Let's Talk Gestational Diabetes

[RGPargy]

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good weekend!

I have started this topic because there seems to be so many GD topics flying around (and because i have some questions i would like answered).

OK, so here is my scenario.

I'm 28 weeks pg, 39 years young (), a large lady and my grandmother was a diabetic.

I have never shown anything untoward in my urine samples given to the midwife or hospital.

I had a "health test" at work in conjunction with their healthy living thingie-me-jig, which meant i had a fasting period and also a finger prick test, which again showed nothing untoward.

I have a GTT on Wednesday morning, but I dont know whether i should be just carrying on as normal (in relation to what i eat) or whether i should be cutting down on sugar etc etc. This leads to my next question. If i cut down on my sugars etc in the lead up to the GTT, wont that be giving the test a false result, because i would have not been doing the test under my "normal" circumstances?

Sorry if this doesn't make sense, i just need to know a bit of the science i spose!

TIA

OOh I'm interested in this too. No diabetic history but 39 and pregnant and very wary of doing anything to jeopardise this pregnancy. Plus have PCOS which is a high risk factor for GD.

I was supposed to have a glucose test today but because of hyperemesis just couldn't stomach the fluid stuff (christ it is awful!)

I'm 14 weeks and only reason am having it is because ds was rather large baby.

I did wonder if i should judt watch my suger levels until i an take the test too. don't think it will effect the test as your body will react to the glucose you have to drink beforehand and that should be enough IYSWIM

Don't you have to fast before a GTT? They take a blood sample following a 12 hour fast then they give you a sugary drink and take another one a short time later to see how your body copes with metabolising the sugar.

So I don't think your diet in the days prior to the test will make any difference.

Probably best to Google it!

I'm really interested in the less obvious diet stuff - I mean, its clear that sweets, cakes, sugary drinks etc are out, but how much fruit is OK? And should one be following a low GI diet?

(Come to that, what is a low GI diet?)

fortyplus - yes you have to fast before your GTT. Luckily mine's at 8.30am so i only have to stop eating at around 10pm the night before thankfully (according to my MW!).

I've heard that cutting out crap in the run up to the GTT can help, but i really have no idea!

VV - i think perhaps you should be following a low GI diet if the GTT results come back positive.

that's odd I wasn't told to fast at all. mind you with hyperemesis i may as well be

you need to fast for approx 12hours before the test (i'd stop at 8pm RGP) then they takle blood, give you crappy drink, test one hour and two hours later.

cutting down sugars etc wont give a false reading, as the fast period gives them an idea of how your body is coping.

hard to explain. hope you dont have GD, i had it and sparkly has it.

I've got a test in October and they've sent me a sheet with a suggested diet for the preceeding few days. I can't remember what's on it - didn't take much notice yet but I'll have a look tonight and let you know.

It's a bit annoying as I'm also a jelly belly but have had no signs of anything untoward (22 weeks), yet we still have to go through this 'orrible business. It's not fair

hmm this is totally different to what i've been told my sheet says eat and drink normally take glucose an hour before appointment, then i have one blood test.

Wonder why the advice is so different?

LVOC - will stop at 8pm then. I'll just have to make sure DP gets dinner on the go coz we dont normally eat til 8.30/9.00pm coz of the time i get home from work.

SarahJCT - Same as me, so i sympathise!!

CT - It's strange isn't it. Do you think it's different because of your hyperemesis??

I don't think so she just gave me the bottle of glucose and it had a set of instructions already with it.

hmmm, now odd!!

have googled glucose test and they all talk about fasting. will phone mid wife and check.

i'm interested in this too without going on to long i was told to book in for gtt test by my consultant but wasnt told why or waht it was. (Only found out by reading up on it myself. I really don't like my consultant as he doesnt listen or explain anything.) i always thought that if you had diabeties it would show up in your urine tests? Anyway got sent an appointment for nov 16th but my due date is oct 31st. (i'm so glad that i'm having my baby at theis hospital!)

lol @ snig. How silly is your date for the GTT!!!!