UK 3 hour glucose tolerance - test how do I "pass"?

[desperateforsleep2]

Context:
The only risk Factor I have is being a bit overweight, I just touch the lowest threshold for doing the glucose tolerance test.
I have no other risk factors and there has never been any hint of gestational diabetes in any previous pregnancies eg urine tests etc
I genuinely don't think I have gestational diabetes (lack of symptoms etc). However I know that staff tend to air on the side of caution and if in doubt label ladies as having gestational diabetes.

What can I do to maximise the chances of "passing" the test and been told that I do not have to stational diabetes?? e.g. certain types of food to eat in the days leading up to the test etc or a.n.other??

again

@Smsmeeesmeghhhehead Yes I have changed my diet in preparation, I'm absolutely expecting it again!

I was tested. I am overweight, was 35+ when pregnant and have big babies. I didn’t have GD when I was tested. I think they were surprised tbh!

Great stuff! I assume you've been on the facebook group.... lifesaver. Quite literally.

I diet controlled for 33 weeks. I was allowed to go to 6 days over my due date and went into labour naturally.

@Smsmeeesmeghhhehead I highly recommend the FB group! Their food plan kept my post meal readings down every time, unfortunately my body did strange things while I was sleeping and my fasting ones were always high so I had to have metformin and later on, insulin to control them. I went in to be induced a week early but it turned into in a 5 day failed induction ending in a C-section - I've asked for an elective this time!

You either have GD or you don’t. There’s no way of cheating the test nor will changing your diet the day before make a difference. Tbh you sound like you’re worried you have it. I got tested twice and don’t have it.

I was in a similar position and I have it! Apparently each county have a different cut off limit (not sure how true this is though) and I was 0.1 over mine but I have it. It's manageable though I have to take a tablet every morning and bloods six times a day. All I told myself was it's for 9 weeks and for the benefit of my baby so since my pregnancy has been a pain in my ass for most of the time anyway (either been serious morning sick or filled with terrible aches and pains) what's a little more difficultly! Lol.

Also, you can get it and it has nothing to do with your weight! My BMI was 1 over the limit at 31 so while overweight, I wasn't huge! It's just something that happens. I was embarrassed for about 2 days then it goes and you just deal with it 😊

You either have GD or you don’t. If you do, it needs treating. Why wouldn’t you want it treating? A friend of mines baby died in utero from undiagnosed GD.
They don’t ‘label’ women as having GD. If you have it they treat accordingly, if you don’t they send you on your way.

It sounds like you are worried about having GD because people will think it is because you are overweight. That's silly. GD results from changes to how your body produces and processes insulin when pregnant. Pregnancy hormones disrupt this process and can result in GD, whether you are overweight or not. If you ARE overweight, then you may be at greater risk, but anyone can get it.

I was sent for the GTT a couple of weeks ago because I was a bit big for dates. I had no risk factors (not high BMI, no family history, etc) and the midwife who did the test seemed surprised I was even there. I "passed" the test but the 2 hour level was close to the threshold (mine was 7.5 and the threshold is 7.8). I was told to watch my diet to be sure I didn't develop GD later.

Couple of days later I had a growth scan and another problem, which is associated with GD, was discovered. I was given the pin prick test stuff and told to go sugar free and test blood sugars 4 times a day. In just a few days I had several readings over 7.8.

I have had no symptoms of GD. I obviously do have an underlying problem that will now be monitored and hopefully if I can get the GD under control, the problem will go away.

There can be a lot of risks for you and your baby in having untreated GD. Don't let vanity get in the way of this.

I have read some pretty fucked up things on mumsnet but this takes the biscuit OP.
You may be embarrassed about your weight but I’m sure that you’d be more embarrassed when your baby dies because you cheated at your GD test and let a condition go untreated.
FFS take a look at yourself and give your head a shake.

I have zero risk factors for gestational diabetes. Fortunately I live somewhere where everyone is tested for it as standard in every pregnancy (find it so hard to believe it's not a standard test everywhere given the increased risk of stillbirth etc). I had it in my second pregnancy and not in my first. Honestly, just do the test and don't worry - it is easy to manage if you are positive and far better to have a false positive and adjust your diet slightly than try to beat the test. I ended the pregnancy super fit and healthy as I adjusted my already healthy diet and exercise schedule to help manage blood sugar.

Ta all! Cut off here for doing gtc is bmi 30 and I was 30.1 at booking appointment.

Cut off here for doing gtc is bmi 30 and I was 30.1 at booking appointment

Great that they’re so on the ball!

My sister and I were both sent for GTT during our pregnancies as our dad used to have type 2 diabetes - my sister is a bit slimmer than me naturally, while I do a lot more sport than she does... my point being, I think it can happen to anyone and the midwife isn’t trying to say anything about you personally; it’s just best to play it safe and if there’s a problem to get it treated!!

If you are feeling sensitive about your weight, it’s never a bad time to get more exercise - even a brisk walk every other afternoon will help if you don’t fancy the gym! - and perhaps ask your MIL to kindly refrain from comments about your size? She might not realise she’s upsetting you.

Come on....my bmi was 22 and my gd wasn't picked up until they realised my baby had symptoms.. large torso and excess fluid. The fact is you are in the obese cat and so more at risk. Woman up and get on with it.

I just want to say that all the people saying that what you eat before the test doesn’t matter are completely wrong. Otherwise there’d be no such thing as ‘diet controlled’. That’s why they tell you to make sure you’re eating as you normally would for the few days before. Ie don’t starve yourself but don’t load up on cake the day before either. Just be sensible and then the test will be an accurate reflection.

Agree with pp that the best thing to do is to eat healthily and do a bit of exercise in the mean time to try to lose a bit of weight if you can. Also, make sure you’re staying well hydrated because that massively affects your blood sugars and will really help.

Being diagnosed with GD prossibly saved my babies life. She was massive, particularly around the abdomen and I wasn’t measuring big so we would never have known. I had a planned section because the risk of a natural birth was too high.

So, if you do have it, 1. thank God for the amazing NHS which is protecting you and your baby 2. Pack some doughnuts in your hospital bag, it goes as soon as you give birth 3. Don’t blame yourself, it’s not your fault.

I am currently pregnant with GD, I was 9 stone prior to pregnancy and fairly fit. It’s never crossed my mind to be embarrassed, it’s a medical condition. It’s worth getting checked out to keep your baby as safe as you can. I’m still diet controlled (touch wood) at 36 weeks.

Thanks all for the advice and encouragement.

I was tested for it because I have a history of type 1 diabetes in my family. I was clear but why on earth would you a) want to cheat and b) think it's EMBARRASSING?? If you have it, you have it and you deal with it for the safety of your child.

Over the weekend at a family event, an in law told me, "don't you eat anything, you're big enough".

Embarrassed?! You have no idea what on earth gd is if you would be embarrassed.

Gd is your body's reaction to the pregnancy hormones. No one can control that. If you and the people you socialise with are so ignorant as to minimise how serious it can be you need to be embarrassed about that.

Ah just saw your last post. This is all about your weight. Nothing else. How unbelievable self centred of you. Your pregnant. Eat. Tell anyone who makes comments to fuck off.

I just want to point out as well that if anyone did "cheat" the test and you did actually have GD what would happen to the baby.

Well - all the excess glucose you ate from carbs sugar fructose dairy lactose etc would cross the placenta and go to the baby. Baby gets big. Dangerously so. The constant flow of glucose through the placenta also will start to affect it, in effect rotting it. Baby becomes distressed. Not good. Undiagnosed GD also affects fluid levels around the baby. Too low or too high can be fatal. GD is serious. It kills. Treat it like you would any other high risk illness please.

The majority of women with GDM manage it by controlling their diet. It's a healthy, low carb diet and has the side effect of reducing pregnancy weight gain.
Some need Metformin tablets, that helps your insulin work a bit better.
A minority need insulin injections, and sometimes that is only in the third trimester.

Women who keep their blood sugar within normal range (under 7.8mmol) have controlled their risk of complications to their baby to the same as low risk women.