GTT - to take the test or not?

[PeoniesandRoses]

I wondered if you could help me out with a bit of an irrational worry. I'm really concerned about having the 28 week Glucose Tolerance test. I'm still being sick in the mornings occasionally (23 weeks pregnant), especially if I dont eat, and feeling quite faint. Even if I have breakfast at 7.30 I need a snack by 10.30 / 11 or Ill be sick again (this has happened a few times when I've been out and got caught short). I'm worried that the fasting from 10pm to 10.30 am is going to make me sick and that I'll struggle getting to the hospital and back. Also I dont really eat a lot of sugar and often find that if I have cake at work for someone's birthday etc I'll get a headache or migraine that evening, so I think the sugary drink will make me feel terrible. I just really dont want to have the test but dont know if I'm overreacting. I was only just applicable as my BMi was 30.5 and the test is given to anyone with a BMI of 30 or over so I wondered if I could decline the test. What do you think?

Having undiagnosed diabetes is very dangerous during pregnancy. If they feel you need it you really should do all you can in order to take it.

I'd take it (and did!) Gestational Diabetes can be very bad for the health of your unborn baby if untreated. More serious than feeling sick for a few hours.

You should really take it. Like the PP mentioned, it can be very dangerous if undiagnosed.

You can have small sips of water beforehand and the drink really isn't very big so nothing like having cake lol. Just make sure to have a snack ready for afterwards and keep yourself distracted whilst you wait with a book and your phone.

why will you not have the test
Gestational diabetes has nothing to do with how much sugar you eat.
Undiagnosed GD can be fatal for your unborn child so not sure why you want to risk it.

I had bad morning sickness in both pregnancies and had GTT both times. I was convinced it would make me sick and feel awful, but actually it was ok. The drink tasted fine and they had water on hand if I needed it.

As far as I remember, you stop eating at midnight and not at 10 pm but I might be wrong there.

I just had the test (blood trace found in urine) and I was asked to stop eating at 10pm , appointment was at 8am so had last blood taken at 10:07 then I could eat. It was very uncomfortable (especially the rush hour tube journey at 7 am on an empty stomach) but I'm glad I went.

GD is no joke so try to see this as something you're enduring for your baby. If you can't keep the drink down then you'll have at least tried.

Good luck , oh and bring a book!

Why would you decline free screening for a potentially dangerous antenatal complication? I had the test. It was fine, sat around for a while, had a blood test. 100% fine.

I had the same concerns as you did but put myself through it, if I'm totally honest it wasn't bad at all. I had no food after midnight and expected to be starving, feeling sick and faint - but I wasn't. The nurse had the drink in the fridge so it was refreshing and didn't taste as sickly as I was expecting. The wait between tests was quickly over with the aid of a good book, and following the test I felt ok. I do wish I'd taken the afternoon off work as I did feel a little different - not quite off colour but not able to concentrate and had a slight headache: but totally worth it as others have said GD isn't something to be taken lightly. So for a few hours of essentially sitting still, and a little fasting is more than worth it. But it might be worth discussing further with your MW or GP to ease your anxieties?

It's only one morning, I know it might be unpleasant but they're testing you for a reason so I think you should have it done.

For a slightly different perspective...
I've just refused it. Bmi 30.8, no family history and no problems in previous pregnancy. I talked it over with the midwife in detail.

They will still test you for gestational diabetes through urine dips and measurement at routine appts and I've agreed that if anything flags up then, I'll go for the gtt at that point.

For me, I'm just sick of being prodded and poked and tested for things and couldn't face yet another test. I would also end up with a migraine in that situation. And then they'd probably freak out about that as well...

I declined my GTT in my last pregnancy with a BMI of 31. I decided I wouldn't tolerate it with the sickness and vomiting. I had no glucose in urine. I had a scan at 36/40 and DS was above the 98th centile with increased fluid (all symptoms of GDM). He was born via CS at 41/40 10lb 5oz, maceosomic, polycythemia (sign of untreated diabetes).

This pregnancy i am being treated as a precious GDM so have had a 16/40 GTT and will repeat at 26/40

My midwife discussed this today. I have a bmi of 26. However because I have pcos its recommended. Even tho since pg I've had nothing sugary except one cup of tea a day with one sugar as I can't face it. But I just think of it does make me feel yuk.. It's only for two hours.. I wouldn't worry about stuff like that really xx

You can decline the test if you want to. I've declined several blood tests in my pregnancies, its my choice.

Obviously you have to weigh up the risks for yourself but if my bmi was that borderline (especially if weighed with clothes on) I would probably decline.