Glucose Tolerence Testing

[EMINEMINOM]

I have just been for a routine hospital check up - I am 23 weeks pregnant. I have been told I have to go for a Glucose Tolerence Test which will take 2 hours. They didn't explain why? Does anyone know why they carry out these tests? I didn't have this with my first pregnancy.

Hi, The test is to see how your body deals with sugar in the blood. It's to see if you could have Gestational Diabetes. They'll give you a very sweet sugary drink then test your blood sugar level at certain intervals to see if you're metabolising the sugar properly. If you're not then you may be able to control it with diet, but in some cases a small amount of insulin may be needed. I have type 2 diabetes and have to inject insulin from as soon as I start trying to conceive til after the birth, if you do end up needing insulin don't be scared by it, you don't feel a thing (and I'm needle-phobic). The main risk to the baby with gestational diabetes is usually just that they can get quite big coz they get a lot of sugar from your blood, for this reason people with diabetes are usually induced a couple of weeks early, and have more frequent scans to keep an eye on babies size. Hope this helps. If theres anything else you need to know just shout.

P.S. There could be any number of reasons why they want to test you this time around. You may have mentioned a symptom like being thirsty a lot, the baby may be big for dates etc. It's quite possible they'll do the test and find you're fine, but either way don't let it worry you.

How big was your last baby?

The reasons that I know of for doing a GTT where I am, criteria may differ with different healthcare authorities:
Booking weight (i.e. 12wk) over 85kg
Family history of diabetes of any type
Sugar present in urine
Asian background (higher risk for GTT)

didnt have a GTT when pregnant with dd1 or dd2/ i did have one with dd3, because of three factors. my weight, my mum had been diagnosed with diabetes are dd2 was over 9lb at birth.

i did have borderline gestional diabetes, and dd3 was induced 2 weeks early, and weighed in at 7lb 13oz.

Emineminom, try not to worry. I carry out GTT tests as part of my job and at this stage its just a precaution. As the other ladies have said it could be due to any of the factors listed. The test is a bit of a bore as it takes 2 hours and you mustn't move around during that time, just sit quietly somewhere. Your blood will be taken then you will have to drink a glucose drink. Depending on the practice at your particular place of testing you will then have blood taken after two hours. Sometimes blood may be taken at one hour as well. You may also be asked for urine samples. The blood will then be sent to lab for testing and the results should be ready within a couple of days. Hope this helps. But please don't worry.

Thanks for your messages! Really reassuring - have done some reading up and realise I was probably worrying a bit too much - Baby number 1 was 9lb 2 so this is the most likely explanation!!!

Yes, a 9lb baby may well be the reason - I guess they have a "trigger weight" which means they refer you for a GTT. Glad you're felling less panicky.

FWIW, my 1st was 10ln 1oz. Unsurprisingly I was referred for a GTT in my 2nd pregnancy. I just had to watch my diet and go to the diabetic clinic every 2 weeks as I "failed" that one. 3rd time round everything was fine (although I refused to go for a GTT unless the urine tests showed anything up)