used to hearing everyone on here talk about numbers in the 100's. I did not have to fast for this test.

I had to go back and do a 2 hour test and fast for 12 hours before. They drew my blood before I had the drink and then did another draw 2 hours later. That was yesterday and I'm waiting for the results...

I know this didn't answer your question but I thought I would share because obviously it's different for a lot of people.

anna&jl2011 · January 2015

I had my test yesterday and my doctor's office told me to eat a little something before my appt but not anything sugary. When I arrived at my appt they pricked my finger, gave me the sugary drink to drank and then I had to wait an hour and they pricked my finger again.

Disneygeek77 · January 2015

Your Dr's test isn't wrong, it is just a more strict way of testing than they used to. There have been studies out there saying that some women that have GD or are borderline GD are falling through the cracks because the tests aren't finding them, so some Doctors have changed their testing methods in order to find more woman that need the help.

I would listen to your Dr on this one. Yes it is two different tests, but they aren't mixing them up. Your Dr is just trying to see how well your body processes insulin. You might come up high, you might not, but GD isn't something you want to mess with.

bluebox · January 2015

they gave me a drink and i have to wait a week to take it cause. i'm 25 weeks tomorrow, i have to wait till next week for it.

Boudie49 · January 2015

souptin said:

Boudie49 said:

Chiming in because I've had a different experience than most are having. Not sure if this is because I'm in Canada, but I did the 1 hour test and was told it was not a pass. When I asked what my numbers were I was told "8" which really confused me because I'm used to hearing everyone on here talk about numbers in the 100's. I did not have to fast for this test.
I had to go back and do a 2 hour test and fast for 12 hours before. They drew my blood before I had the drink and then did another draw 2 hours later. That was yesterday and I'm waiting for the results...
I know this didn't answer your question but I thought I would share because obviously it's different for a lot of people.

Hi There!

I also am a Canadian and I happen to have a husband with Type 1 diabetes so I am familiar with the number system we use.

Keep in mind I have NOT had my glucose test yet for gestational diabetes.

The "normal" reading for Blood Glucose levels are between 5-7

so your 8 would be JUST out of the normal range.

hope that helps.

Seriously?! Thanks for putting my mind at ease, @souptin! When I pushed more on what the norm should be she told me a 4...she was also obviously thrown off that I asked her that question. I guess that was my fault for asking the receptionist.

emarsh0415 · January 2015

I wish that my OB's office did the finger prick test! They have already prepared me for (4) vials of blood to be drawn, I passed out at the 8 week appointment when they drew 7 vials, so they now warn me ahead of time so I can make sure hubby is there to drive me home... Just in case.

I'd go with what your dr says, it seems like there are quite a few ways for them to do the test. Hope that you get great results!

babymoonbeam · January 2015

I'm Also in Canada ans in the middle of my test now. Had to fast for 10 hours, lady told me when I booked no water either but I got here and they said oh of course you could have had water. But now I can't... Anyway they drew my blood, then drink gross orange sugar drink and drew blood after 1 hr. Now waiting another hour and they draw again. apparently this is what they do here now, I'm jelaoya of the pin prick tests!!!

marybeth05 · January 2015

With my 2nd pregnancy they only did the finger prick. I got a 140 and had to do the 3 hour test which I passed.
Yesterday I took the test and got a 137 and was told I passed- my doctor uses 140 as the cutoff. But they did draw a vial vs the finger prick this time.

mfouillard · January 2015

Where we live we aren't allowed to leAve the hospital once we have the sugary drink. Take drink at hosp-- wait 1 hour at the hospital-- they call your name, go in they take 1 vile of blood-- then I go home! Easy peasy:)

houser1406 · January 2015

I went in for mine right before Christmas. My doctor told me to eat normally because if i didnt eat at all I would fail just as I would if i ate a candy bar (on the opposite end of the scale, I assume) I went first thing in the morning and ate 2 plain scrambled eggs beforehand and passed with flying colors. I also had to have 4 vials of bloods drawn so maybe that is why she told me not to fast so I didnt pass out. Two finger pricks may be why shes telling you to fast. Go with what your Dr. is suggesting and good luck!

Mushibamboo · January 2015

I've had two different kinds of tests with two different pregnancies and asked at my dr when they were giving me instructions why they were different. They said different offices test in different ways and their tests are calibrated to the methods they have you use. Follow your doctor's instructions; I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing. My mom can be a know-it-all too.

bride2bnVA · January 2015

People told me same thing your dr told you...of course they tell me this after I took my test and I got all worried. I ate a damn cinnamon roll an hour before my appointment. For my test I was not told to prepare in anyway. I went in, drank the drink within 5 minutes and an hour later they took 3 tubes of blood. I had my results within a few days and I passed. Sounds like there are few ways to do the test, but I'd listen to your dr.

OliveMom3 · January 2015

It's just a conversion factor between the low and high numbers. https://www.diabeteschart.org/mgmmol.html

gittybaby · January 2015

Had my glucose screening yesterday: fasted for 3 hours total before they drew my blood. Doctor called today saying I failed, and I was instructed to eat 2 candy bars per day for the next 2 days. I then have to start fasting Sunday night, come in for my 1st blood draw at 830 on Monday, drink the drink, and undergo 3 more blood draws over the next 3 hours. What a pain!

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