"Urgent" GTT appointment tomorrow - worried :(

[Kittypillar]

Hi all,

Guess I'm just after a hand-hold really, as quite nervous - when I was at my midwives today, I had the standard dip test done. Turns out I tested ++ for glucose levels in my urine. Midwife asked if I'd eaten anything sugary recently and I answered I'd had cereal in the morning 2.5 hours earlier. She then got on the phone and booked me in for an "urgent" GTT there and then. The use of the word urgent was what rattled me a bit I think :(

She talked me through what would happen but I'm more nervous about what it might mean for the rest of my pregnancy really if it turns out I do have GD (I'm 33 weeks). It would be good to hear other people's stories, regardless of the result. Thank you.

You'll be fine. If it is gestational diabetes (sounds likely) you'll be moved under consultant care, possibly get a growth scan and likely be induced at 38 weeks (GD can make a placenta degrade at a slightly faster rate than normal so they don't like to let you go over). You might need insulin for a few weeks but you'll be talked through this if necessary.

Thank you @strawberrypenguin. I'm really hoping it isn't the case but it does seem a strong possibility from my results. Just seemed quite out of the blue as two weeks ago my results had been absolutely fine.

I'm sure it'll be fine either way and I'm trying not to preempt anything before I even know for sure, but I can't help but feel disappointed and sad about it. Keep thinking if I hadn't indulged in this, if I'd not done this etc. Also puts paid to my birth plan if that's the case, which would be a bit gutting, albeit I was aware that may not have worked out for loads of reasons anyway :(

If it is, it won't be because of anything you've done.
Take some entertainment with you tomorrow though - it's a long wait in the middle, and take some food/drink for after your done too.
Hope it goes well for you.

The "urgent" is probably because you normally have to book the test in advance but she doesn't want to wait because you're already a month beyond the usual test period.

If it helps I've had glucose +++ in both pregnancies, multiple GTTs and no GD (consultant kept testing because she was convinced I had it - test kept saying I didn't, wasn't even borderline). To the best of my knowledge though you can't cause GD - it's all down to your placenta not your diet.

Hope all goes well

Don't worry, don't build it up in your head, just go for the test, and deal with whatever comes out the other end.

One warning! The drink is foul, I nearly threw it straight back up it was so strongly sweet.

Then, I went to sit in the chairs for an hour (or whatever) - and nearly fainted. I could feel myself going, so I knelt down on the floor and leant my head against the seat of the chair trying not to pass out, and they noticed and ushered me to a special, hidden, comfy medical armchair they had at the back of the office (!) until it was time to take the next set of bloods. Got my results, and I was fine, excellent results. My body just freaked out at the fast followed by sugar rush.

What I'm saying is, don't read anything into how you react either - just wait for the results, and try to put it from your mind.

Try not to worry - if you do have it at least they will know!

Just to warn you the drink isn't nice and I actually felt very poorly during the 2 hour wait for blood tests because of the fasting then sudden sugar rush!

Honestly don't panic!

I was diagnosed at 28 weeks with GD and have controlled through diet - I am still planning a home birth.

No talk of insulin or induction here 😊

Check out Gestational Diabetes UK mums on Facebook for diet advice if you are diagnosed.

Good luck!

I have gd diagnosed at 27 weeks. Controlled with diet and tablets. At 37 weeks I now weigh less than when I got pregnant. Silver linings and all that. Didn’t find the test too bad just bring something low sugar for after second blood test so you don’t feel too sick.

I have the GTT test tomorrow too so I’ll be thinking of you. Let us know how you get on. I have to have it as there is diabetes in my family so not the same circumstances as you but could result in same outcome. It’s not nice but as I look at it, it’s better to know if there is diabetes for you and the baby than otherwise. Best of luck with it.

Ah gosh, good luck to you too @Chocness, definitely let me know how you get on. Will keep fingers crossed for you!

And thank you all so much for the reassuring, one of the reasons I love this forum so much - I've gone from really panicking about it to feeling at the least that it's best to know if there is something wrong and it can be managed. Although I'm not looking forward to that drink though, it sounds horrid!

It’s not too bad. I had a GTT with my last baby and drank it fine. Just try and turn your taste buds off when you drink it! The worst part for me is kicking around the hospital for 2 hours until they retest. I plan to call some friends and read a good book. After which I’m going for a damn good breakfast somewhere nice as fasting when pregnant is pits! Good luck OP.

I quite liked the drink🙈

I had ++ protein although both pregnancies and no GD here.

Take a book or make sure your phone is charged!

I also had +++ glucose in both pregnancies and repeated testing showed I didn't have GD at all so fingers crossed for you.

I'm afraid I don't know much about GD but I had two healthy babies with pre-existing type 1 diabetes, so try not to worry

Really don't worry if you do have it. Knowing is the most important thing as you can manage it.

I had GD in my second pregnancy despite having no risk factors (I live in an area where everyone is tested at 28 weeks as standard). It was easy to follow the diet and I didn't need medication or insulin. The diet was really just sensible eating with regular walking and as a result I finished the pregnancy healthier and was 2kg lighter at 4 weeks post-birth than I was before the pregnancy. Baby was not huge and born at 39 weeks.

I have a gtt every 2 years to check I haven't developed type 2 diabetes (as gd puts you at higher risk) but that's the only long term impact for me.

I hope you’re ok OP

And I’m sorry strawberrypenguin, I’m sure you didn’t mean it, but posts like this are extremely unhelpful

You'll be fine. If it is gestational diabetes (sounds likely) you'll be moved under consultant care, possibly get a growth scan and likely be induced at 38 weeks (GD can make a placenta degrade at a slightly faster rate than normal so they don't like to let you go over). You might need insulin for a few weeks but you'll be talked through this if necessary.

Being so blasé about induction and consultant-led when this is not necessarily a given, depending on other risk factors, baby’s health and how well-controlled blood sugars are etc, can be quite upsetting for many women

hersymphony the OP asked for other people's experiences and that was mine (twice). Induction for GD and standard where I am as is consultant care. I'm not blase about it
I'm aware not everyone has this experience of pregnancy or GD but it is MINE. I don't think it's unhelpful at all. They might not be possibilities you like to think of but it doesn't mean they don't exist.

Hope your GTT went well today kitty

It also reflects my experience of being told precisely what WILL be done to me without considering my personal situation or consent - that was how you worded it, I’m sorry

Induction is always optional...

Thank you all, really appreciate the kind words and advice. So it went okay: I wasn't a fan of the drink but felt alright for the first hour of waiting. By the second though, the receptionist there asked me if I needed to lie down - apparently I looked like "the colour had drained out of me" (was probably true) so she managed to find somewhere for me. Very much appreciated as I did feel pretty woozy! Went home and had a pyjama day and a big lunch so much better now :)

Apparently I'll find out my results either tomorrow (they said they'd call me if they could, even though it's a bank holiday) or otherwise it'll probably be Tuesday. So fingers crossed! Really hoping it's negative of course but even if it is GD, I'm feeling more positive about how it can be managed.

How did you get on @Chocness?

All went fine Thankyou Kitty. Did feel a bit jittery after the drink, more like hands shaking/need to run off some energy (even though I’m exhausted with pregnancy insomnia 😬) than feeling woozy like you. Hope you are ok now and taking it easy. Fingers crossed you get the results soon so you know where you are at and of course that you get the all clear. I was so eager to get out of the hospital that I completely forgot to ask when I’d hear back, another baby brain moment for me 🙄