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Original poster

Passed GTT but now bloods are strange at 34.5 weeks?

29 replies

HowAboutNo · 18/04/2014 21:52

Passed the GTT at 28 weeks, well within range. Decided to buy a blood glucose monitor the other day on a whim as I've been feeling so tired and have thrush that won't go away.

Results for today are:

5.2 before breakfast
8.2 1 hr after breakfast (whole meal toast, 2 eggs and some ketchup)
4.2 - 2 hrs after breakfast
6.1 - 1 hr after lunch (avocado wrap)
8.2 - 1 hr after dinner (chicken salad)

The idea was just to monitor it myself this week and then show the midwife next week just in case I've developed GD after the GTT. Looking for some advice on these numbers from those with GD, would really appreciate it!

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hubbahubster · 18/04/2014 22:00

I had GD in my last pregnancy and so have been self-monitoring this time. My fasting limit is 5.5 and an hour after eating is 7.8, so most of your readings are above that - my consultant would be looking at putting me on metaformin at those levels. Is there any reason why you checked 2 hours after breakfast as well as 1?

Gwlondon · 18/04/2014 22:04

I think it depends on the guidelines your doctor uses. Better to show your midwife.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 18/04/2014 22:10

hubba thanks - I checked at 2 hrs too because some advice on the internet said test after one hour, others two?! Not sure which is right. I have the midwife next Wednesday so will bring it up then.

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FlysInDreams · 18/04/2014 22:11

I have GD, which was originally controlled by diet, then I started to get high numbers for no apparent reason, after a couple of weeks,so I'm now on metformin. I would keep monitoring your glucose and discuss it with your ME next week.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 18/04/2014 22:17

I'm so confused - do you test one hour after or two? Got a reading of over 8 this evening after one hour, but just got 5.2 after two hours.

OP posts:

Boogles91 · 18/04/2014 22:24

My gtt was fine...even when ive eaten its fine as my mum has type two so take pleasure in using hers :D but when i have a diszy spell come on it shoots through the roof went up to 10 almost last week. The midwife doesnt seem bothered by it as my sugars are normal when i eat and drink. Mabey its something that just happens but get checked just to be sure :)

Gwlondon · 19/04/2014 14:32

The first hospital I went to wanted 1 hour post meal testing. The second hospital I went to wanted a mix of 1 hour and 2 hour testing. Basically it will he higher at 1 hour (value depends on doctor) and go back down again after 2 hours (value depending on doctor).

That's also why I mentioned up thread that doctors have different ranges that they use because two doctors I know use different ranges!

Good luck.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 19/04/2014 14:48

Thanks gw, it all sounds like a bugger to deal with. Going to ask for another GTT as something is def off here

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Slipshodsibyl · 19/04/2014 14:56

Your body chemistry changes through pregnancy so you could be marginally diabetic now.

The ketchup is sugary. Was the chicken bought cooked ? Often has sugar on the skin. Or did you have sugary dressing or starchy accompaniments?

The one/two hour thing depends on your advisor and sometimes on how they think your body is coping. Your figures aren't too bad for late pregnancy. If you get a bit stricter you might stave off medication. Good luck.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 19/04/2014 15:01

Thanks slip... The reading after the chicken was bizarre, I cooked it myself and had it skinless and plain! Weird. I did have a little bit of balsamic vinegar over the salad though

I'm worried my MW will think I'm nuts for randomly testing myself, but I haven't felt right for weeks. I'm really hoping that it will be as simple as showing her my results and her booking me in for another GTT.

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PartyConfused · 19/04/2014 15:07

Errrr...your numbers are all normal? Even the 8 is within normal range an hour after eating . What are you aiming for? 7.8? That is within the normal errors of the blood glucose machine.

PartyConfused · 19/04/2014 15:08

And I also have a rise in blood sugar with low or zero carb. It's not unheard of.

Hope you are reassured. I promise those numbers are fine.

Slipshodsibyl · 19/04/2014 15:09

If you had only chicken and green salad then your later reading is high - balsamic vinegar has sugar but should t do that to you. Tiredness affects things so night time readin g can be worse. They aren't bad enough to make you feel not right though - they are only a tiny but above normal and the strictness is so that your baby doesn't get big in the last few weeks ( that's when they put weight on) and cause problems during delivery. Try some extra walking exercise as that helps regulate bloods.

See your practitioner but don't worry and you are sensible to self test, not silly as then you see what foods affect you.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 19/04/2014 15:21

Thanks party, that is reassuring. I really don't know much about what I'm doing other than the NICE guidelines, just wanted something to take with me to my midwife! I do feel better after your post.

Thanks slip, I was wondering why it was so high but it was late so that would make sense. Have been so tired that I haven't done much exercise so will get back on it today.

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wildstrawberryplace · 19/04/2014 15:23

I had GD, and my readings were lower than yours. I was supposed to have a fasting glucose of 5.3 or less and be less than 7 testing 1 hour after meals. I never got a higher reading than an 8 and even so I was put on metformin twice daily increasing to three times after 2 weeks.

The reading after 2 hours doesn't matter as it is the peaks they are looking for, the peak after 1 hour is when extra glucose is going to the baby.

I only just failed the GTT and my levels once on the metformin were low/normal, and even so my DS had low blood sugar after birth and a few other problems meaning we were kept in hospital for a week.

I agree you should let your midwife know your findings and ask to be retested so that if you do have GT it can be controlled.

Good luck and don't worry.

PartyConfused · 19/04/2014 15:42

I am really shocked by some of the pp with re to GD readings. I mean that in a genuine way. To have a reading below 7 1 hr postprandial is bizarre (and for me would be dangerous but I get that I'm on different medication). It seems even NICE guidelines are 7.8. Below 7 for me would be on my way to a hypo. As far as I know, a non diabetic so normal population would all still have a spike after eating. In fact, it used to be stated that up to 10 was classed as normal (but I think this would be a high sugar meal).

OP-go and see you mw. It sounds like pp think you should. To me, your fasting rate is perfect (genuine) and your readings are all fine . Please come back and tell us what was said because this has really got my stumped! I can't believe that GD would have tight ranges lower than the general population .

When you say you feel 'not right' how do you mean? For me to feel ill my readings would have to be very high and for a long time (ie not a few minutes). Have you had your blood pressure checked recently?

Slipshodsibyl · 19/04/2014 16:18

I might be wrong but I think the rules might be slightly different for type 2.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 19/04/2014 16:21

These are my readings today so far:

5.2 before breakfast
6.3 1 hr after breakfast (wholemeal bread, scrambled egg)
5.1 pre-lunch (cheese, hummus, wraps)
5.9 1 hr after lunch

So much better than yesterday I think?

When I said I feel crap, I mean I'm really suffering with recurring thrush, am so so lethargic and thirsty as hell all the time! It's okay to wait until Wednesday to deal with this isn't it?

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PolkaSpottyDotty · 19/04/2014 16:40

Your blood glucose readings are all well within normal range.

Other than the recurring thrush, I've experienced all the other stuff in four pregnancies.

What are you drinking? Water alone has been found to be not as effective for hydration as milk.

Original poster

HowAboutNo · 19/04/2014 16:53

Ooh thanks for the tip polka, water is the only thing I drink really apart from the occasional cup of tea (living on the edge!) so will definitely have some milk to see if that helps make me feel a little more alive!

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hubbahubster · 19/04/2014 22:44

IME the limits/guidelines for GD are very different to those for diabetes. And despite NICE guidelines being 5.5 fasting and 7.8 1hr after eating, my hospital want my readings below 5 and 7. I've had to challenge them all the way with both pregnancies (DC1 was fine and under 7lb despite their insistence that he was measuring over 8lb at 38 weeks...)

You aren't going to damage your baby by monitoring for a bit before speaking to your midwife, and my own thoughts are that fluctuations are inevitable given the constant changes a pregnant body goes through!

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 19/04/2014 22:54

Your numbers look fine to me.

I was diagnosed with GD (GTT result was 5.3 fasting and 5.3 again after two hours) and am controlling with diet still at 39 weeks, though it seems to be borderline as I don't have to be strict at all and am going to be 'allowed' to go past my due date. I have to test four times per day: fasting, before lunch, before dinner, two hours after dinner.

My targets are:

Under 5.5 before breakfast
Under 6.0 before lunch and dinner
Under 7.0 two hours after dinner

So going by that, all your readings have been fine and would not have you on medication if you were attending my hospital.

PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice · 19/04/2014 22:55

x-posts with hubster - those limits seem really low!

BEEwitched · 20/04/2014 21:10

My readings have to be between 3.5 and 5.5 fasting and before meals and below 7.8 one hour after a meal, so the same as hubba.

For GD the reading one hour after food is usually the one that is used as the sugar spike shortly after a meal is the one they are concerned about.

It seems every Trust/hospital has different guidelines, which isn't really helpful.

BEEwitched · 20/04/2014 21:13

Sorry hubba, I've just seen in your second post that your hospital wants you readings even lower.

I find that with my hospital that they are just casting a very wide net, I was diagnosed because my fasting level at my GTT was 5.4 (post glucose-solution levels were fine) and my readings haven't blipped since then no matter how much carbs/sugar I eat, in fact I'm 34+3 and my readings have gone down in the last few weeks (never above 7.0 after food) and I'm constantly starving, yet I'll still be induced on my due date.

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