Glucose Tolerance Test Confusion

[Eastie77]

Hello,
I'M 29 weeks pregnant and have received a letter from the hospital stating that I need to go to the Antenatal Clinic for a GTT. I had an appointment with my midwife last week and she took urine and blood samples. She said the urine sample was fine and she would let me know if the blood samples revealed any issues. I didn't hear anything from her but received this letter today which she has signed.

I was wondering if this is a test offered to ALL women at this stage of pregnancy of if women are only offered this test if a potential problem has been spotted as the letter isn't clear on that point. It reads 'Following your recent random blood sugar result / ultrasound result (delete as necessary) a glucose test has been arranged to check if you have diabetes in pregnancy"

There is no indication on the letter as to what the the recent blood sugar result was but I assumed something had caused them to call me in for the test. Now I'm wondering if it is just a precautionary measure undertaken because I am potentially higher risk (high rates of diabetes amongst people from my ethnic background). Either way i will go for the test but the date is rather inconvenient as I leave to go on holiday later that day so if it is just a precautionary measure rather than based on an actual problem I would rather reschedule if possible.

I have called and texted my midwife multiple times but have had no response which is not unusual as it is very,very hard to get hold of her. I will keep trying but in the meatime wondered if anyone had had any knowledge of the above.

Thanks
E

[seekingpeaceandquiet]

Hi, my midwife arranged for me to have the test because theres higher risk for me too same as you ethnic background. But this was arranged at the booking in appt. for when I was 28 weeks.

It could be that they detected glucose in your results as this letter came through.

If you could go on the day stated it would be better as its usually done at 28 weeks and you're over and its better to know sooner so if you do have gd you can control it.

[midori1999]

The test could be either because your routine bloods indicated there may be a problem (they take a random blood sugar from it) or because you have a family history of diabetes, which is a risk factor.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Depends on the area. Some trusts test routinely, some only test those with risk factors. I had one done because my BMI was 30 by my 12 week scan. I had to rearrange mine and went at 28 weeks instead of 24. I'd contact them and see what they say about rearranging. Shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, they generally do it first thing so in my case, I was there for 9am and out by 11.30.

[fertilityFTW]

Same here - no issues with blood/urine but GTT done as routine based on ethnic background. Was no biggie - in at 8:30, out by 10:30. Given the all clear after that.

[StiffyByng]

To be honest, the wording of the letter suggests to me that your random blood test came back on the high side. Don't worry too much-lots of people who get a high result on a random test are fine with a GTT.