Glucose Tolerance Test

amhowell14 · February 2015

hey ladies! So, in a couple of weeks I go in for the dreaded glucose test. Ugh. At my last appt, the nurse gave me the drink, and the instructions, and I'm confused. In bold black letters on my instruction sheet, it says do not fast before test. Eat your normal breakfast!

My last two pregnancies, I had to fast. I asked the nurse about it, and she said the docs in my practice do not want you to fast beforehand. Anyone ever seen that before? I almost want to fast anyway. I'll be pissed if I fail the one hour because I ate beforehand.

ACharnelle · February 2015

My doc told me it was fine to eat, but to avoid sugary and carb filled foods. Better to have some protein and water for breakfast, rather that cereal and juice in this case.

karaelaine1991 · February 2015

I'd call and double check that they didn't make a mistake. Explain that the instructions are different from what you've been told in the past and you don't want to mess anything up. Better safe than sorry!

amhowell14 · February 2015

karaelaine1991 said:
I'd call and double check that they didn't make a mistake. Explain that the instructions are different from what you've been told in the past and you don't want to mess anything up. Better safe than sorry!

I asked the nurse twice, and she said it was fine to eat. She just kept saying, they don't like you to fast.

amhowell14 · February 2015

ACharnelle said:
My doc told me it was fine to eat, but to avoid sugary and carb filled foods. Better to have some protein and water for breakfast, rather that cereal and juice in this case.

If I do have breakfast, I plan on staying away from anything that could potentially cause me to fail.

I had to do the 3 hour with DD #2, and it's no fun. Anything to avoid that again.

MamaBish · February 2015

If she told you multiple times not to fast, I would listen, maybe just only eat lightly beforehand.

karaelaine1991 · February 2015

amhowell14 said:

karaelaine1991 said:
I'd call and double check that they didn't make a mistake. Explain that the instructions are different from what you've been told in the past and you don't want to mess anything up. Better safe than sorry!
I asked the nurse twice, and she said it was fine to eat. She just kept saying, they don't like you to fast.

In that case, I agree with @MamaBish‌

tinybugsmom · February 2015

Stick to protein... an egg or two, bacon. Don't do sausage unless it has no added sugar.

FloGirl82 · February 2015

Listen to the nurse. They wouldn't give you directions telling you that you didn't have to fast, if you have to fast beforehand. That would be pointless. My clinic's directions said the same thing.

KaLikeAWind · February 2015

I also got scheduled for this at my next appt (I just went yesterday) and 'not fasting' was circled on the sheet they give me to give to the front desk to schedule the next appt. Since I'm a ftm I had no idea if that was off the norm or what. I guess I'll call and ask too

WifeDeAngel · February 2015

My dr told me to eat a protein filled breakfast before. So eggs and bacon it is!

amhowell14 · February 2015

FloGirl82 said:
Listen to the nurse. They wouldn't give you directions telling you that you didn't have to fast, if you have to fast beforehand. That would be pointless. My clinic's directions said the same thing.

Well, of course. Just curious if anyone else had been told not to fast. Like I said, this is my third pregnancy, and first time not having to fast.

FloGirl82 · February 2015

The only thing I found funny on my clinic's directions was it said to not smoke 6 hours before the test-I hope no one is smoking this far into their pregnancy! (I was a smoker at the time I found out I was pregnant, and I quit immediately. I know how hard it is to quit, though!)

I would just take PP advice and stick with something high in protein and low in carbs and sugar before you test. That's what I plan on doing before my test I take on the 5th (I thought I was taking it at my appt this past Monday, but I was a day shy of 24 weeks, so they couldn't administer the test to me).

Good luck!

amhowell14 · February 2015

FloGirl82 said:
The only thing I found funny on my clinic's directions was it said to not smoke 6 hours before the test-I hope no one is smoking this far into their pregnancy! (I was a smoker at the time I found out I was pregnant, and I quit immediately. I know how hard it is to quit, though!)

I would just take PP advice and stick with something high in protein and low in carbs and sugar before you test. That's what I plan on doing before my test I take on the 5th (I thought I was taking it at my appt this past Monday, but I was a day shy of 24 weeks, so they couldn't administer the test to me).

Good luck!

It said not to smoke? Crazy. My test is on the 4th, and I dread it. Worst part of pregnancy, IMO.

nsilberman216 · February 2015

I was also told not to fast, to eat normally but not to have, say, a candy bar or huge soda beforehand. I plan to eat something with protein because I definitely don't want to do the longer test if I can avoid it!

laurendutch · February 2015

I hated this last time. So much sugar that it made my stomach sick. Make it ice cold! I always get confused on how soon I have to go...

amhowell14 · February 2015

laurendutch said:
I hated this last time. So much sugar that it made my stomach sick. Make it ice cold! I always get confused on how soon I have to go...

With DD #1, I actually vomited after drinking the glucola. Thank goodness I was still able to have my blood drawn without drinking it again. Ugh.

ksimo6 · February 2015

Also in the "don not fast" club. My doc told me to eat an egg and have some water. With DD, my test was in the afternoon so there was no way I could fast. This time, it's right away in the AM.

babybean9 · February 2015

Double post! Oops.

babybean9 · February 2015

There's two components to the test, depending if you fail. The first test is a one hour non-fasting test. If you fail you have to do the three hour diagnostic fasting test.

I passed a few weeks ago, but have to repeat at 28 weeks. I felt extremely dizzy, slightly nauseous, horrible headache and almost passed out the first time. They had to put me in a room to lay down. I recommend protein beforehand and bringing water!

porklump30 · February 2015

I had GD with my first pregnancy. I was tested around 9 or 10 weeks this pregnancy and did the one hour non-fasting test. I will repeat the test at my next appointment on 3/10 and same thing - 1 hour non-fasting. With my first pregnancy, the office used a 2 hour fasting test. I asked about it both times and was told the guidelines/industry standards have changed in the past few years.

amhowell14 · February 2015

My OB passed away in Sept, so I'm with a new group. It looks like different OB's have different protocols. Thanks ladies, and good luck on your Glucose test.

karaelaine1991 · February 2015

Had my 24 week appointment this morning, and I was also told not to fast. Sounds like this may be the new norm!

annatta79 · February 2015

This is why I love being with a midwife. My glucose test was to fast, get an initial finger stick, go eat a big pancake breakfast and then get a blood draw about 2 hours later.

disney815 · February 2015

I'm actually sitting in the waiting room now after just drinking the drink. I was told to not eat or drink for 1 hour before hand, which is what it was with my previous pregnancies.

alcrimmins · February 2015

I was told to fast for an hour before. No eating or drinking.

aub060708 · February 2015

I had my test a few weeks ago and was told not to fast as well. I just ate a light breakfast and kept a normal routine before going and the results came back totally normal

Cryan14 · February 2015

Had my test a couple weeks ago. My doctor said to eat like I normally do. Test results came back normal.

Emilywooddesign · February 2015

I had an OB apt today and next month I will have my glucose test. The nurse and the doctor both told me not to fast before the test, I just can't have anything for an hour after I have the drink ( until they have drawn blood)

starkbaby22 · February 2015

The don't have you fast because they want to see how your body handles the sugar with your regular diet.

The 3 hour is totally different and you would have to fast for that one.

katyertl · February 2015

I work at an OB office. For ours you do NOT fast for the first one because they want to see how your body acts normally. We just say not to eat anything too surgary beforehand. If you fail the first test you come back for a 3 hour test which includes fasting from 9 pm the night before until your appt which is always at 8 then you are at your office for 3 hours getting tested every hour.
That's how we do it I'm sure other offices do it differently. But I would do whatever the nurse and or doctor told you to do.

amhowell14 · February 2015

starkbaby22 said:
The don't have you fast because they want to see how your body handles the sugar with your regular diet.

The 3 hour is totally different and you would have to fast for that one.

As I said, last two pregnancies, I had to fast for the one hour. It just threw me for a loop when they told me I didn't have to this time. I even asked my friend, who is an OB in another state, and she even said, "we have all our patients fast." So, guess every doc is different.

sschwege · February 2015

I didn't fast with my other two and passed easily both times. I was just told to eat normally, but just avoid anything too sugary or carby. The example was, don't eat a huge cinn roll and then come in to take the test.

3llisboc · February 2015

Is this a mandatory test in pregnancy? Ive heard about it before but nothing has been mentioned to me by doctor or midwife to make an appointment for this testing

sschwege · February 2015

3llisboc said:

Is this a mandatory test in pregnancy? Ive heard about it before but nothing has been mentioned to me by doctor or midwife to make an appointment for this testing

I mean I guess you can decline any testing right, so not mandatory, but so routine that I've never heard of anyone not having it. My MWs are pretty 'hands off', I don't even pee in a cup at appointments, but I've always had this screening and I'm not in an elevated risk category.

amhowell14 · February 2015

My friend had a midwife who was not a fan of glucola ( the drink used for test), so she did the jelly bean test. She said 28 jelly beans equal 50 grams of sugar, same as the one hour glucola. Anyone else done this?

HoosOnFirst · February 2015

My doc is having me fast for several hours beforehand (7 maybe?). It's early in the morning so I'm fine with it. They told me I can and might want to drink water with the liquid, as long as I don't mix it in the liquid itself. I have to take it while on a commuter train, I hope it doesn't make me ill! Also, is the Orange the only flavor that exists? It's seriously my least favorite fake flavor out there. Gross.

sschwege · February 2015

hoodoll82 said:
My doc is having I e fast for several hours beforehand (7 maybe?). It's early in the morning so I'm fine with it. They told me I can and might want to drink water with the liquid, as long as I don't mix it in the liquid itself. I have to take it while on a commuter train, I hope it doesn't make me ill! Also, is the Orange the only flavor that exists? It's seriously my least favorite fake flavor out there. Gross.

No, they make a lime (not a fan, but clear so no dyes) and I think also fruit punch. IMO orange was better than lime.

Lynn&Andrew+1 · February 2015

My doctor told me not to fast. She advised to instead eat a protein-rich breakfast abd to avoid any sugarry foods like fruit or juice.

amhowell14 · February 2015

sschwege said:

hoodoll82 said:
My doc is having I e fast for several hours beforehand (7 maybe?). It's early in the morning so I'm fine with it. They told me I can and might want to drink water with the liquid, as long as I don't mix it in the liquid itself. I have to take it while on a commuter train, I hope it doesn't make me ill! Also, is the Orange the only flavor that exists? It's seriously my least favorite fake flavor out there. Gross.
No, they make a lime (not a fan, but clear so no dyes) and I think also fruit punch. IMO orange was better than lime.

I like the fruit punch much better than the Orange.

laurendutch · February 2015

I want to say my Drs office was going to give me Root beer.

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