GTT - is there another way to test that doesn't inolve fasting blood test?

[angels1]

Have been told I should have GD blood test (where you fast all night and they give you a sugary drink). This is because they only first weighed me at 15 weeks and have used this as my pre pg weight (don't get me started....) so my BMI is raised just into the obese category. I have no other risk factors.

Saw supposed consultant today to see what my options are as to if I can test in any other way (eg regular monitoring of urine samples etc) as am still struggling with ms, can't get out of bed without eating something, haven't managed a trip out of the house for longer than 3 hours in 4 months as I'm so rubbish, struggle to get out in the morning in any case and the whole idea of the test freaks me out (for reasons I won't go into) and I'm having major anxiety issues in pg without this on top. Consultant was useless and I've come away none the wiser.

Has anyone had any experience/knowledge of how to montior/test for GD through other methods aside from the fasting blood test? Is it possible?

I carry out these tests on people who aren't pregnant but as far as I know you do have to fast so they can test your blood before any kinds of sugar have been ingested to be able to get an accurate reading after the test. Please don't take this as absolute red but it's my understanding that you do indeed need to fast to get the correct result either way.

Agree with LDNlady. They use a measured dose of 'sugar' - usually a fruit build up drink which is very syrupy. They are looking for a standard response to the loading of the drink. So you have to fast prior, then they take a control sample, you drink the drink, then they take 1hr, 2hr samples, to check that you are dealing with the sugar correctly.

You can refuse an OGTT. But it isn't advisable - diabetes is quite serious, and easily treated.

The only other thing is to see if the community midwife can do the test in your home, which would resolve a few of the issues it raises for you?

I would ask why you really need it, if you're only having it for supposedly high pre-pregnancy BMI. If your urine shows no sign of sugars and you have no symptoms, it seems weird to send you for a full GTT. My pre-pregnancy BMI was just over 30 but I haven't had a GTT - I'm now 31 weeks and have had no sugars in my urine and no GTT symptoms.

japhrimel, I've been sent for a full GTT just for high BMI (just over 30) as well. Is this another things that varies from one hospital to the next?

Not saying whether I should or shouldn't have it, just that there must be different policies.

I do wish though that these things were agreed at a national level.

D

japhrimel I know! My 15 week BMI I think was just over 30 - so why are they trying to make me do the test and not you?! They just tell me they want to get it checked just to make sure despite my pleas as to why I don't think it's necessary. I'm very close if they continue to just give myself a reduced sugar type diet in the hope of controlling the worst if I do have it and monitor the baby to check how it's growing etc. Having it done at home would be the only way I'd even vaguely consider it as a possibility, but this hasn't been mentioned to me as an option.

Hmm, just checked and it is NICE Guidance that women with a pre-pregnancy BMI or 30 or over should be offered an oral GTT.

Guess my area is the strange one - or maybe my MW is just exercising her judgement, given my BMI was 31 when measured at 9 weeks when I'd put on some weight already (it's all still bump & boobs tho) so my pre-pregnancy BMI may have been just under 30 anyway. Plus no sugars in urine and no symptoms of GD - and less excess weight at 31 weeks than I had when I got pregnant as I've lost weight away from my bump & boobs.

NICE does say the a OGTT should be offered, not that it is essential. Given the above I'd refuse it on the basis of BMI alone myself as fasting etc would be likely to give me a migraine, which carries known risks to me & the baby (my migraine meds are dangerous to use when pregnant).

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11946/40107/40107.pdf