Glucose Test

kp90 · January 2016

Hey ladies,

My glucose test is in 4 weeks and for those of you who have had them before what should we expect and what did you eat/drink beforehand? The only thing the nurse told me was to avoid cereal that morning and try to eat a lot of protein. My test isn't until the afternoon and I always have a can of soda during the day. Will the sugar I eat that day affect the test? I guess I thought maybe it was best to eat and drink as you normally would to get accurate results or maybe by avoiding the sugar would be 'more accurate'... No idea! Thoughts/experience?

Jparke2 · January 2016

Mine is in a couple weeks and they told me to avoid carbs/sugar the night before and morning of the test. That's all I know! I'm nervous, I don't know why!

kp90 · January 2016

@jparke2 me too. I don't want to drink that crap either. I have a bad gag reflex and cannot consume liquids very fast especially if they taste gross!

Knottie30128190 · January 2016

I am a registered dietitian and educate all of the patients with gestational diabetes. Yes, everything you eat/drink within approximately 12-24 hours of the test can affect your results. Honestly though you should do what you have been doing so the doctor gets an accurate picture of how your body is handling everything. So you should do all of things you should be doing throughout pregnancy: eating nutrient dense foods, limiting beverages high in sugar (this includes diet soft drinks-no calorie, no carb is a lie), and eating regularly.
So yes monitor your carbohydrate intake just as you should every day.

kbrands7 · January 2016

Since they give you such a concentrated amount of glucose it could potentially impact the test if your body is already working to balance out a carb-heavy meal. You could technically get a slight false-positive that way, which they are probably trying to avoid. Last pregnancy, I wasn't given prep instructions except to eat something, so I had a regular weekend breakfast of eggs, a piece of wheat toast and water. You can expect to have to stay in the waiting area/office for the hour of the test.

Also, if you tend to get sugar headaches, it's not a bad idea to bring a snack with you for afterwards or someone to drive you home. Last time, my level came back at 80 (low, but not super low) after the non-fasting 1-hr test and I definitely felt a little light-headed.

BuzzBee614 · January 2016

Last time the nurse told me I could eat before it and it would be fine. I ended up having to have the 3 hour because I was borderline. This time I am NOT eating before the test because I passed out twice during the three hour. Then my doctor said the 3 he probably wasn't necessary bc my number was borderline and it was probably just what I ate that day. You are drinking a crap ton of sugar in the solution they give you, so no need to eat more sugar to test it further. I went fruit punch and it was fine. Ask what flavor people normally do well with if you get a choice.

If your sensitive about blood draws or prone to feeling faint lately, I'd bring someone with you. I brought my mom to the 3 hour and I was really glad I did.

This time I will be doing it early in the day and getting it over with then going out to breakfast after.

kp90 · January 2016

Knottie30128190 said:

I am a registered dietitian and educate all of the patients with gestational diabetes. Yes, everything you eat/drink within approximately 12-24 hours of the test can affect your results. Honestly though you should do what you have been doing so the doctor gets an accurate picture of how your body is handling everything. So you should do all of things you should be doing throughout pregnancy: eating nutrient dense foods, limiting beverages high in sugar (this includes diet soft drinks-no calorie, no carb is a lie), and eating regularly. So yes monitor your carbohydrate intake just as you should every day.

@knottie30128190 So if I have a can of regular soda every morning its okay to do this the day of my glucose test? Other than the soda I would say my diet isn't too terrible so I can stick to what I normally eat that day? I just want to get an accurate result.

kp90 · January 2016

@kbrands7 Why did your sugar end up low? Sorry I am totally new at this and really have no idea what the test is other than you drinking something and they test your sugar and risk for gestational diabetes. The stuff you drink is glucose(sugar), correct?

Bltbear82 · January 2016

My best advice is to keep the drink chilled (if they give it to you in advance, my doctor does so ask if it's possible) and pound it as quickly as possible. I second the suggestion of a snack and water for after. You can't drink anything else before the blood draw, so I was desperate for water last time.

Also my doctor's instructions only are to eat normally but avoid excessively sugary foods in the two hours before you have the drink.

Knottie30128190 · January 2016

kp90 said:

Knottie30128190 said:

I am a registered dietitian and educate all of the patients with gestational diabetes. Yes, everything you eat/drink within approximately 12-24 hours of the test can affect your results. Honestly though you should do what you have been doing so the doctor gets an accurate picture of how your body is handling everything. So you should do all of things you should be doing throughout pregnancy: eating nutrient dense foods, limiting beverages high in sugar (this includes diet soft drinks-no calorie, no carb is a lie), and eating regularly.
So yes monitor your carbohydrate intake just as you should every day.

@knottie30128190 So if I have a can of regular soda every morning its okay to do this the day of my glucose test? Other than the soda I would say my diet isn't too terrible so I can stick to what I normally eat that day? I just want to get an accurate result.

I would begin cutting out soft drinks now. Maybe have an 8oz can instead of the 12. Try to make it more of a treat than a routine. I wouldn't drink one at all the day of the test even if that was my normal, but definitely do everything else like you normally would.

JessicaB0627 · January 2016

I thought you were supposed to fast before the glucose test but maybe I'm wrong?

kp90 · January 2016

@bltbear82 when you say can't drink anything else before the blood draw.. do you mean like from the time you walk in the door at your apt and once you drink that stuff?

kbrands7 · January 2016

@kp90 Basically, my body just attacked the sugar and I ended up with an (almost) sugar-crash. Apparently, it's common enough that the receptionist asked if I had brought someone with me when I checked in. Really low is 60 or below; usually up to 120 or 140 (depending on the margins your doctor uses) is considered normal. Anything above that shows that your body may not be producing enough insulin in reaction to the sugar consumed and they'll refer you for a 3-hr test. My doctor uses 120 as the cut-off.

balamama · January 2016

question: does everyone get the glucose test? I haven't been scheduled for mine and I was under the impression that the drs were monitoring the urine samples for sugar levels.

MLS6212 · January 2016

*Lurking from March 2016*

I don't want to sound like I'm just promoting my blog, especially as a lurker from another BMB, but I wrote a lengthy and detailed account of my one hour and three hour glucose tests as a first time mom. Spoiler alert: I failed both tests and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Here's the link if you want to check it out. https://maybemommy.weebly.com/blog/glucose-challenge-accepted

kbrands7 · January 2016

@babyfmama You'll likely get a script for the test at your 24week appointment.

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

JessicaB0627 said:

I thought you were supposed to fast before the glucose test but maybe I'm wrong?

I thought I did last time. I can't remember. It was 4 years ago.

LadySamLady · January 2016

countrygrl5533 said:

JessicaB0627 said:

I thought you were supposed to fast before the glucose test but maybe I'm wrong?

I thought I did last time. I can't remember. It was 4 years ago.

Mine is in 3 weeks and they told me to fast for 2 hours before the test.

kp90 · January 2016

Ugh. So frustrating when all docs tell everyone different things. You'd think something like this would be an easy, clear answer with specific instructions. I guess I'll call my office closer and see what they say.

Bltbear82 · January 2016

kp90 said:
@bltbear82 when you say can't drink anything else before the blood draw.. do you mean like from the time you walk in the door at your apt and once you drink that stuff?

Once you drink the glucola drink my doctor doesn't permit any other beverages until after your blood has been drawn. Prior to drinking it I was able to drink water etc as normal that day.

JoMunson · January 2016

Guys! You gotta ask your doctor about the diet instead of drink method. Some hospitals and OBs will provide you with a meal you need to eat instead of drinking the nasty ass chemical infused junk drink they give you. Unfortunately, I'm in a tough spot where not only can I NOT do the diet instead of the drink but if I refuse the drink I can't give birth in the birth center. I think it's ridiculous because I'm vegan, don't eat a lot of sugar, and my glucose has been fine this whole time, but whatever.
If I had the option to not drink the drink, I'd do it. And they are not required to tell you if they have options other than the drink.

vinerie · January 2016

Full disclosure: I'm a FTM, so I pretty much know nothing about the topic. But I would think you'd want to not drastically change your habits so you can "pass" the test. (Unless you're going to keep up those good habits). GD can be dangerous for the baby, no? So I would think that you'd want an accurate test result. (I get not wanting to do something that would yield an inaccurate result, though.)

I would follow doc's instructions to the T on this one, imo.

JessicaB0627 · January 2016

JoMunson said:
Guys! You gotta ask your doctor about the diet instead of drink method. Some hospitals and OBs will provide you with a meal you need to eat instead of drinking the nasty ass chemical infused junk drink they give you. Unfortunately, I'm in a tough spot where not only can I NOT do the diet instead of the drink but if I refuse the drink I can't give birth in the birth center. I think it's ridiculous because I'm vegan, don't eat a lot of sugar, and my glucose has been fine this whole time, but whatever.
If I had the option to not drink the drink, I'd do it. And they are not required to tell you if they have options other than the drink.

The drink is gross but you have to drink it in less than 2 minutes or something. And the test lasts an hour. I'd rather just drink it and get it over with.

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

vinerie said:

Full disclosure: I'm a FTM, so I pretty much know nothing about the topic. But I would think you'd want to not drastically change your habits so you can "pass" the test. (Unless you're going to keep up those good habits). GD can be dangerous for the baby, no? So I would think that you'd want an accurate test result. (I get not wanting to do something that would yield an inaccurate result, though.)

I would follow doc's instructions to the T on this one, imo.

I honestly can understand wanting to "trick" the test. I failed the 1 and 3 hour tests last time and got told I had GD. But without changing my diet at all, I never had any blood sugar issues with having to home test. The one and only time it was high was when I had my baby shower and Mexican food in the same day. And even then, it was only barely high and was fine by morning. Come to find out, I just react really poorly to the drink. So it is very tempting to try to trick the test into not having a high number so I don't have to go through all that again. I won't...but it's tempting.

JennyS86 · January 2016

Wow - it's crazy to see how differently we've all done this test!!

My MFM wanted me to do an early (18weeks) one-hr test due to my history of pcos. I ate greek yogurt with granola for breakfast at 6:30-7am, and I started the test at 8:30am. (I believe you have to fast for the 3 hr test). I was allowed sips of water during the test. My blood glucose level was 95 one hr later, so I don't have to do the 3hr test this time. I will be repeating the one hr test in another 6weeks or so.

After the test, I bought a breakfast sandwich from the hospital's cafe to get some good protein. Yay for yummy, fresh hospital food!

vinerie · January 2016

countrygrl5533 said:

vinerie said:

Full disclosure: I'm a FTM, so I pretty much know nothing about the topic. But I would think you'd want to not drastically change your habits so you can "pass" the test. (Unless you're going to keep up those good habits). GD can be dangerous for the baby, no? So I would think that you'd want an accurate test result. (I get not wanting to do something that would yield an inaccurate result, though.)

I would follow doc's instructions to the T on this one, imo.

I honestly can understand wanting to "trick" the test. I failed the 1 and 3 hour tests last time and got told I had GD. But without changing my diet at all, I never had any blood sugar issues with having to home test. The one and only time it was high was when I had my baby shower and Mexican food in the same day. And even then, it was only barely high and was fine by morning. Come to find out, I just react really poorly to the drink. So it is very tempting to try to trick the test into not having a high number so I don't have to go through all that again. I won't...but it's tempting.

Again--I'm largely ignorant on this, so feel free to correct me. But wouldn't the doctor's test, with the lab equipment and such, be more precise than a take-home test?

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

vinerie said:

Again--I'm largely ignorant on this, so feel free to correct me. But wouldn't the doctor's test, with the lab equipment and such, be more precise than a take-home test?

Not when taken over the course of a couple months and with a regular diet. My doctor looked at my at home numbers (taken 4 times per day just like someone who truly has diabetes not just GD) and basically said, "You probably just don't process the drink well. Just don't overdo it with sugars and carbs and you'll be fine."

JessicaB0627 · January 2016

vinerie said:

countrygrl5533 said:

vinerie said:

Full disclosure: I'm a FTM, so I pretty much know nothing about the topic. But I would think you'd want to not drastically change your habits so you can "pass" the test. (Unless you're going to keep up those good habits). GD can be dangerous for the baby, no? So I would think that you'd want an accurate test result. (I get not wanting to do something that would yield an inaccurate result, though.)

I would follow doc's instructions to the T on this one, imo.

I honestly can understand wanting to "trick" the test. I failed the 1 and 3 hour tests last time and got told I had GD. But without changing my diet at all, I never had any blood sugar issues with having to home test. The one and only time it was high was when I had my baby shower and Mexican food in the same day. And even then, it was only barely high and was fine by morning. Come to find out, I just react really poorly to the drink. So it is very tempting to try to trick the test into not having a high number so I don't have to go through all that again. I won't...but it's tempting.

Again--I'm largely ignorant on this, so feel free to correct me. But wouldn't the doctor's test, with the lab equipment and such, be more precise than a take-home test?

QBF

I think she meant she was testing her blood sugar at home, which you would have to do if you were diagnosed with GD.

But I want to echo what @vinerie was saying. GD can be dangerous and it's important for your healthy and the health of your baby to be diagnosed if you have it. Although I'm not sure you can really trick the test. It bombards your system with sugar and then tracks through your blood how your body reacts to the sugar. So I think you could get a false high number from eating too many carbs, but I'm not sure you could do anything to trick your body into having lower blood sugar.

vinerie · January 2016

JessicaB0627 said:

countrygrl5533 said:

vinerie said:

Full disclosure: I'm a FTM, so I pretty much know nothing about the topic. But I would think you'd want to not drastically change your habits so you can "pass" the test. (Unless you're going to keep up those good habits). GD can be dangerous for the baby, no? So I would think that you'd want an accurate test result. (I get not wanting to do something that would yield an inaccurate result, though.)

I would follow doc's instructions to the T on this one, imo.

I honestly can understand wanting to "trick" the test. I failed the 1 and 3 hour tests last time and got told I had GD. But without changing my diet at all, I never had any blood sugar issues with having to home test. The one and only time it was high was when I had my baby shower and Mexican food in the same day. And even then, it was only barely high and was fine by morning. Come to find out, I just react really poorly to the drink. So it is very tempting to try to trick the test into not having a high number so I don't have to go through all that again. I won't...but it's tempting.

Again--I'm largely ignorant on this, so feel free to correct me. But wouldn't the doctor's test, with the lab equipment and such, be more precise than a take-home test?
QBF I think she meant she was testing her blood sugar at home, which you would have to do if you were diagnosed with GD. But I want to echo what @vinerie was saying. GD can be dangerous and it's important for your healthy and the health of your baby to be diagnosed if you have it. Although I'm not sure you can really trick the test. It bombards your system with sugar and then tracks through your blood how your body reacts to the sugar. So I think you could get a false high number from eating too many carbs, but I'm not sure you could do anything to trick your body into having lower blood sugar.

Oh, duh. Right!

Bluejay3030 · January 2016

Just thinking about that nasty drink makes me want to vomit. Any suggestions on how to not feel like death after the test is over?

kbrands7 · January 2016

Bluejay3030 said:

Just thinking about that nasty drink makes me want to vomit. Any suggestions on how to not feel like death after the test is over?

I chugged water and ate a protein bar once it was over last time and felt better pretty soon. A nap probably would have been nice too, though I didn't have the chance. I'm open to any other suggestions people have because if this time is like last time, I'm going to feel a bit lightheaded/queasy afterwards.

Jenly17 · January 2016

Stm here. I've always gone first thing in the morning to drink the nastiness, and then get the blood work done. I have (and never will!) eat or drink anything before the test. I've had friends who've done the three hour test and it's horrible! So the best advice I have is to eat normally the day before and then get the test over with first thing in the am with an empty stomach.

Oh and word to the wise- CHUG IT!

kp90 · January 2016

@kbrands7 Since you've been through it before and others have mentioned its a good idea to have someone with you during that appointment.. is this something I should plan on in case since I have no idea how I'll react? My OB office is about 35 min drive for me.

kbrands7 · January 2016

@kp90 Yes, especially if it's a significant drive, I'd bring someone along just in case if you can. A lot of people are fine, but some get lightheaded or jittery, some pass out. Plus, an hour can be a long time to wait alone.

princesspriscilla · January 2016

I'm finding that every clinic does the test so differently - for my OB clinic, I was instructed to fast (NO WATER... nothing) for 12 hours before the test (which IMO is ridiculous for a pregnant woman to not eat or drink anything INCLUDING water for such a long period of time) and to go in the next morning at 8am for a two-hour test. So, following the test, you haven't eaten or consumed water for 14 hours. For the test, I had my blood taken before the drink, an hour after the drink, and two hours after the drink (which was 75 grams of sugar by the way....extremely unhealthy and nonsensical to me.)

I do stress that you ask to see and have the results of your glucose test explained to you THOROUGHLY... my original OB (who began seeing me from the beginning of my pregnancy) went on maternity leave when I was around 28 weeks. So I had a fill-in doctor who was very new and had no idea what she was doing. She diagnosed me with GD although my fasting level (initial blood draw) was only 2 POINTS over the recommended level. It was supposed to be 95 and I was at 97. So, she had me pricking my finger and said I would be put on insulin if my levels were too high, that I needed to see a diabetic counselor, and a diabetic nurse, and start going to the maternal fetal medicine unit for specialty ultrasound to ensure the baby wasn't growing too big. So fast forward a month later, my original doctor came back from maternity leave and said how ridiculous it was that this doctor has diagnosed me with GD and that I don't need to be watching my sugar levels. 97 is still a good fasting number (especially since I had explained to her that I had consumed a load of pasta the night before the fast and splurged on a huge meal since I knew I wouldn't be allowed to eat for 12 hours...). So, my OB did an ultrasound and if anything the baby was growing on the smaller end but still very healthily (in the 30th percentile of growth chart... which is just fine) and that there was not too much or too little amniotic fluid (diabetics would have excess amniotic fluid due to baby urinating more frequently). She said she would know if she were looking at a diabetic baby in an U/S and I was nowhere near having GD. She reversed the diagnosis thank goodness... all of this stress and worry for no reason. So please, if you learn anything from this post, do NOT always take what a doctor says immediately. Assess the results YOURSELF, do a lot of research, and talk to other women with possible misdiagnoses of GD. If I had listened to that other foolish fill-in doctor, I'd be on insulin, labeled as a high-risk pregnancy, and be growing a perfectly healthy baby and not know it! I am enraged about this obviously.... as everything was finally straightened out by my original doctor as early as yesterday.

hellogoodbye2 · January 2016

- Yes, chug it! Don't sip!
- Refrigerate it! It is much better chilled than room temp
- Eat something and don't do anything strenuous afterwards. My husband and I decided to go out and do our registry right after....bad idea! I was nauseous & so tired after we were done.
- It's really not that bad.

countrygrl5533 · January 2016

Am I the only one who didn't think the drink was all that bad? I mean, I wouldn't choose to drink it but it wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to sound. It was basically like thick, flat, orange soda.

princesspriscilla · January 2016

@countrygrl5533 I thought the drink wasn't bad at all - mine was just a flat orange soda that was not nasty at all.

BuzzBee614 · January 2016

countrygrl5533 said:
Am I the only one who didn't think the drink was all that bad? I mean, I wouldn't choose to drink it but it wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to sound. It was basically like thick, flat, orange soda.

I made out great with mine with DD and didn't think it tasted bad at all, but I think it depends on your tastes and aversions. My sense of taste and smell have been so weird this pregnancy so I'm nervous I'm going to hate it this time or something. When I try to eat foods that don't appeal to me with this pregnancy I gag. Sometimes I can't even choke down my prenatals. Fingers crossed.

kbrands7 · January 2016

princesspriscilla said:

@countrygrl5533 I thought the drink wasn't bad at all - mine was just a flat orange soda that was not nasty at all.

Maybe orange is the flavor to get? Mine only gave the option of lime or fruit punch last time. I chose lime which didn't make me gag, but wasn't pleasant either.

Bluejay3030 · January 2016

For me, the drink itself was gross but bearable. It was the aftermath that was miserable.

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