Glucose screening.

mommytx16 · October 2015

Hi everyone!
So i'm supposed to be getting a glucose screening test done in the morning. Around 8 a.m and the nurse told me i can eat just not to eat or drink anything too sugary the morning of. Is this right? I've read online that alot of women have to fast the night before... Help!!? :-S

MrsLeanMeanClean · October 2015

you are supposed to fast 8-14hours... however this is supposed to be done at 26 weeks... so I am not sure why they are doing it so early

kellygrace2 · October 2015

MrsLeanMeanClean said:
you are supposed to fast 8-14hours... however this is supposed to be done at 26 weeks... so I am not sure why they are doing it so early

That's exactly what I did when I was pregnant with DD. Seems really early to be doing it! Eating can throw off your numbers so that's why they recommend fasting.

Melodyags · October 2015

My doctor did one at 12 weeks and then the one I have beginning 3rd trimester. My doctor told me I didn't have to fast before test.

KMKaiser07 · October 2015

When I did it with my first, I had the same concern because I wasn't told to fast and it was no problem.

RosyK · October 2015

The phlebotomist told me not to eat or drink that morning, as it could skew the results.

ClaireBear90 · October 2015

I haven't fasted for the one hr. glucose test and I've past with both of my pregnancies. It's not a fun part of pregnancy and I'm not going to make it worse by being hungry.

I avoid sugary foods on the day of the test and eat a high protein meal beforehand because I am prone to passing out. I haven't had to do the 3 hr glucose test, but I believe that one does require fasting.

maelic · October 2015

There is a difference between a glucose screening test and a glucose tolerance test.

For the glucose screening test, which is the first one they normally do on pregnant women barring other issues, you DO NOT need to fast and they will draw your blood 1 hour after drinking the glucose solution. If you fail the glucose screening test, you will need to fast for the glucose tolerance test. For the glucose tolerance test you need to fast for 8-14 hours before the test and you'll have your blood drawn multiple times over three hours after drinking the glucose solution.

Swillah · October 2015

I think it really depends. With DS I had my screening around 26 weeks I think and I didn't need to fast. Because of my weight this time and the fact that DS was 9 lbs my doc wanted to screen me for early GD so I did a glucose test end of September. I didn't have to fast this time either but while I was sitting there drinking the stuff I was reading the label and it mentioned fasting etc. I asked the tech because they didn't have me fast and I didn't want it to affect my results. She said they ask you to fast if you fail the one hour and have to do the 3 hour test. Maybe different doctors have different opinions on this. I passed so now I just will need to do it around the 28-28 week mark again.

mommytx16 · October 2015

That's exactly what i was thinking. Why are they making me do it now, if they usually do it around 26-28 weeks. and i'm only 18 weeks.

Swillah · October 2015

@maelic knows her stuff!!

kellygrace2 · October 2015

maelic said:
There is a difference between a glucose screening test and a glucose tolerance test.

For the glucose screening test, which is the first one they normally do on pregnant women barring other issues, you DO NOT need to fast and they will draw your blood 1 hour after drinking the glucose solution. If you fail the glucose screening test, you will need to fast for the glucose tolerance test. For the glucose tolerance test you need to fast for 8-14 hours before the test and you'll have your blood drawn multiple times over three hours after drinking the glucose solution.

That makes sense! My doctor doesn't do the 1-hour tests, just sends straight to the 3-hour ones. I think it's common practice here.

oceanchild · October 2015

Both my doctors (thru different pregnancies) have made me fast for the one hour test.
I always tried to get them to let me do the 13 jelly beans (or whatever it is) or eat an egg and bacon and OJ (or whatever is on that list) bc fasting after midnight and then drinking the glucola makes me sooo sick and gives me the worst headache and shakes. Sigh. Neither has gone for it yet.

alligreer88 · November 2015

Dr told me no eating or drinking- including water- after mid night and then be prepared to stay 3 hours for my morning appt. at 23 weeks. not sure which test I'm doing- not at risk for anything I'm aware of. I gained 85 lbs last pregnancy but passed glucose then.

kellygrace2 · November 2015

@alligreer88 Sounds like you're doing the full tolerance test if it's 3 hours. I've never heard of not being able to drink water though, that would've driven me nuts!

alligreer88 · November 2015

I'm wondering if it's so I come in thirsty and ready to drink the orange drink.

maddynnugget · November 2015

I was told I had to fast for both my one hour and three hour. The dr said since I failed my one hour even if I pass this weekend's three hour my next test, around 32 weeks, will automatically be a three hour with more fasting :-<

oceanchild · November 2015

I have to fast for my 1 hour. But you can absolutely drink water; I'm kind of shocked they told you not to. I was trying to get my doc to do it a few days early (23w4d), but he won't do it before 24w and wants it done before 28w.

PinkSunglasses16 · November 2015

I'm DREADING this test so bad. I will wait til the absolute last day to take it. I failed both my 1 hr and 3 hr with DD. Silly thing was no one made me aware therefore i didn't change my eating habits. I only gained 30 lbs and DD was 6lbs 5 oz.

kellygrace2 · November 2015

PinkSunglasses16 said:
I'm DREADING this test so bad. I will wait til the absolute last day to take it. I failed both my 1 hr and 3 hr with DD. Silly thing was no one made me aware therefore i didn't change my eating habits. I only gained 30 lbs and DD was 6lbs 5 oz.

They didn't tell you? That's crazy! I was borderline with DD (glucose intolerant, not GD) so I was very careful with my diet. My blood sugars were all fine as I controlled my diet carefully. I have been a little lax at the beginning this time so I need to get that under control in case it happens again.

PinkSunglasses16 · November 2015

kellygrace2 said:

I'm DREADING this test so bad. I will wait til the absolute last day to take it. I failed both my 1 hr and 3 hr with DD. Silly thing was no one made me aware therefore i didn't change my eating habits. I only gained 30 lbs and DD was 6lbs 5 oz.
They didn't tell you? That's crazy! I was borderline with DD (glucose intolerant, not GD) so I was very careful with my diet. My blood sugars were all fine as I controlled my diet carefully. I have been a little lax at the beginning this time so I need to get that under control in case it happens again.

Nope, i didn't find out till i was in labor/upon check-in. I have since changed OB's and we talked about it. Given that my BMI is spot on and the previous weight gain/ birth weight were fantastic. She believes it was a fluke due to scale grading and sees no reason why i would need to be concerned about having it again. With this said had i been overweight or had large baby she would of had be do the 1 hr at 12 weeks.

katelin318 · November 2015

I have my 1 hour glucose screening test at my next appointment, and I'm just wondering if they will draw blood before I drink the glucola and again an hour after, or just after. I have a bit of a needle phobia (which this pregnancy is slowly curing me of, by necessity!) and I'm just trying to prepare myself. My OB's office isn't great about returning phone calls that they don't feel are "urgent" so I thought asking you ladies might be more helpful. On my Bump 24-week homepage, there is an article about the glucose tests and it says that for the 3 hour test they draw your blood before and then each hour for three hours after, but for the 1 hour test it doesn't say if they draw before or not. Hoping that means they don't! Thanks in advance for any insight.

FutureMrsCaesar · November 2015

katelin318 said:

I have my 1 hour glucose screening test at my next appointment, and I'm just wondering if they will draw blood before I drink the glucola and again an hour after, or just after. I have a bit of a needle phobia (which this pregnancy is slowly curing me of, by necessity!) and I'm just trying to prepare myself. My OB's office isn't great about returning phone calls that they don't feel are "urgent" so I thought asking you ladies might be more helpful. On my Bump 24-week homepage, there is an article about the glucose tests and it says that for the 3 hour test they draw your blood before and then each hour for three hours after, but for the 1 hour test it doesn't say if they draw before or not. Hoping that means they don't! Thanks in advance for any insight.

This is crazy but I can't remember if they draw it first! I'm thinking not. If you don't get an answer here ask over on February 16, they're probably all in the middle of doing this right now. I had a needle phobia with my first too, but yeah, 4 babies and Graves' disease later, I'm totally cured. I do have a favorite phlebotomist and lab to go to though

Sweet_D · November 2015

They did mine early too. I went last week so dr would have results this week. Just turned 24 weeks yesterday so i was confused why I went so early. Interested to see the results since no one told me not to fast or watch what I eat before

Torpedogirl · November 2015

Just so everyone knows you do have a choice it's your body. My patients tend to think they have to just do whatever the doctor says without making suggestions. I barely make it through the 1 hour test I would never agree to the 3 hour one. It makes me sick and I don't want to put myself or the baby through that. Last time I failed my 1 hour by a few points. My doctor said he wasn't going to put me through the 3 hour and I could just check my sugars for a few days 2 hours after I ate. If they were ok then I was good.

J234 · November 2015

oceanchild said:

Both my doctors (thru different pregnancies) have made me fast for the one hour test. I always tried to get them to let me do the 13 jelly beans (or whatever it is) or eat an egg and bacon and OJ (or whatever is on that list) bc fasting after midnight and then drinking the glucola makes me sooo sick and gives me the worst headache and shakes. Sigh. Neither has gone for it yet.

I have the same thing... Fasting for the one hour test. Also, my doctor absolutely won't do the test before 28 weeks. The drink is bad, but not as awful as people told me. The worst part was the waiting and the awful sick feeling afterwards. Bleh.. not looking forward to it again.

Lisa6083 · November 2015

They just called and told me that I " am right at the cut off " for passing the 1 hour test. I hate getting my blood drawn, especially after all these needles and sticks and such for the IVF! Now. I have to go back next Wednesday for the 3 hour! I can't help but think it is my fault, cause I was stupid. Fasting after midnight, but of course I had a snack and also ate some Halloween candy at like, 1130pm. (I work late ) I am not looking forward to this at all. I passed with my first son, but of course that was 8 years and about 70lbs ago.

oceanchild · November 2015

Lisa6083 said:

They just called and told me that I " am right at the cut off " for passing the 1 hour test. I hate getting my blood drawn, especially after all these needles and sticks and such for the IVF! Now. I have to go back next Wednesday for the 3 hour! I can't help but think it is my fault, cause I was stupid. Fasting after midnight, but of course I had a snack and also ate some Halloween candy at like, 1130pm. (I work late ) I am not looking forward to this at all. I passed with my first son, but of course that was 8 years and about 70lbs ago.

my first baby i was at the cutoff and my doc let me come back for just a fingerprick and i didn't have to drink the glucola. if you are just barely at the limit, maybe ask for an alternative, since it would seem like if you actually had GD it would be a much bigger "fail" you know?

CecilB93 · November 2015

I just received the instructions for this test from my midwife today and she told me that I don't need to fast, but not to eat anything too sugary in the morning and to get a nice protein-filled meal for breakfast and/or lunch depending on when my appointment is. I'm doing the one hour test, so from the sounds of it the three hour test is different as far as preparing for it.

mistygenovese · November 2015

My glucose test is scheduled at just about 26 weeks, and my doctor said to eat a high protein meal prior to the test but not to eat anything after finishing the glucose test. She did say to stay away from foods that are high in sugars.

oceanchild · November 2015

Welp! I had mine today (fasting and all) – hope I passed! It would be the first time LOL

tJaffe · November 2015

I asked my doctor about when this test would be, but he told me that they don't do this anymore and he can tell just by the size of the baby.... He's doesn't seem to test for anything...

Lisa6083 · November 2015

@tJaffe , how can they tell just by the size of the baby? My family has huge babies, and I don't know of one person in the family that has had gestational diabetes. We just have big babies. You sound like your doctor is the opposite of mine. Mine likes to test for everything.

tJaffe · November 2015

@Lisa6083 I asked that same question, how can he tell since maybe we make big babies (this is our first)... I'm looking into switching doctors.

jstanton0822 · November 2015

I took mine. Ate eggs and toast for breakfast then ate a pistachio snack before the test. The drink was TASTY! But they wouldn't let me have anything to drink for an hour and I was pretty thirsty after drinking all that sugar.
Anyway, they called the next day. I KILLED IT! Woo!

Unfortunately, my iron is low. So there is still a change needed in my diet. Oh well...

tahirgirl · November 2015

I work at Labcorp and you are definitely suppose to fast.. Im also due to take my glucose test next week.. Offically at the 6month mark... Yayyy.. But definitely fast otther wise u will have to go back for a 2 or 3 hour glucose and thats not fun at all because they have to draw your blood every hour.. Can you imagine getting stuck three times.. Or four.. Not fun.. Wish you the best of luck tho.. Hope reaults are good..
Ps definitely bring something to keep you occupied for an hour because you cant leave once you drink the nasty juice..lol jk i heard its not that bad now.... Then again everyine has an acquired tasts..lol

meganmarie1087 · November 2015

I chose the Orange flavor and it tastes just like Orange Hi-C from McDonalds. I really wanted water afterwards but no food/drink during the 1 hour wait. I also felt sick afterwards this time around but I really should have ate more protein prior to the test. Regardless, my results showed I passed. So happy to be done with that!

lindscnn1 · November 2015

My previous 4 pregnancies I had to fast but this time they asked if I wanted to go ahead and get it done since they were already drawing a bunch of blood. I said sure, one less needle, they gave me the drink without fasting and drew the blood an hour later. My results were normal so I am glad I didn't have to be hungry on top of drinking that stuff. Ugh it turns my stomach thinking about it.

Sweet_D · November 2015

Sitting at the 3 hr test right now with about 45 min to go. I had the worst sugar crash about 30 min in. I brought a book to read but I've spent most of the morning sleeping in a chair in the waiting room lol. Haven't eaten since 7 pm yesterday and it's now 10:30. I just want to sleep when I go home. Good thing DH dropped me off and is picking me up or I'm pretty sure I'd fall asleep at the wheel.

oceanchild · November 2015

i passed my (fasting) 1h! first time i have passed in four babies. WOOT! i am so excited haha

cataleya82 · December 2015

I ended up failing my 1 hour one. I go in for my 3 hour one on Wednesday. Not looking forward to it. I'm wondering if I hadn't eaten the 2 eggs before my 1 hour test if I would have passed? They told me you don't need to fast for the 1 hour test only the 3 hour.

Want a personalized experience?

Glucose screening.

Best Answers

Re: Glucose screening.

Choose Another Board

Search Boards