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...

Do you already have a child OP, as in my area I was called for a GTT at 28 weeks on my second pregnancy because DC1 was a big size so GD was a suspected factor. (this was 30 odd years ago so things may have changed)

I would complain if I were you, that’s not good enough. You are unhappy and I bet they’ll be others unhappy with her too. She’s supposed to be a professional and she’s not acting it.

@AlmaCogansFrockFan no children yet! The 6 year old I had with me was DPs daughter. She's obsessed with all things baby which is adorable so she likes coming to my appointments as she can ask the midwives lots of questions whilst I'm having the tests done. They know her by first name now, it's very sweet!

I’ve just had to have one at 34 weeks because I kept showing glucose in my urine, could it be that? I have no risk factors either. The odd thing is I showed glucose in urine for every m/w appt through my last pregnancy and always questioned it and was told it was nothing to worry about! How far along are you? If they can’t come up with any reason for ordering the test I don’t think you’d be unreasonable for refusing to go back.

I cancelled one when I was pregnant with my daughter at 28 weeks, I have a massive anxiety about hospitals and needles and I had a very bad cold that week, so could think of no worse place to be! I eventually did have the test at 30 weeks after much mental preparation! It is a not for your mind and body to go through but having to repeat it! I'd of definitely said no! So in short you're not being unreasonable not to want to go through it all again! :)

@Nutkins24 I'm just over 28 weeks. Urine tests all normal. Very weird. Think I'm decided I'm not going to go!

At King’s College Hospital there have been lots of policy changes to their diabetes protocol lately, in order to be in line with Nice guidelines- as mentioned earlier by someone, pregnant woman can be affected without realising in good time. It’s possible that if you are at a hospital with similar recent changes, the Midwife may have ordered it in confusion as it’s not always clear; especially in a busy booking clinic with everything to do. Of course, it is your choice to decline to repeat the test if you feel it wasn’t warranted anyway.

I had no risk factors, no symptoms, felt fit as a fiddle ... and yet it was discovered I had GD in both my pregnancies. The test is really not something you'd want to miss just because it's inconvenient.

I can taste that disgusting corn orange drink now ive thought about this test. I was nearly sick.

I remember two women talking about how to pass the test in the waiting room. Apparently it’s all online how to fool the test! What’s the bloody point of that?!

Everyone gets it in my area.

Can you claim back the time from work, I think they have to pay you for time off for pregnancy related appointments - make sure you take a letter to Work.

I would get it done, just in case.

Anyone else getting clinical negligence ads now?!

I had no symptoms and no risk factors but I developed GD in the last few days of my pregnancy with DC1. It wouldn't have made any difference to that pregnancy but it was useful information when I got pregnant the second time because it came on much much earlier.

The urine glucose test isn't very sensitive, so the GTT is preferable. If I were you I'd have the test but of course you can refuse if you prefer.

And I imagine the midwife ordered it on the basis of your skin colour or features, which might be racist and against policy but I believe there is a slightly higher rate of type 2 in some ethnicities compared with white British so the same could apply to GD. I don't think that's an excuse though. She should have told you why she ordered it.

How old are you? It's a standard test in my area for all expectant mothers aged 35+

Oh @CardsforKittens I would be careful before using the 'r' word. It states clearly on my notes that I am mixed Caucasian and Afro-Caribbean. I don't sense any racist undertones here at all. She simply hasn't told me why she ordered the test but if it WAS because of my ethnic origin, I see nothing wrong in that. I had to have tests for sickle cell because I'm mixed race. I think it's pretty routine.

@Thiswayorthatway I'm 27. I suspect it was because of my ethnicity and she just can't remember why she ordered it. I have online notes (which is another way of saying I have no/sparse notes )

Camberwell I'm fairly careful with the 'r' word! Legally speaking, an HCP failing to provide reasons for decisions based on assumptions of ethnicity could be discriminatory, and unfortunately it does sometimes happen. But it sounds like this isn't the situation here, and I'm glad to hear it.

So have you made your final decision about the GTT?

I flatly refused after my first pregnancy. It's a deeply unreliable test, so much stuff online if you look showing it's a pretty useless indicator.

It's a nightmare, it takes forever, it is reliable with false positives and negatives (ie the same woman can get different results on different days, iirc).
No ta.

OP I "had" to have it because I'm the same race as you. Maybe they ordered it and can't remember what ethnicity you are and don't have it to hand (bit crap if your notes are online)???

Was awful, I'm seriously needle phobic, if they messed up the test I'm not sure I'd have done it again tbh.

Btw I think your near me, are you with Kings? I'm with St Thomas' but Kings is closer.

I have been asked to have his test purely due to my ethnicity so that could be the reason

It’s paid time of work so I don’t see the issue taking the day off.

For what it’s worth the test is standard on other countries, i’ve had it done as standard in France and Greece so risk assessments versus cost can differ.

@MyDcAreMarvel the issue is my workload which scares me a little! a day off is a long time in my line of work!

@olderthanyouthink not sure where either of those places are! What makes you think I'm near you out of curiosity?

Your nickname and someone else mentioned kings college hospital put it in my head.

Kings college hospital is in camberwell in SE London.

Oh bloody hell yeah, my family are from Camberwell! I'm not though (Hackney gal here!). See what you mean now though (doh)