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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

gestational diabetes tests

20 replies

katiemcc1 · 22/03/2019 09:47

Hi there, I have just come back from the first blood extraction for a 2 hour Glucose tolerance test. I was sent for this because my random blood sugar test result was 7.1 which was, apparently, only just over the limit. Of course, i didn't fast for the random blood test, which was taken at a routine midwife appointment at 26 weeks.

Does anyone know what the thresholds are for the random blood sugar test, for referral to a full GTT ? I'm confused about how they know when to refer to the GTT, given that the random test does not require any fasting. Neither was I asked when I last ate when I gave the sample. In fact, about 1.5 hours before the blood was taken for the random one, I had a fairly massive bowl of porridge with honey, so, that would mean my blood sugar is high?? Now very worried about the GTT results. I'm terrified about being locked into this 'you're a high risk mother' narrative and being on panic watch. this all leads to stress that I'm so bad at handling. I just wanted to be able to enjoy the last few months of pregnancy without this worry. thanks everyone!

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OneMoreWish · 22/03/2019 11:52

Don't worry about got test. Either you won't have GD and it's fine or you do and it's good you know so you and hospital can monitor to make sure sugars don't go too high which can be bad for baby.

I had GD last time and you have to get used to finger pricking for blood tests go to more appointments to check what your levels are looking like ( you self record ) and you get more scans to check baby ok too.

I think with my age and weight I was a high risk mum anyway so maybe that's why the category didn't bother me and certainty didn't feel I was treated any differently - in fact I liked the extra checks on my baby.

Good luck
Xxx

Lumene · 22/03/2019 11:59

I had GD and managed it by diet, didn’t make any difference to birth for me. If you do have it make sure the hospital explain what needs to happen regarding checks of baby’s blood sugar after birth and feeding intervals, this would have really helped us to know in advance.

But honestly overall it was fine sounds much worse than it is in practice. The key thing is to know so blood sugar can be monitored and checks can be done.

GabbyGal · 22/03/2019 12:49

I have to be tested for GD at 28 weeks because my BMI is a bit high, but haven’t been told to fast before it, in fact I was told I’ll be given a sugary drink an hour before my blood is taken.

OneMoreWish · 22/03/2019 13:33

@GabbyGal you may want to check
Before the day. I could only have water or black tea from I think either midnight or 6am ( oops sorry I can't remember that bit) when you go you get a blood test, then a sugary drink, you wait an hour and then you get another blood test.

Xxx

GabbyGal · 22/03/2019 13:42

Good to know @OneMoreWish, thanks!

OneMoreWish · 22/03/2019 13:46

@GabbyGal - another tip. Check with nurse at the time but I didn't drink water during that hour after the sugary drink. ( and I had not had much that morning either)

When I went for second blood test they found it a bit harder to get my veins to take blood and then said its probably because I didn't have any water . So I would check and keep sipping some water if that's right just so you don't have that bother. Xxx

Original poster

katiemcc1 · 22/03/2019 13:54

thanks everyone - this is reassuring. I'll keep you posted about the results.

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gothicsprout · 22/03/2019 18:13

@katiemcc1 I had this after random blood draw at 28 weeks (after white toast and jam for breakfast immediately before...), convinced myself it was going to come back positive and sane worries as you that I’d be pushed into the high risk pathway etc etc. All came back absolutely fine for me in the end.

There’s a really useful webpage which has info on things like the NICE guidelines for testing, advice on diet if you do have GD and general info. I found it helpful to read up while I was stressing out: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/

TerriB1984 · 22/03/2019 18:27

I don’t know what the thresholds are for making the decision to refer for a GT test. I had (and have to again 2nd time around) because of other risk factors (dad has diabetes and my ethnicity is a high risk group). As others have said though try not to worry. It’s better to know if you have it so that extra monitoring can be put in place.

Littleduckeggblue · 22/03/2019 21:05

@GabbyGal
I agree, double check about the fasting.
I have my test on Thursday and I'm not allowed to eat or drink for 12 hours beforehand. Luckily the appointment is at 8am

GabbyGal · 22/03/2019 22:03

@Littleduckeggblue my appointment is at 11.30am so will definitely contact them Monday to change my appointment if I need to fast.

Original poster

katiemcc1 · 23/03/2019 21:00

thanks @gothicsprout, i hope mine will come back all ok. They were supposed to give me the results today but the lab has 'lost them'. I don't quite know what that means or how they could have. So stressed and fuked off! my mw also told me that GGTs mostly and often come back negative. so fingers crossed. @gothicsprout* - what was your reading with the random blood post toast?

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gothicsprout · 24/03/2019 08:19

@katiemcc1 my random draw was 7.7 according to notes, I got told in my area they want to refer you for full GTT if it’s 7.6 or above. Both my fasting and 2hr glucose results came back fine though - the NICE guidelines here have the numbers they should use for formal diagnosis: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/1-Recommendations. I actually also ended up later having an HbA1c test and another random blood draw after a growth scan a few weeks later which also came back fine.

Hopefully all will be fine for you too, fingers crossed

I did start following the advice around diet/food pairing from the GDUK website until I heard back about results, as it felt like at least I was doing something useful if I did turn out to have GD.

User12879923378 · 24/03/2019 09:13

I had the GTT. I was always borderline - for me the problem was my morning blood sugar which tended to be slightly high if I wasn't really careful about my food last thing at night (handy tip: piece of cheese or other chunk of protein just before you go to bed really helps) but they are very cautious about it and they will treat you as having it even if the results are so borderline that it could be a blip. The physical demands on your body go up over the course of the pregnancy and so if you're having a little trouble regulating blood sugar at 26-30 weeks they work on the basis that this is likely to increase as the baby gets bigger and demands more of you which is why they take borderline results more seriously than perhaps they would if you weren't pregnant.

I actually was very upset about the diagnosis (long story) but it really wasn't that bad. I was able to control it with diet which at the time was really important to me, but in retrospect I don't know why I was so upset about the prospect of having the diagnosis or being on metformin. It is a pain in the bum in that you have to do finger prick tests in the morning and after every meal, but it's actually also reassuring to know exactly what's going on in there. It became clear to me that actually I did need to be careful about diet to regulate my blood sugar and it would have got out of hand if I hadn't known about it.

Original poster

katiemcc1 · 24/03/2019 17:01

thanks @gothicsprout and @User12879923378. It's interesting because the 'impending results' have made me really think about how much sugar I've been eating so I'm thinking that somethign good has to come out of this. thanks for the advice too about what to expect if it comes back positive. It's not the end of the world but there's always this tendency to blame oneself for things that go wrong with the body .. like 'maybe I'm too old for this and I shouldn't have got pregnant'. The doctors don't help with these feelings at all. They just don't have time to manage emotions. Anyway, I'll keep you posted. thanks again

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Original poster

katiemcc1 · 26/03/2019 11:03

Hi All,

I 'failed' the GTT - ended up having 2 tests because they lost the results of the first but then found it. The 'found' test came back perfectly normal and good. Then, the second test I had came back 4.6 fasting and 10. something. ... so now i'm all booked in with the effing diabetes clinic, the thought of which makes me depressed beyond belief.

does anyone know, or have experience of, how likely it is that I'll end up diabetic after the birth? Also, I've been researching how it will affect my baby - chances of obesity are apparently higher but is this risk reduced to 'normal' levels if i manage my blood sugar levels? My bmi is healthy - even has been on the low side. My age counts against me though. I cant' find research which accounts for different risk factors eg having a high bmi means having higher risk of diabetes anyway, and it is also a risk factor in GD etc etc. thanks all x

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Lumene · 26/03/2019 11:35

Diabetes clinic will help you keep on top of blood sugar levels so baby should be fine. I went back to normal after pregnancy but there is an elevated risk over a life time of diabetes. They will check your blood sugar every year to catch any early signs, and you have a good chance to change diet and lifestyle to minimise the chances.

I felt really shocked at first, but actually now am grateful the risk was flagged up and can be monitored.

gothicsprout · 26/03/2019 14:17

I’m sorry it wasn’t the result you were hoping for, but as others have said, good that now you know the risk and can take action.

Check out the Gestational Diabetes UK website, I definitely read some info on there about future risk. They also have a Facebook group you can join for advice/support, which a friend recommended when it looked like I might be diagnosed.

39Suzy · 26/03/2019 19:52

I was diagnosed at 33 weeks after negative GTT at 28w (only retested after one urine test showed trace of sugar).
The blood testing is a p

39Suzy · 26/03/2019 19:59

No idea what happened there! Anyway.... Blood testing is a pain in the arse and the assumption from the GD clinic was that i ate rubbish and did no exercise.... neither is true. I struggled for two weeks having to eliminate carbs completely to try and get it under control, losing almost 5lb (i was only just overweight at booking in and haven't put on much, just 1st 10lb) in 2 weeks. My body was in ketosis state. After 2 weeks i was put on insulin to try and manage it, now able to eat small portions of carbs and actually put on 1lb this week!

The GD website is good and explains it better than the hospital (who make a lot of assumptions). I was so pissed off when i got the diagnosis as i had been so careful to be healthy eating wise and keep exercising.

Thankfully only two weeks left to go!!

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