Gestational Diabetes Test

[jolota]

I'm due to have my GD test at 28 weeks (due to my mum having diabetes). My next midwife appointment is at 28 weeks so I texted her to ask if that's when I'll be having it & she replied yes but didn't mention anything about needing to fast or how long it might take. She's also super slow to respond to messages so thought it might be quicker to ask here to get an idea.
Is it usual to have the test at the midwife appointment at the GP? The NHS website indicates it might be at the hospital & I would have expected to be given some information about fasting/timings since it's supposed to take 2 hours.
Just wondered what the experience was for other people!

yes usually not carried out at a midwife appt. but i did get the link from my midwife at my 16 week appt as to how to book it

I believe that as standard they do what’s called a random blood glucose test at 28 weeks and that’s just a blood sample and most people don’t even realise that’s what it’s for (at least I didn’t). The other test which is the one that definitively diagnoses GD is a Glucose Tolerance Test which is the one at the hospital where you have to fast and drink the glucose drink. You only do that if you are high risk or the random blood test comes back unusually high/low or you have glucose in your urine.

Last time I only had the random test and the fact that there is a lot of type 2 diabetes on my dad’s side of the family (despite them not being particularly overweight) didn’t mean I was high risk. However it was later identified I did in fact have GD. I’m now pregnant again and the previous GD is deemed a risk factor that means I automatically have the GTT at 28 weeks. I wouldn’t worry too much - after you see your midwife if it’s necessary for you to do the GTT it can still be arranged and a short delay won’t make much difference.

I know this because I passed the GTT at 24 weeks and at the clinic they told me I’d still get the random bloods at 28 weeks - but I saw the community midwife yesterday and she had a debate on the phone with the midwife in charge of booking the GTTs and read out the policy to her! So I’m now booked in for another GTT.

Hi @Fleur405
Thanks for your reply, that does help, I imagine it'll just be simple blood draw at my midwife appointment then to check if I need the GTT test you've mentioned.
I specifically asked in my text to my midwife about fasting & she still didn't confirm if I needed to, but it sounds like it's not necessary at least!
I think my midwife notes say that they don't do the random glucose testing until 30 something weeks, so I'm having it earlier because of the increased risk due to my mum but I can't remember exactly and the experience seems to be different for everyone! I think I remember her saying they'll do it now & again after 30 weeks even if it's negative.
Which seems to correlate to what you've said about your 24 & 28 week tests.

I had the test this week and it was just a blood test in the morning and fasting from 10.30pm the night before. But obviously you do need the details of how yours is going to work!

Mine was at hospital, fasting from the night before. Blood test, then horrible drink, then re tested after two hours x

Thanks everyone, I think I will text the midwife again because she hasn't made it clear at all!

@jolota

Hi *@Fleur405* Thanks for your reply, that does help, I imagine it'll just be simple blood draw at my midwife appointment then to check if I need the GTT test you've mentioned. I specifically asked in my text to my midwife about fasting & she still didn't confirm if I needed to, but it sounds like it's not necessary at least! I think my midwife notes say that they don't do the random glucose testing until 30 something weeks, so I'm having it earlier because of the increased risk due to my mum but I can't remember exactly and the experience seems to be different for everyone! I think I remember her saying they'll do it now & again after 30 weeks even if it's negative. Which seems to correlate to what you've said about your 24 & 28 week tests.

Yeah the annoying thing is that obviously not all trusts have the same rules and then even in my trust I got told two different things by two midwives in two days. What I do know is it’s quite unusual to develop it before 28 weeks (because it’s caused by pregnancy hormones) and for those that do it’s often picked up by the blood/urine tests. In my case it wasn’t picked up that way but it was identified at about 34 weeks because baby was getting too fat). I’d just ask your midwife at your appointment what the criteria are for a GTT in your trust.

Also I should have said I’m in Scotland so while it’s mostly the same NICE guidelines etc don’t strictly apply so criteria may be slightly different where you are.

Mine was done at my GP surgery with the nurse. Had to fast overnight, then glucose drink and blood test 2 hours later.

I’m due to have mine at my 28 week appointment in a couple of weeks (my midwife wasn’t sure where to place me in terms of risk because of my ethnicity so said better safe than sorry). Anyway she said it’s a blood sample and I’m not to eat or drink anything with calories from midnight the day before. She’s booked me in as early as possible (9am) because of this so I’m not starving!
I’d definitely try and double check if you can or if your appointment isn’t too late, maybe fast for the night just in case?

Thanks again everyone, does seem different in different trusts but helpful to get some idea anyway.
My appointment is also 9am @Pizzaandsushi so will probably fast to be on the safe side!