Diabetes test

[ThorsMistress]

Hi all I have my GTT(?) tomorrow. I’ve been told I can’t eat or drink anything from midnight.

Does this include water? In this heat I don’t think I’m going to last

Water is fine! Drink away!

I've had lots of gtt tests in all my pregnancies ( just had a baby a couple of months ago) and water is fine!

My instructions say no water. Does it not explicitly tell you?

I was allowed water when I had mine, but nothing else, no chewing gum.

You can have water but thats literally it. Can’t even brush your teeth with toothpaste

Thank you all.

I don’t have any instructions no. The appointment was booked through the midwife over the phone so I don’t have a letter or anything.

I can’t brush my teeth with toothpaste?

You can brush your teeth with toothpaste but you mustn't swallow any of it.

And yes I'm the (weird) person who asks those questions before tests like this and GAs.

Good luck, make sure you take something to eat for once the test is done. I was (un)fortunate enough to have mine done whilst I was an inpatient and nearly passed out when the (student) midwife took my blood both at the beginning and end of the test... really weird as normally I am fine with blood tests! The beloved nhs toast and jam had never tasted so good at the end of the test!

Best nap I've ever had at this test! You can have sips of water, hope it goes well :)

I got told I could have water but only sips. I did mine in winter though, don't think I'd want to go in this heat!

Good luck

Definitely keep drinking water beforehand and during - they will struggle to take bloods if you're dehydrated. This is the bruised voice of experience talking.

I was allowed to drink water but I know some people are told not to. I was even given some water to drink at the hospital straight after drinking the glucose drink.

You were told not to eat or drink ANYTHING. That includes water.

I had my GTT test a couple of weeks ago and it wasnt easy ti mot have the water but it is doable. Just bring a bottle of water with you so when the test is over you can have some

Just to add i asked the nurse could i drink water and she said no.

Absolutely fine to drink water! The test is looking at response to sugar in your blood - water has no sugar so you're fine.

I was told I could drink water before mine, just nothing else, so no cups of tea in the morning

Take a sandwich or something in your bag as you'll want to eat immediately as soon as you can

actually although water has no sugar it DOES have an effect on bloody sugar readings. I had GD twice... if I ate too much sugar then levels dropped quicker if I drank Lots of water and had a walk. The water flushes the glucose out quicker. If you want an accurate test then you must sit still/move very little after you have the sugar drink. Sips of water fine but don't glug gallons or the test will be void.
As a note...i had GD with no symptoms or risk factors like being over weight. Just be aware that you want to be tested accurately.

I asked the nurse when i had mine last week and she said yes to water! in fact she told me to make sure i drank water in the 2 hour wait (presumably so you don’t pass out?! as it was 30 degrees...)

Another one who had the GTT last week. Was also told water was fine.

Had mine last week. Was told water was fine.

Says on my appointment letter that water is fine.