To think that having a virus could affect a GTT for gestational diabetes?

[SweetPeaSoup]

I'm 28 weeks now, and had a lucozade test at the end of last week. I had (still have) a sinking cold, and am convinced that the results might have been warped by it.

Apparently the accepted range for results is 3-6mmol, but my result was 6.7mmol.

I'm planning a home birth because DC1 arrived so quickly, so I'm willing to put up a fight to avoid having to deliver at the side of the road. I'd rather the fight was limited to asking for another test on reasonable grounds though!

I highly doubt it, a cold really shouldn't have any affect on how much glucose is in your blood. Sorry!

Bugger (but thanks for replying!) :(

I had GD and the diabetic clinic nurse told me that having a cold / being ill could affect my results with the fingerprint test, actually.

I had a random high few days despite eating the same and lots of walks, and I had a cold and she said that was why.

DH and I are both diabetic and when unwell will often have higher BG than usual, so YANBU.

Yes it can. I have GD and had a cold a couple of weeks ago. My BG levels rocketed despite being well controlled normally. Diabetic clinic said IT was all down to the cold and I'm back to normal now.

The point is that if a viral infection puts up your blood sugar, your glucose tolerance is abnormal. So the test is positive. People with normal glucose tolerance don't get high blood sugars when they have a cold.

Incidentally, the threshold at my hospital is 7.0, so it wouldn't even be an issue for you here.

With mine they repeated it after a week to make sure. It had raised and I did have GD but they didn't diagnose on one raised result.

I'm diabetic and my BMs go batshit high if I'm ill. Any kind of bacterial infection seems to affect it moats, but even a cold pushes them up.

I don't think most non-diabetics would have a clue if they had raised BMs when ill, due to the fact that they're not testing them ever.

I think you have an argument to repeat the test, at the very least. Also, I don't see why a diagnosis of GD would preclude you from delivering at home, provided that it's well managed, you don't require IV insulin, and baby is not macrosomatic.

Moats? Most!

welsh this is what puzzles me too. My dd is type 1 and when I asked the nurse, she said a 'normal' persons BG would never drop below 4.0. However, I tested mine one occasion, first thing in the morning and it was 3.5

As you say, unless someone without diabetes, tested as constantly as someone with diabetes, how do they know what the small variances are, from day to day, after meals etc. (Apologies for derailing OP)

Auriga is right. I think many nurses are getting it backwards.

If you are taking medications there is a chance some might throw off a test. Mention any medication to your HCP.

You should have a glucose tolerance test after the initial glucose screening test has indicated a high or borderline result. I am assuming you just did the one hour screening test this time? The normal protocol is to send you for the tolerance test after you had a high reading for the screening. If your HCP has not ordered the tolerance test you need to ask why.

For the tolerance test you will not be able to eat for 8-14 hours before the test (tests are normally scheduled for early evening or early morning because of this). Your blood will be drawn to see your fasting value, and you will be asked to drink a glucose drink. Blood will be drawn every 30 mins to an hour for the next three hours. The results will be pretty definitive. If you have more than one value above the threshold you have GD. One value above means you can probably proceed as a normal pregnancy but watch your diet/exercise -- this is up to your doctor to consider though with your whole health picture in mind. One size does not fit all.

If it's a positive result, please try to accept the diagnosis and what it entails as far as delivery is concerned. GD can have serious effects on the baby and the placenta and you will most likely be looking at induction unless you go into labour spontaneously on or before your due date.

A normal non diabetic persons blood sugar may go lower, but it should not go higher than the normal range. If you get a high reading at any time it can indicate glucose intolerance (although we don't tend to use that term any more)

Forgot to update - all was fine in the end as the midwife said that they consider 6.7mmol to be reasonable (they don't worry until it hits 7.8mmol).

It was a 2hr test - fasting for 12h, knocking back a load of Lucozade, blood drawn 2hr later.

Thanks for all the replies!

lots of things could cause it to be inaccurate - mine was put off as I was in a car crash on the way to it, apparently adrenaline can make it go very low

lots of things could cause it to be inaccurate - mine was put off as I was in a car crash on the way to it, apparently adrenaline can make it go very low