Glucose tolorance test - what will happen?

[HonorMatopoeia]

I'm due to have a GTT tomorrow, I'm 37 weeks pg and booked in for a section in 2 weeks time. Was just wondering what the point of doing this test now is? What will they do if they find out....whatever it is they find out with this test?! Is there anything I should know? Is baby ok if i am glucose intolorant?
Sorry for the complete ignorance here

bump?

GTT is checking if you're diabetic or nearly so.

I don't know why they're doing this now, I mean, it surely just matters if you're actually diabetic now.

So, you will be fasting. You go in at 9am, they take blood. Then they make you drink a disgusting amount of lucozade or similar (flat if you're lucky). Then they take blood a couple more times, at gaps of an hour. You will feel like utter crap.

Obviously, it's gestational diabetes they're checking for, not regular diabetes.

Does gestational diabetes harm baby in any way?

I'm not clear on that. It results in big babies, and means they are often born with low blood sugar, and need to feed soon afterwards. (If you want to breastfeed, you can hand express colostrum before the birth, to help things along and avoid formula.) Medical professionals definately like to know if you have GD, while you're pregnant. It can normally be managed by diet.

Obviously, as you're having a section, a big baby isn't a problem.

Do you have a family history of type 2 diabetes? Are you heavier than you should be?

No family history but yes, I'm way bigger than I should be. Seems odd to me that they've left it this late though.

It is odd, and pointless, anyway. I mean, if you get a GTT done at 25 weeks or something, it can serve as a wake up call, and let you know you're getting into trouble.

But a GTT doesn't tell you if you've got GD now - if you have GD, they will find sugar in your urine. It just tells you if you're close to getting GD.

very odd indeed! Oh well, I'll let them get on with it - reckon they just want more of my blood!! Thanks for the info.

Just a little warning, my hospital makes you drink a glucose solution which gave me the rotten runs all afternoon. It's like drinking 200mls of lactulose. Just letting you know because I wish someone had warned me!

Babies born to mothers with GD also have trouble regulating their blood sugars after birth. I suppose a bit of forewarning is good.

TBH, in your position, I'd cancel. Keep getting your urine checked regularly, be aware of the symptoms of GD (excessive thirst, urination, exhaustion ... I know, hard to notice in your current state!), and skip the hell that is the GTT.

Be ready to feel like total crap, afterwards, anyway. We had lucozade, and I felt like shit.

Thanks for the warning bristols! Sounds very unpleasant. But you're right(about knowing about baby and blood sugar), forewarning is better.

NQC - I have to be there for 8:45 so not sure there is time to cancel. I will make sure I have a good chat with the midwife before I let them commit me to purgatory though!

Well, there's always the lazy way to cancel ... have a nice milky tea in the morning by accident, so you've not fasted, so there's no point.

Now there's a plan! I'll see how i feel in the morning!

I was diagnosed with gd at 34 wks. I would say def get the test done. Babies born to gd mums usually need to go to special care for monitoring. My dd was induced at 38 wks and weighed 10lbs 13 ozs! I took insulin for 4 weeks prior to that and hate to think what weight she would have been if I hadn't. Hope you are fine. Unfortunately my diabetes didn't go away and I got Type 1.