GTT confused

[ladyflower23]

I have been booked in for a GTT at 28 weeks as my mum has type 2 diabetes. I have been told to fast from 9pm the night before, then drink a bottle of lucozade at 7am then they will take blood at 9am. Everywhere I look it seems procedure is to fast, get blood taken, then drink lucozade, then have another blood sample taken. Have I been misinformed about what i am meant to be doing or is this normal practice in some places? Thanks!

[mammycampbell]

Hi ladyflower, my glucose test also consisted of those steps, just timings different (fast from 12midnight, lucozade at 9am, bloods at 11am) I have to say I was also a bit perplexed - was surprised there was just one blood test... I thought they would take one before I had the lucozade to compare to the 'after' one. Haven't had results yet so can't say for definite that this procedure is correct, am watching with interest! And eating haribo

[FruitBadger]

That's exactly the same process and timings as I was told to follow too, I had the test as my Father is diabetic.

[TinyMonkey]

I think it varies, no idea why though. Mine was fast from midnight, then go in, bloods, large sachet of orange drink, sit around, bloods after 1hr, bloods after 2hrs.

Yours sounds a lot more convenient tbh.

[lupo5]

Mine was fast from midnight,than 8am taken blood,than drink (orange sweet solution). After 2 h again blood was taken.
It came clear after 3 days....

[evertonmint]

There are two types of test. Everybody does the lucozade test at around 28 weeks which is now often done as you describe.

The GTT is used if you have specific risk factors involved for GD eg high BMI. You usually have 2 (I think 16 weeks and 28 weeks but can't quite remember from when I did it) For that, you have fasting bloods taken then drink then more bloods.

You should double check which one you need.

[skyra13]

I was booked in for mine yesterday when i went to me 16 week check up, i was told not to take any food after 10pm and only aloud to drink water.
Appointment will be at 8.15 been told i will then have to wait 2 hours!

I'm more worried about be Hungary lol

[Pandora37]

Does everyone have a lucozade test everton? I've never heard of it before and don't know anyone who's had one. Also, my trust just do the one GTT test at 28 weeks, different trusts do different tests for whatever reason so don't assume it's universal.

OP I think you should ring them up and ask. As I said, different NHS trusts will do different things so you're likely to get lots of different answers which will just confuse you even more!

[evertonmint]

Pandora - that's the way it is here and in other areas where friends are, and where I lived before. But I accept it may not be universal.

However what is true is that there are two types of test, with which one being chosen depending on risk factors. The lucozade test the OP describes is not the one RCOG recommends in her situation. They recommend the GTT where a parent has diabetes. This involves bloods before and after a specifically measured glucose drink which they watch you drink and time the test exactly, and require you to not move much in between the bloods. It needs to be a more tightly managed test because they are testing people with higher risk.

OP, as I said before, I would query why you are not having a full GTT given your risk factor.

RCOG guidance here

[broodysnoopstie]

op I'm booked for 28 week gtt.. because my dad has diabetes. I've been told fast from midnight. drink lucozade at 6.30 then appointment for blood test at 8.30.. (Then have breakfast on way to work!)

[ladyflower23]

Thanks for all your advice. I have received a letter for the appointment and it actually says its a Glucose Load Test so perhaps this is a different type of test to the GTT although this is what she referred to it as at my appointment. Will ask when I next see her to check this is the right test considering I have one of the high risk factors. Cheers for the link evertomint