Gestational Diabetes Test Question

[Disneylvr]

2 weeks ago I had a 1-hour glucose test done at my OB's office. I was 28 weeks pregnant at the time. I hadn't fasted before the test and in fact had just ate a small hamburger and vanilla shake minutes before my appointment. 30 minutes later they gave me that icky sweet orange drink and in one hour my blood was drawn. Why didn't I fast before the test? Well I wasn't told to fast and I also assumed the test was to be done at a lab (all of my tests have been done at labs) on a later date, not at my OB appointment. I even told the nurse about the shake and hamburger but she insisted I take the test then. Well, I tested high glucose and the nurse insists that it wasn't because of the hamburger and vanilla shake. The doctor won't say one way or another and wants me to take the 3-hour glucose test ASAP. What do you guys think?

I have my 3-hour test scheduled for 7am Monday morning. Between this and my blood pressure problems (I am now on procardia) I am so ready to have this baby! And the funny part is that I have never felt better! Thanks for listening.

 

[jldriscoll]

You sound a lot like me! I was trim and in shape when I got pregnant the first time. Had gestational diabetes and high blood pressure resulting in pre-clamsia and my daughter being delivered 6 weeks early. I felt great the whole time!!!! Doctor was baffled!

Relax, the 3 hour is no big deal. I took it twice. Once with each daughter, and no I wasn't told to fast for the one hour either. You just never know though....I failed the 3 hour with dd #1 and passed with dd#2! (The theory behind the pass is that I went right on the diabetic diet when I knew I was pregnant so I was already controlling my sugars.

You'll have a healthy happy baby in no time!! (and delivering early was a nice bonus ) Pm me anytime if you want to chat!

 

[SonjaB]

You should've been told to fast before the test, I have no idea why they would tell you food wouldn't affect the outcome. Make sure you fast before the 3-hour test and get a second opinion if you aren't convinced of the results.

 

[KimR]

I was told the same thing...that I could have anything I wanted before drinking the orange drink they gave me, but nothing after. So I had a coke right before drinking that orange stuff, and sure enough, my blood sugar came back high. My 3-hour test came back perfectly normal. It had to be the coke that did it - it's just common sense. If they give you a specific amount you have to drink and tell you not to drink anything after, it stands to reason that any sugar consumed immediately before is going to have an effect on the results.

Kim

 

[Disneylvr]

Originally posted by jldriscoll
You sound a lot like me! I was trim and in shape when I got pregnant the first time.

Well I can't say I am in shape but I was tested right away for diabetes because I am overweight and then again at 16 weeks both times being negative. My problems with my blood pressure, I feel, are due to "white coat symdrome" or fear and anxiety about being at the doctors office. I was monitored in the hospital for 5 hours with a pressure of 140/76 upon arrival and 104/55 when I left but I continue to read high in the doctor's office at each visit. As a precauction the OB put me on procardia yesterday. After this pregnancy I am switching OB/GYN's because I am not at all happy with the current one. The mess up with my 1 hour glucose test is just one of the many mistakes that the office has made. If I wasn't so far along I would switch now.

Thanks for your advice and good thoughts!!!

 

[Kermit]

I had nothing but problems with the gestational diabetes test while I was pregnant, too. My office told me to fast before the 1 hr test, but when I did some research on the Internet (after I took the test), it said that I wasn't supposed to fast. (It did also say that you shouldn't eat a lot of sugar before the test, though, so I don't know if a shake is ideal to eat beforehand.) I was really upset about that part because fasting is no fun when you're pregnant.

I was told that I failed my 1 hr test, but while doing my research on the Internet, I found out that they're supposed to give you 50 grams of the yucky stuff for the 1 hr and 100 grams for the 3 hr. But I knew that I had been given 100 grams for my test because I heard the person giving me the test say that's how much she was giving me. I failed because they gave me twice as much as they were supposed to. My OB's office wanted to send me for diabetes education right then, but I insisted on the 3 hr test. I didn't really want to take it, but I didn't want to test my blood sugar either. It turned out the 3 hr wasn't that bad. I would take something with you to eat right after it's over. Also, if I had to do it again, I'd take a toothbrush and toothpaste. My mouth felt gross while waiting around for 3 hours after I drank that stuff. BTW, I did end up passing the 3 hr just fine. My OB's office insisted that I continue to take fasting blood sugar tests throughout my pregnancy because I failed the 1 hr , but I passed all of those.

 

[mtemm]

I can't remember whether or not I fasted for the one hour...which I barely failed. For the 3 hour I had to fast. The nurse also told me to carbo-load the day before and gave me a sample diet for the day. LOL! Gee, I guess I carbo-load more days than not naturally!

I did exactly what the diet said, took the test the next day and passed with flying colors. Its not fun...not that crazy about that super-sweet drink that you have to drink in a certain amount of time. But it was worth doing.

Good luck!!!

 

[dizneenut]

I was told to fast before the 1 hour test. I failed for my last 2 pregnancies, but never got sent in for a 3 hour test. I was sent to a nutritionist who gave me a list of stuff I should eat and my sugars stayed under control.