Boo...I failed my 1 hour Glucose Challenge Test- UPDATE POST #23

[MissManda]

I went today for my 28 week labs. This included the 1 hour glucose challenge test and getting two shots (TDAP and Rhogam for negative blood type). Not a good start to the day for someone who doesn't like needles.

Worse yet, I failed the glucose test. I had a 149 result and the cut off was apparently 139. So, I get to go back for the extended 3 hour test.

Now I'm not sure if I should be worried about gestational diabetes or not. I'm so not looking forward to this test. Trying to figure out how not to get sick or get a migraine from going almost 12 hours without food (fasting starting at midnight the night before and appt won't be over to close to noon the next day). Not to mention the blood draws each hour. Not looking forward to this at all.

Ugh.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I failed my 1 hour with both of my pregnancies and ended up doing 4 hour. I took an office laptop with me and worked away while waiting between draws.

I am a "hard stick" and came out of my second one looking like a bad drug addict. The other woman there came out of her last draw and told me that they were fighting over who had to do me next.

Luckily I never had gestational diabetes.

Keep thinking positive thought and 12 weeks from now it will all be worth it!

 

[MissManda]

I failed my 1 hour with both of my pregnancies and ended up doing 4 hour. I took an office laptop with me and worked away while waiting between draws.

I am a "hard stick" and came out of my second one looking like a bad drug addict. The other woman there came out of her last draw and told me that they were fighting over who had to do me next.

Luckily I never had gestational diabetes.

Keep thinking positive thought and 12 weeks from now it will all be worth it!

I'm not an easy stick either! I know its a small price to pay for the reward in the end but when you have a fear of needles and you are a hard stick, it seems like some special type of torture.

I wish they could have gotten me in sooner than next Tuesday. Would be nice to get it over and done with instead of anticipating it for a week. Keeping my fingers crossed the results will be normal next time.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Did you eat anything with sugar before your test this morning? Syrup, coffee with sugar, etc. I failed one of mine and barely passed the 4 hour since my 2 & 3 hour reads were off. I ended up having to watch my diet carefully because I continued to spill sugar the remainder of the pregnancy.

 

[cybrkitn]

Hang in there. I had it done as well. Like you, I don't like needles either. However, years ago I was told to ask for any blood work to be done with a butterfly needle and in the back of my hand. Ok, I know upon reading that a few of you have already shuddered or cringed at that, most do. But for me, it's actually easier and barely even hurts.

Unfortunately, the results did come back with gestational diabetes for me. My diet was even stricter than DH's who is diabetic. Mostly b/c I couldn't have any of the sugar alcohols that are in a lot of the sugar free stuff. On the bright side, I was a bit over-weight to begin with and this diabetic type diet helped me lose 30 pounds . I was about 184 or 186 (I'm 5'4") and after giving birth I ended up being about 154.

 

[mtemm]

with my eldest I (barely) failed the one hour test. I didn't think and had oj and raisin bran beforehand...I believe that didn't help things! lol. I passed the 3 hour with flying colors. I won't lie, it wasn't fun, but it isn't the worst thing either. bring something to do, and something to eat and some water to drink for after.

good luck!

 

[ellone]

With my second my doctor had to settle for an A1C instead. When she wanted me to take the 1 hour test I asked her for something without artificial colors, flavors or GMOs. She looked dumbfounded and had to read the bottle. I was like come on lady if the drink is that bright orange it obviously has artificial colors nevermind the other 2 requests.

 

[MissManda]

Did you eat anything with sugar before your test this morning? Syrup, coffee with sugar, etc. I failed one of mine and barely passed the 4 hour since my 2 & 3 hour reads were off. I ended up having to watch my diet carefully because I continued to spill sugar the remainder of the pregnancy.

I did eat breakfast, which they told me I was okay too as long as I avoided sugars. I asked for examples of what I could eat and they said toast with butter was okay but toast with jelly for example was not okay.

So, I ate one slice of toast with butter and 2 eggs and I drank water. I figured that would be okay. I hope I didn't screw myself up. Maybe I should have just fasted.

Oh well. We will see what happens next week. Hopefully everything will be okay and if not, I guess I will just need to tighten up my diet for the next few months. I've been eating pretty good the whole time. They said my weight gain is "perfect" so far and baby is measuring normal. So I'm just hoping I don't have anything to worry about. We will see.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Don't sweat it. I'm the only person I know who didn't fail their first glucose test, and I'm also the only one who ended up having serious pregnancy related complications!

 

[SirDuff]

Could the nurses insert an iv set up (with saline lock rather than actually hanging any sort of bag) on your first draw? This would mean that they didn't have to poke you each time.

I've had tests where they had to do frequent draws over a few hours and that is what they've always done.

 

[mjkacmom]

I failed the one hour with my twins. I loved the 3 hour - I'm a very easy stick, needles don't bother me, and my mom watched my kids, and I got to read for 3 hours! And I passed!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I failed both 1 hours with both my kids, and then was borderline on the 3 hour, so they said I had to do it again, with both my kids! I swear I was getting dirty looks in the grocery store because everyone could see I was pregnant and I looked like a heroin addict with major track marks! (I bruise really easily, and one of the techs blew a vein on one of the sticks, it was bad)

I ended up having to just do a "control" diet, not hugely strict, but no cous cous for every meal either. I did have to track blood sugars as well, so I not only looked like an addict, then I had to keep pricking my fingers 5 times a day too! The 3 hour test sucked, but I made sure to have water to drink and a snack after, then I headed out to get a real meal.

 

[JennyKS]

I failed both one hour and 3 hour! But I'm another one who just opts to use the butterfly needle on top of my hand. So much easier and she can usually do that first poke. Wasn't as bad as I thought.

I had to take medication for my diabetes and saw a doctor for it while I was pregnant but following that diet I actually lost weight while I was pregnant.

Wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Even finding out I had diabetes the DAY before I left to go to Disneyworld for a week.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Do you still have to drink that big bottle of nasty orange stuff or have they improved this test?

 

[Kenny1113]

Nope the same orange stuff. DSis just sent me a text today of hers that she had to drink this am.

Sorry forgot quote

Do you still have to drink that big bottle of nasty orange stuff or have they improved this test?

 

[MnMomtoboys]

Does anyone know why they don't do a A1C for the test. I would think it would be a better reading than what they do now.

 

[ellone]

Does anyone know why they don't do a A1C for the test. I would think it would be a better reading than what they do now.

Probably because then less people would fail.


They claim it's not valid during pregnancy, but it's showing how your body reacts to the food you are eating so it's really a better indicator.

 

[maxiesmom]

Don't sweat it. I'm the only person I know who didn't fail their first glucose test, and I'm also the only one who ended up having serious pregnancy related complications!

I was going to say, I've had a few pregnant co-workers, and not one of them passed that test. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[jahber]

Ok, 2 thoughts. With my second I failed the first test and had to do the 3-hour. It was torture. Never again. Thankfully, it was negative. But it was the Monday after Thanksgiving and even my midwife admitted it would screw up the results of I had had leftover pie the night before after a long weekend of family Thanksgivings.
So, with my third I had a different midwife and she gave me a specific meal to eat (including toast, which DOES have carbs and WILL throw off the glucola test, unfortunately ). Much better. And she timed it so I ate, drove in, and was tested in the office immediately. That way I wasn't sitting around starving. Not eating made my morning sickness way worse.

All that to say, you do not have to torture yourself with the 3-hour. You can ask to be re-tested via the meal or even just via the glucola again because you ate something and your results were not valid. There is no law that says you have to drink corn syrup with food coloring in it to test for diabetes. Is that indicative of your normal breakfast? Not at all. Unless you drink a soda and eat a snickers bar for breakfast. In which case, you'll want to stick with glucola

 

[Colleen27]

Don't panic. I failed my 1 hour every time and passed the longer test with 2 of 3. With the 3rd the results were "borderline" (passed, but by 1-2 points on two of the tests) so my doctor wanted me testing my blood sugar and watching my diet but everything stayed within normal ranges and it was really no big deal.