Fasting Glucose Tolerance Test - Update Post 1

[Feralpeg]

UPDATE:

The test results are in. Everything looked good from both the labs and the echo cardiogram. DD's glucose was 89. They said it was within normal range. I am very glad everything looks great, but it does not answer why she has these little spells. She does have IBS, so I guess that could be the cause. Thanks everyone for your good wishes!

DD had the fasting glucose tolerance test today. They drew blood. Then, she had to drink this orange drink that was very sweet. An hour later, they drew blood again. Followed by another draw an hour later.

She has been having problems feeling very faint, shaky, nauseous and breaks out in a sweat. This has been happening for a couple of years, but has become rather frequent lately. If she doesn't get something to eat within a few minutes after she gets up in the morning, she gets sick. She's started keeping crackers next to her bed in case she feels bad during the night.

The doctor ordered several other blood tests and an echo cardiogram.

I have no idea what the doctor is looking for. Hopefully, it is minor. She will be going away to college in August. We really don't need this now!

 

[eclectics]

Doc might be checking for Diabetes, although I think that would show up in a regular blood test. Could just be her metabolism is off a bit. Hope she feels better!

 

[DVCLiz]

Hope it all comes back fine - I know that's the last thing you want to be worrying about!!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and Kendall!!

 

[eclectics]

Forgot to add; Could be a food allergy also. Some of her symptoms fit. Easy tests to find out.

 

[kejoda]

the glucose is def. a diabetes test. Most likely the Doc all ready took a reg. blood test and it was high which would require the 3 hour test. The 3 hour test is a more detail answer on how she handles sugar in her body.

They didn't tell you why they want the tests done? I would be calling and asking a lot of whys.

 

[Cool-Beans]

FGTT is a routine test for diabetes. Hope she doesn't have it.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Might also be testing for hypoglycemia (your daughter's symptoms could fit that diagnosis), although they will usually do blood draws over a longer length of time when testing for hypoglycemia.

hypoglycemia=low blood sugar.

 

[TheDoctor]

They tested my wife during one of her pregnacies for diabetese with the fasting glucose test. She hated it but was negative.

Good luck to your DD. I hope that she is okay.

 

[Feralpeg]

Might also be testing for hypoglycemia (your daughter's symptoms could fit that diagnosis), although they will usually do blood draws over a longer length of time when testing for hypoglycemia.

hypoglycemia=low blood sugar.

While the doctor didn't come right and say what he was testing for, he did mention hypoglycemia. When I looked it up, the sites I read said that hypoglycemia rarely exits. It is usually a result of something else. I wonder what could cause it. I also wonder why he wanted the echo. He just told us we'd talk after the tests.

 

[ZPT1022]

Does he have hormone tests included in the bloodwork? Did he ask her about her periods? Not to be nosy, but I have something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS for short, and contrary to the name it affects a lot more than just your reproductive organs. It is actually an endocrine disorder which among other things, affects the way you process insulin and can cause problems like what your daughter is having. I've had this for awhile and DH can tell now by the smell of my breath if I need to eat something, and if I am cranky a lot of times it is sugar related. Whatever they tell you, be careful and in the meantime try smaller meals of carbs and protein mixed, like a rice cake with peanut butter, which will help keep things more stable. I didn't mean to write a book here, but I was in a car accident when I fainted from skipping breakfast, so I tend to go all paranoid mother when I hear things like this. Good luck to your DD

 

[Feralpeg]

Does he have hormone tests included in the bloodwork? Did he ask her about her periods? Not to be nosy, but I have something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS for short, and contrary to the name it affects a lot more than just your reproductive organs. It is actually an endocrine disorder which among other things, affects the way you process insulin and can cause problems like what your daughter is having. I've had this for awhile and DH can tell now by the smell of my breath if I need to eat something, and if I am cranky a lot of times it is sugar related. Whatever they tell you, be careful and in the meantime try smaller meals of carbs and protein mixed, like a rice cake with peanut butter, which will help keep things more stable. I didn't mean to write a book here, but I was in a car accident when I fainted from skipping breakfast, so I tend to go all paranoid mother when I hear things like this. Good luck to your DD

Yes, the doctor ordered a full metabolic panel. I don't really know what that means, but it sounded through. DD also has IBS, so it is really hard to pin point what is happening with her. Will do as you suggested on the carbs and protein. Thank you!

 

[indigoxtreme]

Peg so sorry to hear. My mom is Hypoglysemic and my dad was diabetic. They both had to eat small meals several times a day. Hope the IBS has not caused some problems. I think a colonoscopy would have been ordered if this were the case. I cannot skip breakfast at all I have to eat a little something. Another thing may be anemia that causes a lot of what your daughter is having. Just wait and see what the MD says, I know this is extremely hard to do!! I have been there with my own DD. Will keep you both in our prayers.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

While the doctor didn't come right and say what he was testing for, he did mention hypoglycemia. When I looked it up, the sites I read said that hypoglycemia rarely exits. It is usually a result of something else. I wonder what could cause it. I also wonder why he wanted the echo. He just told us we'd talk after the tests.

I worked with somebody who was diagnosed with hypoglycemia during the period of time we worked together--she was having episodes of weakness, shakiness, etc. that even progressed to fainting. I suspect it's not that rare as much as it is hard to diagnose--my understanding is that testing does not always catch it. My co-worker was much better after she started avoiding cncentrated sweets (candy, soda, etc.) and started eating small meals every 2-3 hours.

I also worked with a gastroenterologist (I work at a teaching hospital!) who had IBS himself. He said that IBS is probably caused by, and at least severely aggravated by, stress. He was talking about an adolescent patient who had IBS remission once he dropped out of high school and the physician said to me, "Yeah, my IBS would go into remission if I quit my job, too." Is your daughter prone to worrying/anxiety? I know that people with hypoglycemia can get very anxious due to the physiologic effect of the drop in blood sugar... OR of course, shakiness, nausea etc. can be a result of simple anxiety, regardless of blood sugar level. It's a tough call. Your daughter's physician sounds very conscientious in trying to rule out whatever might be causing the episodes.


Just a guess--the echo was probably ordered to rule out mitral valve prolapse, which can cause some of the symptoms you mention (it is a fairly common finding and is generally not a serious problem according to a pediatric cardiologist I used to work with).

Sounds like your daughter's physician is being very thorough and trying to rule out/test for many different possibilities.

 

[Micca]

No advice Peggy but I hope everything turns out ok. Good luck with everything.

 

[golfgal]

I have mild hypoglycemia. I usually have a bad time if I don't eat a good breakfast with a fair amount of protein. It is a strange feeling. Mine started about the same time, freshman year in college. It is hard to diagnose/catch so hopefully they can find some answers for her.

 

[ZPT1022]

Yes, the doctor ordered a full metabolic panel. I don't really know what that means, but it sounded through. DD also has IBS, so it is really hard to pin point what is happening with her. Will do as you suggested on the carbs and protein. Thank you!

sounds like your doctor is very thorough, conscientous and caring. I hope they get it figured out quickly for her. I have IBS too but I'd be surprised if that is what this is related to. Good luck

 

[puffkin]

It sounds like he is testing for Hypoglycemia. Since your daughter has been experiencing these symptons for a few years and doesn't appear to be overweight (primary factor in Type II diabetes for someone this age) I don't think it is Diabetes. If it was Type I diabetes, she wouldn't be having the symptons for years...it would ahve been diagnosed a long time ago.

 

[ReggieB]

I had that exact test when I was pregnant. I had developed gestational diabetes. I had an initial blood test, which showed wacky sugar levels, then a few days later they made me do the drink thing.

Obviously she isn't being tested for gestational diabetes (!!) but maybe they are just checking the sugar levels to look for diabetes, or hypoglycemia.

Hope she is feeling okay. Good luck with the test results.

 

[4nana]

Best wishes the tests bring some answers. Know what it's like to worry about our babies.

BTW - love her siggie pic!

 

[eeyore45]

DD had the fasting glucose tolerance test today. They drew blood. Then, she had to drink this orange drink that was very sweet. An hour later, they drew blood again. Followed by another draw an hour later.

She has been having problems feeling very faint, shaky, nauseous and breaks out in a sweat. This has been happening for a couple of years, but has become rather frequent lately. If she doesn't get something to eat within a few minutes after she gets up in the morning, she gets sick. She's started keeping crackers next to her bed in case she feels bad during the night.

The doctor ordered several other blood tests and an echo cardiogram.

I have no idea what the doctor is looking for. Hopefully, it is minor. She will be going away to college in August. We really don't need this now!

I have hypoglycemia, sometimes it is under control, but it took awhile to get a handle on it. For your dd, I wonder if hormones arent also part of the equation - I know when my son was having dizzy spells, we had to go to a heart specialist, but in so doing I was amazed at how many coworkers were able to relate stories, but all of them had girls!!

Also, I cannot take that glucose tolerence test - I get very sick!! and the doctor when I was pregnant and was having so many problems, said I was passing the GT - all the other ladies were doing fine, he said, that's the problem, they shouldnt be!! So, I only had to do that test once - from then on the doctor let me go by noting I have low blood sugar!!

One thing that has helped me to stabilize my blood sugar levels (and stop the dizzies!) is adding 200mcg of chromium picolinate - if you look at any diet pill (OTC that is) you will see that is one of the ingredients, because it helps stabilize the blood sugar, it used to be found in our soil, and thus getting into our food supply that way... my grandma turned me onto this, she had diabetes, and swore by it - when I got dizzies from low blood sugar, she gave me one lecture I still remember!!

Pixie Dust!!