Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Gestational Diabetes testing starts 36 weeks!

39 replies

Luckyme30 · 03/10/2020 07:31

I had my growth scan yesterday and the Sonographer has organised for me to have a test for GD (just the blood test - assuming this is because of covid) due to baby’s AC measurement being over 95th centile.

Has anyone had GD diagnosed this late on in their pregnancy and If so how was it treated this late on?

Slightly concerned as baby was measuring at 95th centile for abdomen at 28 week scan but this was not picked up at the time..

Also has anyone just had a fasting blood test to diagnose rather than the GTT test, was it picked up this way?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GAW19 · 03/10/2020 07:55

I wasn't diagnosed so late, I was 28 weeks but my DD was born at 38 weeks on the 100th centile but tbh, she measured very big from 30 weeks. All the plan was, was they wouldn't let me go past 39 weeks, they would induce me. However, I was so big, and being only 5ft myself, they was scared she would get stuck so I had a csection at 38 weeks, she was born 8lb 10oz, I dread to think how big she would have been if they let me carry on, especially if I went over 40 weeks haha.
Don't worry too much op, if you have it you will have a diabetic team straight away who will explain everything and help you
Goodluck!

ablisha · 03/10/2020 08:57

Hi OP, I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago at 34+5. I'm being induced at 38 weeks

Original poster

Luckyme30 · 03/10/2020 09:30

@GAW19 thank you for replying. So your bump measured big too? Funny thing is my bump is measuring small and not big at all but when they took baby’s measurements yesterday the AC was over 95th centile, was the same at 28 weeks but was never picked up so no test was done... I have an elective booked for 39 + 3 so wondering if they’ll keep to that date and not make it any earlier.. just worried in case it’s causing baby any harm.

@ablisha thanks for your reply, is there a reason why they are inducing you early? Is it because of GD and how are they/you managing the GD at the moment, is it purely diet based?

OP posts:

ablisha · 03/10/2020 09:38

I'm purely diet based and that is mostly fine now but my hospital don't like GD mums to go to 40 weeks because the baby's growth is too rapid. The consultant did want 37 week delivery but I haven't finished work yet so managed to push it another week!

hauntedvagina · 03/10/2020 10:07

I was diagnosed at around 35/36 weeks, high sugars were detected busy the hospital in a routine urine sample, GTT test confirmed it.

Tried for a week to get under control with diet but no matter how strict I was my reading were still out so I ended up being prescribed something...

Was already booked in for a planned section at 39 weeks so they didn't see a need to change this.

I felt completely exhausted throughout my pregnancy, I raised this with my community midwife who was dismissive to say the least. After 7 days on a low carb / sugar high protein / fat I have never felt better.

trunumber · 03/10/2020 10:44

Diagnosed at 36 weeks, diet controlled but eventually medication and an induction at 39 weeks

MrsWooster · 03/10/2020 10:57

It won’t make any realistic difference at this stage if you’ve got an ec booked anyway. Worth having for the long term, as it means you can watch your levels going forward and keep weight, exercise etc optimal in order to avoid T2 later on.

Original poster

Luckyme30 · 03/10/2020 17:42

Thanks for the responses.

It seems they probably won’t do too much now being as I’m already 36 weeks pregnant but just wanted to see if they would potentially bring my section any further forward (I don’t start mat leave until 39 weeks!)..

Having the blood test only on Tuesday so hopefully I’ll have an idea by the end of next week as to whether it is GD.

Just feeling slightly in limbo this weekend with regards to food etc but going to try and be as careful as I can until I know where I stand with it.

OP posts:

New2020 · 04/10/2020 06:11

Yes me...got diagnosed at 36 weeks. Went in for a scan and for a small baby but scan showed a big spike in growth to 90th percentile.

Had a GTT test and confirmed GD.

I had a normal blood test at 28 weeks which was fine. My instincts however told me that it was a bit odd that it wasn't a fasted tolerance test. I did loads of researching and RCOG actually recommend not using the blood tests as they are not accurate for pregnant women.

I had to really push for the GTT because of the risk of being undiagnosed and given my ethnicity and family history. They were saying they weren't offering them because of covid which was ridic as it was when everyone was going to pubs and bars and out as normal!!!! I had this at 30 weeks and it was fine.

It is common to develop GD late in pregnancy as your placenta releases more hormones and supresses insulin production..plus body generally working harder. Apparently those diagnosed earlier find it harder to control sugar levels at this stage.

Maybe you can ask them why they are offering a HBAC1c (if that what itbis) and not the the GTT). Nobody could tell me if that test was just as reliable as the GTT and just said it's what they've been told to do with corona but I said I wasn't happy as the risks outweigh it for me

Original poster

Luckyme30 · 04/10/2020 07:42

@New2020 thanks for that info - I am slightly concerned as to why I’m not being offered the GTT as not really sure how effective just a fasting blood test is going to be to be honest!

I’m also a bit miffed as my baby has been at 95th centile since 28 week scan and consultant has never suggested any testing. It’s only very lucky that the Sonographer picked up on my 36 scan baby’s tummy is now way over 95th and she suggested calling midwife to arrange a glucose tolerance test.

Midwife has explained it to me as just being a fasting blood test! I’m just concerned about the risks to me/baby if it’s not picked up via their bloods!

I do have a section at 39+3 but worry about longer term effects if I am not even trying to control my diet due to them not diagnosing it properly!

Midwife is coming to see me on Tuesday morning so I think I’ll ask her to clarify re the blood test and it’s accuracy but suspect I’ll just be told that’s all they can offer like you were due to covid!

OP posts:

New2020 · 04/10/2020 08:37

@Luckyme30 it could be that your baby is just big and it's not GD so try not to worry.

I had a big spike in growth from 30 to 34th week from 50th percentile to 90th percentile which pointed to it.

Try to push for a GTT and get what you want. Ask them if they can assure you that it is just as reliable. I kept asking this and nobody knew the answer and I said the risk of missing it has an impact for me/ my baby. Non covid RCOG guidelines say the blood test is not accurate for pregnant women and they do say to use the blood test for covid times but to resume normal practice as soon as possible.

Original poster

Luckyme30 · 04/10/2020 08:47

@New2020 thank you, useful info.. I’m going to try not to stress too much and will ask my midwife if there’s any chance I can have the GTT rather than the bloods (or even both).

Just looking back on my 20 week scan abdominal circumference was 73rd centile, 28 week scan it was 95th and 36 week it’s off the charts - so maybe I just have a baby with those measurements but I’ll ask my midwife to clarify it a bit more I think.

Thank you for your advice

OP posts:

New2020 · 04/10/2020 08:56

It's so frustrating that everything is so confusing right now. It feels so unfair to have to push for these things and the stress it causes

Interesting that the AC measurement has been high and it hasn't triggered anything...I'm going to look back at mine and see if that's the case too

From what I know the measurements should track upwards without the big jumps up or down. Maybe use that to be a bit more demanding on the GTT front

Let me know how you get on xxxx

Kodiak83 · 04/10/2020 09:07

I had fasting blood glucose test only at 28 weeks (due to Covid restrictions) and it was ok. But as I was feeling really exhausted/ baby measuring big by bump I asked the midwife how accurate it was. She said it missed around 20% of GD cases so I asked to get the full GTT that I’d had in previous pregnancies which she did quite happily a few days later. It was also fine but I was reassured to have both done and would recommend anyone feeling unsure to ask too. 20%of cases is a lot.

trunumber · 04/10/2020 09:11

Maybe start being mindful of your diet now anyway just in case (with no judgement, mine was shockingly awful) just reducing sugar at this stage if you're having a lot? (I found cereal hugely spiked my blood sugars too)

Original poster

Luckyme30 · 04/10/2020 10:28

@New2020 it’s really frustrating, I only got the growth scan at 28 weeks as my consultant was checking my placenta (for another issue) she very reluctantly did the measurements for me and just handed me the paper with them on which makes me think she didn’t review them at the time and no one has ever looked at them until my 36 wk scan.. can’t help but feel a little annoyed at it and then to not get it tested for properly just seems crazy!

Be interesting to see what your measurements were if you don’t mind sharing them when you’ve had a chance to look!

@Kodiak83 thanks for that, 20% is a lot, especially as I’m so late on in pregnancy now I’m going to use the fact that the measurements have been big for a while to try and push for GTT just for extra reassurance.

@trunumber thank you, I will look at doing that too, i must admit I’m totally clueless about what the correct diet for GD should be.. interesting re cereal as I eat cereal everyday, also eat a lot of fruit which I believe may not be the best thing... oh and carbs... carbs are a big part of my life

OP posts:

trunumber · 04/10/2020 10:51

It's hard not knowing and also not knowing what food spikes blood sugar for you. If you are able to just add in more natural unrefined wholemeal stuff. I wouldn't necessarily go for a major cutting out of everything yet but it can't hurt to be full of veggies anyway

ablisha · 04/10/2020 11:43

@trunumber @Luckyme30 cereal sends me well over too! Even plain weetabix!

Biggles001 · 04/10/2020 12:23

My fasting glucose blood test got lost. I presumed no news was good news and long story short, I got rushed in at 38 weeks after the test results suddenly "turned up". I had no idea what was going on, what I was supposed to do/etc and was a bit of a talking point in hospital, but everything turned out just fine.
Good luck!

Original poster

Luckyme30 · 04/10/2020 12:50

@trunumber thank you, I’ll have a little google too and see what I can find, as you say though can’t hurt to have more veggies and I am hoping to get back to healthy eating once baby is here so would be a good head start :)

@ablisha I love weetabix! What do you have in the morning for breakfast?

@Biggles001 wow that’s not great re the tests going missing! How did they manage your care when they finally did diagnose GD so late on?

Also did any of you have any specific symptoms related to GD? I feel pretty well in myself and wondered if I would be feeling spikes of energy/or lethargy after certain foods?

OP posts:

ablisha · 04/10/2020 12:53

I've found toast has been much better for me but sometimes I'll have one weetabix at 7am and then the next at 9.30am.
My mum is a diabetic midwife and she has little and often is the way forward!

New2020 · 04/10/2020 13:47

@Luckyme30 I'll have a look and get back to you

I was surprised too as I felt fine..Maybe tired but put it down to pregnancy in general. Looking back I was pretty exhausted so who knows. I also felt more thirsty than usual but again similar to pregnancy symptoms

I had such bad morning sickness I was completely put off food and could only stomach sweet things so it's been tough!

This website is really good: www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/

It's basically a low carb diet with GD and no sugar

Again dont worry it might not be GD...get the GTT

GirlCalledJames · 04/10/2020 13:56

Great that they know even this late on because it’s important your blood sugar be below a certain level when you deliver so that the baby can control theirs alone.
Mine was super high all night before because of the steroids I was on for his lungs but they got it down before the section and he was fine.

NoUseNumber31 · 04/10/2020 13:57

Haven't rtft but diagnosed at 33 weeks with excess fluid, straight on insulin as my numbers were high.
Look at the gestational diabetes page on fb, it's excellent and loads of great recipes. Baby born at 38+1 after being induced on 95th centile!

New2020 · 04/10/2020 16:11

Sorry to jump onto this thread but I'm really confused.

Just tested my blood sugar and it was 7.8 so decided to do another seconds apart after washing my hands again and it was 6.4! I got a bit obsessed and tried a few more times and each time was different!!! Anyone else had this?

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread