to refuse glucose tolerance test?

[CamberwellNichols]

Had a glucose tolerance test today. Took about 3 hours and required me to take a day off work because of it being at midday. For some reason the second sample of blood they took clotted and they want me to come back and have it done again.

I asked why I was having it done and they couldn't tell me. My BMI is 23.3, I have no family history of any kind of diabetes, baby looks normal size and I have no symptoms of GD. I am half Caribbean but they said this wouldn't be a trigger on its own. Even my own midwife can't work out why she ordered the test (she did it at my 8 week booking appointment). Her logic is that she 'must have ordered it for a reason so I should go back and have it re-done'

WIBU to just not go? I see no good reason for me to have it done...

I had it, but friends who were going to prenatal appts at different hospitals didn't. Given that the policy appears to vary from hospital to hospital (some only screen high risk patients), I would say yanbu

I’d ask the midwife to check with a consultant or the specialist diabetes nurse in the hospital. They’ll know for definite one way or another

Well, firstly, I’d be speaking in more detail to the midwife and trying to get to the bottom of why she thought it was necessary. That would then help me decide if I would do it again. And if I did have to do it again I’d be insisting on first appt of the day. (Although, surely this counts as a pregnancy related matter so you must be given the time off work.)

I can say honestly though, if it was me, I’d want it done just to rule it out now, otherwise I’d be worrying about it. That’s just me though.

I ended up having a grand total of four glucose tests with my last pregnancy. Where her tummy was so big they kept thinking of developed it
It was a nightmare with the fasting, the dizziness, the disgusting drink, waiting around and to top it off being a needle phobic (funnily enough by the time I was induced I wasn't scared anymore 😂)

You are well within your rights to refuse but best to keep an eye out for any symptoms

I don't understand why you'd want to refuse a test that could prevent serious problems further down the line, no matter how inconvenient.

In your shoes I wouldn’t go back

Eh yabu. I had no risk factors.... normal bmi, no family history etc. I had it both pregnancies. Oh and you can't keep an eye out for symptoms as there aren't any.

I would get the test...3hrs or risk something being missed that could have tragic effect.

@paap1975 because I'm not at risk or diabetes and it looks like I really don't need it. It's not a routine test and is usually only offered to those who are high risk or show symptoms. I am/have neither.

Out of curiosity @SubwayA9car how did you know you had it?

actually there's a drive to offer the test to more women precisely because many woman have GD with no obvious symptoms or any risk factors.

I am half Caribbean but they said this wouldn't be a trigger on its own.

In my area your ethnicity is a trigger on it's own.

The thing is they change their criteria all the time, so you are best of asking one of the obstetricians or one of the specialist diabetes nurses their criteria for you needing it.

I'm also puzzled why they do testing so late, as it is much easier if they get you in first thing in the morning.

Ooh I take back my comment then! My midwife said that there were signs to look out for such as increased thirst

By the time I found out I had it I had so much excess fluid I measured full term for 10weeks of my pregnancy.
I had obviously developed gd much earlier but it wasn't until it really started causing problems that I was diagnosed. I had probably had it for weeks and in that time my baby was exposed to high sugar levels.

The second pregnancy I was tested at 9 weeks and confirmed. I was straight onto diet control and monitoring sugars.

Also the midwife info on gd is often sketchy at best. Increased thirst is a symptom for type 2 I believe but not necessarily gd.

I took it when pregnant with my first but my second I went to the appointment and was waiting around for hours even though I was the first one there so I walked out and didn't take it. Pregnancy and afterwards totally fine.

It is a routine test but in your case, I wouldn’t go back and would be peed off. It’s a truly horrible test, I had mine a fortnight ago. I felt so faint and sick during it.

Doesn’t sound very professional, it should be written in your notes why you have to have it...
not stirring the pot but just stating the obvious
Call her out at your next appointment on it..a lapse like that could have consequences on somebody else

I've just spoken to the hospital and they also agree that being half Caribbean isn't enough to trigger a test in their trust (which is the same as the MLU) and they see no reason for me to have it done, aka if I was seeing them for the first time they wouldn't order it. Confused.com!

@Benandhollysmum the care I have received throughout my whole pregnancy has been awful. I didn't even know what a glucose test was and had no idea that I would be waiting around for 3 hours this morning. Certainly wouldn't have had 6 year old with me if I knew! They were also annoyed on my behalf it hadn't been explained at my last appointment and said it's really common people turning up and having to ditch the test as they had no idea what it consisted of... anyone, totally different issue there!

I had it with no risk factors. I had private care so I don’t know about nhs but I thought everyone must have it. I’m a bit annoyed to read that they don’t!

As you say it was a pain, couldn’t eat for hours and then they messed it up and I had to go again. Second time I was there for 6 hours because someone fainted and everything had to stop and start again.

Find out if you really need to go.

I think it's quite clear that I don't need to go but understandably nobody wants to say tell me that as they're unsure why it was ordered in the first place. It's not turned in to an arse covering exercise by the looks of things.

*now as opposed to not

Complain about your treatment you have received, esp if you are unhappy with it.

I’ve never had a glucose test with either of mine so no idea what it is but as I said regardless midwife is supposed to up to speed and keeping pregnant mum in the loop into what’s happening

I have a test for GD coming up in two weeks. It is also in the middle of the day. I am also not sure why I am having it. No genetic dispositions, race factors, normal BMI, not over 35, no previous pregnancy to compare risk factors..etc.

That said, I’m a number not a person when I go to these appointments. I’m a low risk patient and an easy way to make up time when they are behind. Midwife has clearly written on my notes ‘you will give birth in the midwife led unit’. Interesting given that I’m supposed to choose...😑 Not with placenta praevia I won’t, love!

@Benandhollysmum

The idea of my midwife being up to speed is quite funny. I feel sorry for her. She's so busy. So busy she didn't actually turn up to my 25 week appointment where this was probably meant to be explained to me! That was an interesting wait at the doctors for a midwife who wasn't actually there...