The Great Big Glucose Tolerance Test Thread

mrsbubbles-2 · April 2018

Alright ladies, it's about that time! Some people have already taken the test this pregnancy, some remember it fondly from their last pregnancy. Here's the place to ask all the questions, talk about your results, and discuss awesome ways to pass the time (Helooooo uninterrupted Bumping!)

Image: https://www.lasandcolgotexan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Glucose-Challenge-Accepted-2.png

7425cait · April 2018

My last pregnancy's glucose test was so incredibly easy. I hope they didn't change it in the past 3 years. All I had to do was drink this small bottle of Gatorade flavored drink and then get a blood draw at the hour mark. I've heard bad things about other drinks and having to wait it out, so I'm hoping it's still the same this time around.

Firemanswife11 · April 2018

The drink tastes fine. I don't understand the hype over it.

mrsbubbles-2 · April 2018

So I know this thread is a bit early but I thought maybe some people might have questions once their test is scheduled. My doc likes to do them between 24 and 28 weeks, I did it right around 26 weeks last time. I didn't have any issues with the drink. It tasted like cold, flat orange soda. And after I felt ok, mostly I was just starving! Mine was fasting so I didn't get to eat until like 930 when I got out of there so I had a banana in my purse ready to go for the second my blood draw was over.

I got there the second the lab opened and had my drink in hand in about 3 minutes. She sat with me while I drank it, you had to drink it all in 5 min so there wasn't a huge rush to chug it, I took my time. I was asked if I wanted a straw but it was really nbd. Then she started a stop watch and I played on my phone for an hour. I was allowed small sips from the water bottle I brought (make sure you ask! some places don't allow it!) and when the stopwatch went off she came and got me and drew my blood. That was it!

My results and everything that happened after are so out of the norm I don't mind talking about it but only if anyone wants to hear lol! But just remember that even if you are diagnosed with GD it is NOT YOUR FAULT. You did nothing wrong. GD isn't caused by any food choices you've made during the pregnancy or anything you've done. Sometimes the placenta just gets in the way of your body absorbing sugar correctly. And there are people here to offer support and advice and talk recipe ideas if you do get that diagnosis. Don't feel guilty, even for a second.

That was a novel! Sorry for the rambling, this is one subject that I'm pretty vocal about lol!

juliebird6 · April 2018

My last test was also really easy and I didn't think the drink was that awful. I didn't have to drink it under supervision or anything. They just said to drink the drink and go to the lab one hour later.

Baxter2012 · April 2018

I had to do it three times with my last pregnancy, a 1 hour at 12 weeks, a 1 hour at 20some weeks then the 3 hour because I failed the second 1 hour. So far I have had to do one 1 hour at 8 weeks. My hsopital’s lab offers three different flavors, I always go with the orange. I would say the waiting is the worst part.

brzvice · April 2018

I took one around 12 weeks and will have to take another around 27. I agree the worst part is the waiting. The drink tastes like cavities. Hoping everyone passes their test but if you don't it will still be okay and there is some wonderful support here on this board if you need it.

lalala2004 · April 2018

My next appointment is at 24 weeks, so I guess they will schedule it for 28. Last time I had fruit punch and was thinking it was no big deal, just extra sweet koolaid. Then the sugar rush hit me and woah! That felt weird. My appointment was scheduled for being in the one hour period, but they ran late and I almost missed my blood draw! That was stressful.

kc0711 · April 2018

Does anyone have any advice on finding out the ingredients in it before taking the test? I have food allergies and want to make sure it’s safe to drink. The MFM clinic sends me to a lab to do it, so I’m guessing call the lab prior to see what brand they use and the ingredients in it?

melbel0824 · April 2018

Mine is scheduled for my next appointment in May when I'll be 25 weeks. I'm supposed to eat a normal breakfast before the appointment. Is it weird that it's not fasting? I always thought it was.

lalala2004 · April 2018

@melbel0824 mine wasn’t fasting last time. They just said eat a breakfast with protein. I don’t know why different doctors tell people different things. Although maybe the 3 hour test is fasting?

mrs_drc_rn · April 2018

I always heard people complain about the drink, but I didn’t think it was that bad. I had the orange-flavored one and it was tolerable. I’m pretty sure I fasted last time, but I had an appointment as soon as the lab opened so it wasn’t bad. They told me I didn’t have to fast this time, just not to eat a ton of sugary food beforehand. I do remember last time that there was another girl in the office having some kind of issue doing the test; I think she started feeling like she was going to pass out.

Stac928 · April 2018

@kc0711 I haven't done the test but they gave me the drink already to take home and drink on my way to the appointment. The bottle is clearly marked Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Kosher, and some other things. I would guess if you call the lab they can tell you. It looks pretty allergen free as far as I can tell. I got the Lemon Lime Flavor so there aren't any dyes (not on purpose for that reason it just sounded better than orange).

kburg15 · April 2018

I had the orange and actually kinda liked it. Mine was fasting and they were really adamant about it (I took it twice) and I had to drink it in front of the person who drew my blood. I’m nervous about it this time just because the only time I’ve been sick was when I drank a glass of sugary grape juice first thing when I woke up—it was just too sweet.

Also, I thought the title of this thread said “Gluten” and not “Glucose” and I was surprised that was a new thing in pregnancy.

hezzer78 · April 2018

Mine is scheduled in May at 27 weeks. Doc says it's fasting, but I made my appointment at 8:30 AM so it's not too bad. They haven't told me specifics, but I'm assuming I will drink the drink in front of someone at the lab.

lalala2004 · April 2018

Now I want Koolaid...

hoodwink89 · April 2018

I don't have to do it this time around since they found out I was diabetic with my last pregnancy. Never went away after pregnancy and they think I probably have had it since 17/18 years old. When j went my doctors office only had the fruit punch flavor and I am allergic to the dye so I had to eat 28 Bach's jelly beans. Sounded wonderful at the time but 10 jelly beans in and I was done. This was all at 8 weeks. I promise if you have GD it isn't the end of the world and you have some amazing ladies who have been there done that. You can ask me anything I am not shy!

lalala2004 · April 2018

I had the fruit punch flavor, but it was clear.

hoff079 · April 2018

Has anyone's doctor offered up an alternative to the Glucola drink? I do not want to drink it based on the ingredients (brominated vegetable oil?! food coloring?! BHA?!) it's ridiculous. I try to eat healthy and feel like the crap in here is counter-intuitive to what health care professionals recommend you put in your body. I was at the doc today (25 weeks) and she said they do not offer an alternative to the drink - only a week of finger pricking 4x per day. I've read in the past some people are offered to drink apple juice, jelly beans, etc.
What alternatives are your doctors offering?

pghctwife · April 2018

Mine did give me the option to do juice (real juice not kool aid or soda etc). The problem with that is you still need the same amount of sugars (50g? I forget) and it’s less concentrated but you still need to get it all down in the 5 min or whatever. My issue with the test was always getting it all down soooo fast so I’ll prob just do the glucola.

I dont love love the drink but, eh it’s fine. I prefer at room temp just because drinking it that fast cold is a recipe for brain freeze.

I get to dribk it and then just be there for my appt which is nice

KonaCoffeeBean · April 2018

UGG. I’m not looking forward to this test. My experience last time was absolutely no big deal, but this round I have a different doctor, and every time I have to get lab work done it seems like it turns into a fiasco. Either they put in the wrong order, or the order is not there, or they don’t send in complete information. My OB is fine, but the support staff drives me bonkers.

lalala2004 · April 2018

I don’t understand the concern with crappy ingredients in the drink. I don’t think you can complain on those grounds unless you’ve been eating perfectly clean throughout the whole pregnancy, and I’m pretty sure most people give in to their cravings at some point, or am I the only one eating fast food on the regular? It’s one drink, one time (hopefully!)

princesslockness · April 2018

@lalala2004 I have been letting practice out 5-10 min early just so I can grab a candy bar or burrito before daycare pick up.

scottishlass1213 · April 2018

Yeah my problem isn’t so much the drink but it’s drinking it in time. I barely got enough down last time to have enough in my system. My dr said no alternative but I’ve read about them so I dunno. Mines in about a week and a half.

mrsbubbles-2 · April 2018

hoff079 said:

Has anyone's doctor offered up an alternative to the Glucola drink? I do not want to drink it based on the ingredients (brominated vegetable oil?! food coloring?! BHA?!) it's ridiculous. I try to eat healthy and feel like the crap in here is counter-intuitive to what health care professionals recommend you put in your body. I was at the doc today (25 weeks) and she said they do not offer an alternative to the drink - only a week of finger pricking 4x per day. I've read in the past some people are offered to drink apple juice, jelly beans, etc.
What alternatives are your doctors offering?

No alternatives for me, granted I don’t have to take it this time since I’m already on insulin.

Genuinely curious though, it’s a one time thing and the test is really important for both your and baby’s health, why not just do it and get it over with? I would think that not doing it would be pretty counter intuitive to what your OB recommends.

I’m not trying to be mean or stir something up, I’m actually really curious why you wouldn’t want to do it just based on the ingredients. Barring allergies, of course!

Stac928 · April 2018

@hoff079 I don’t see those ingredients in the drink they gave me. I have it here at home because I’m supposed to

proudparent2b · April 2018

I took it once last time at 28 weeks. I was 30 pounds heavier at the start of this pregnancy (only lost half the baby weight w/ DS) so they made me take it at 16 weeks and will again at 28.

I could be wrong, but many of the ladies who have really negative side effects, like extreme nausea and dizziness, from taking glucola seem to be diagnosed w/ GD.

While I don’t love the stuff, I think the worst parts are making sure that the timing rules are followed to a T so the test isn’t void and waiting the days it takes to find out if I passed.

mapleandbacon · April 2018

Mine is a pita. It's fasting and they automatically do the two hour test.

roadspeckle · April 2018

If they thought it would harm your baby or you in any matter they wouldn’t give it to you.

i ate very healthy and had only gained 6 pounds my entire pregnancy and failed my fasting glucose. Eating healthy has nothing to do with have GD. It is important for many health reasons for you and for baby to find out if you have it. Skinny, overweight, pleasantly plump - women of all shapes and sizes can get it. You could eat Big Macs every day for your pregnancy and not be GD. I don’t understand what the big deal is or what the reason of fighting your doctor about it is.

pghctwife · April 2018

^agreed. That said, I think it’s totally valid to ask if you can do 100% juice instead to match the correct amount of sugar, assuming you can get it down in the right time. It’s an accepted alternative with the same exact function... I think that’s what she was wondering about, not skipping the test altogether.

Personally i I wish I could just eat x number of jelly beans instead

lolog531 · April 2018

I didn’t think the 1 hour was too horrible. My OB gives me the drink, I chug it on a morning my choosing, go to the lab for a draw 1 hour later. My first pg I failed he first one. Now the 3 hour test - that’s the one that is no fun. The drink is 2x the sugar/glucose as the 1 hour and it was hard for me to get down. you get 3 blood draws, one every hour, can’t leave the lab and can’t eat or anything. I also failed that one. I had a hard time accepting the DX last time, but as @mrsbubbles-2 said above, it isn’t your fault or anything I did wrong. I had he 1 hour at ~14 weeks and passed with flying colors with my number at 82. I still have to do it again in a few weeks, so I’m just keeping FX I pass again! I already told my OB if I fail the 1 hour I’ll gladly follow the diet again and prick my finger 4x/day to avoid the 3 hour!

hoff079 · April 2018

I never said I was going to refuse the test - I am not sure where everyone is getting that from.
No I don't eat perfectly but I am strongly opposed to food colorings and other junk in my food. I don't eat fast food, if I eat sweets I get them from Sprouts or Whole Foods. So thank you for criticizing when there was no need to. I'm simply asking if anyone else's doctor offered an alternative to Glucola, and if so, what it was.

Piperella · April 2018

I had gastric sleeve surgery, so my stomach is about 20% the size of a normal stomach, so I can't drink enough of the normal size they offer. That being said, my doctor instructed the lab for me to drink half the amount in the same time (which was still VERY hard for me to do). They used different guidelines to determine if I had GD or not. I felt sick to my stomach and almost felt as though I could pass out as I normally only drink skim milk, water, and unsweet tea and I wasn't used to it. The taste wasn't bad, just super sweet, but if there is a medical (not just preferential) reason to have to alter the test, be sure to ask your Ob.

mbrowling · April 2018

My doc hasn't brought it up yet this time around but I have an appt next week at 24 weeks so I guess I'll schedule it then. It's nice for those ladies who are allowed to drink the drink at home! Last time I did the 1 hr at my doc office and failed so I had to do the 3 hr test at the hospital lab. While the wait was annoying, the worst part for me was that the 3 hr drink made me super jittery all morning. I did luckily pass though

Stac928 · April 2018

hoff079 said:

I never said I was going to refuse the test - I am not sure where everyone is getting that from.
No I don't eat perfectly but I am strongly opposed to food colorings and other junk in my food. I don't eat fast food, if I eat sweets I get them from Sprouts or Whole Foods. So thank you for criticizing when there was no need to. I'm simply asking if anyone else's doctor offered an alternative to Glucola, and if so, what it was.

I will look up the brand of mine (I posted the pic but I don’t think you can see the brand, Just ingredients). My doctor doesn’t use glucola.

hoff079 · April 2018

Thank you!

harleyquinn0621 · April 2018

haha so i'm type 2 diabetic.. at my last Dr appointment i asked her to run my A1C (when i got pregnant it was 5.3 so i'd like to make sure there isn't much change).. she said, the A1C wont give her much information, she'd prefer to do the glucose test, i asked...'uh, isn't that just going to tell you i'm diabetic?'..... she thought about it for a second, and goes, 'yeah you're right...'....... LOL...

mrsbubbles-2 · April 2018

@harleyquinn0621 omg me too! The nurse at my last appt did the same thing! She was like we need to schedule your GTT, I said I’m already diabetic, on insulin, why? She said the doc still wants the test run but she’ll check. Yeah, the doc said I don’t have to do it. Craziness!

calimom2524 · April 2018

@hoff079 I just don’t understand why you’d be looking up alternatives, you already said your doctor doesn’t offer any. It’s for you and your baby and it’s one time, I think you’ll be alright. Andplusalso candy from sprouts or Whole Foods is still candy, I’m pretty sure just cuz it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

delujm0 · April 2018

I can't handle the drink. I get it down in the 5 minutes but I'm gagging a lot of the time. I don't drink anything more sugary than a small glass of OJ in the morning, so I'm not used to it. Also the last time I had Gatorade it was while doing the "colon prep" before a surgery, and I wound up (tmi) throwing it up all over my bathroom while simultaneously shitting everything I'd ever eaten out of my body. So that's not a good association to have haha. I also wind up with a splitting headache after drinking it, that doesn't go away until I eat something with a lot of protein in it.

The glucose tolerance test is my least favorite part of the pregnancy. I've always passed the one hour no problem, but I dread it. My doctor gives you the drink at 24 weeks, and instructs you to drink it one hour before your 28 week appointment. Then when you get there you tell the receptionist what time you drank it and they make sure to get you to the lab an hour later. Way better than having to drink it and then sit at the office for an hour waiting. The results have always come while I'm still there, it's pretty quick.

scottishlass1213 · April 2018

Mine makes me go to the lab and drink it then they schedule my normal OB appt during the hour wait before I go back for blood draw. It’s a good distraction for me otherwise I’d be anxiety ridden just sitting there an hour thinking haha

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