Glucose sensitivity test - do I need one?

[Peasplease12]

At my booking appointment I was told by midwife A that due to my ethnicity (south Asian) I would need a glucose sensitivity test later in pregnancy to screen for gestational diabetes. This seems to match with the info on the NHS website that says you’ll be offered the test if you have any risk factors for gestational diabetes, one being ethnicity.

I’m now almost 28 weeks and have been told by midwife B that because nobody in my immediate family has diabetes I won’t be booked for the test.

I don’t have any risk factors for gestational diabetes listed on the NHS website other than my ethnicity, and tbh I’d rather not go through additional blood draws if I don’t need to, but I’m just feeling a little unsure because of the conflicting information from the two midwives (neither of whom are my regular midwife- she was off sick for the booking appointment and my latest appointment).

Should I be pushing for a test, or just be happy that they don’t need to take any more blood?

I'm across 2 different trusts, one for my community midwife and one for where I'm giving birth. My community midwife said I had to be tested because it's an IVF pregnancy, whereas the other hospital said that I don't. I chose not to as it's one less unpleasant test to have 😂 they check your urine at every appointment so if there's any indication of glucose in there they will probably advise you more strongly to have a test.

Hi OP. I decided not to have the test done at 28 weeks as there was no indication I needed it - even though I had a “risk factor” at booking.

Then at 34 weeks my fundal measurements jumped and at a subsequent growth scan I was told baby was measuring big, specifically the abdominal circumference, and GD could be a reason. I was re-offered the GTT, even though I had no other signs/ symptoms, (no sugar in my urine samples etc) I decided at that point to have it done. It was normal, baby is just chunky 🤣

What I’m trying to say is that you could decline it now, and then change your mind and have the test done later in your pregnancy if things change and you get any symptoms or concerns. 🌻

Thank you both. I won’t push for it now as in all likelihood it so come back saying nothing to report since everything else is coming back with no issues. I’ll keep it in mind in case anything starts to go a bit awry later on.

They didn’t test me due to covid, as it got missed. Turned out I did have it, and it was picked up quite late and I never managed to get my levels under control. It was done as standard as an HBa1c blood test.

it’s important to check as it’s not just problems during pregnancy - it can affect your baby after birth if not controlled. My little boy had such low blood sugars 6 hours after being born that they couldn’t even get a reading and he had to go to special care. Luckily all was fine but if you can get it done I would recommend it.

I would push for it.
i had no pre- determined factors for GD. None at all despite me mentioning (now looking back) some symptoms for baby 2. He was born very big and outcomes could have been worse for him and me.
DUe to this was consultant led for baby 3. GTT showed I did in fact have Gd. Was highly likely I had it in preg 2. consultant even said she did not expect to see me in the GD clinic as I was slim, exercised etc etc
imo it’s better ruling it out, than having an undiagnosed GD pregnancy.

The glucose tolerance test for GD isn’t a blood draw by the way. You have to fast and then drink a lot of lucozade and they see how your blood sugar reacts. They will test your blood sugars before and after but just with a finger prick not a draw.

There aren’t necessarily any symptoms for GD - I had it with DD2 but zero symptoms - so don’t rely on noticing something.

If you have it it’s really important that it’s picked up and you do something about (maybe only diet changes) or else it can affect your baby as pp said. In your shoes I would push for the test.

I've just had mine, I have one risk factor, but I'd rather know if I have it or not as it's not something you necessarily get symptoms of.

Mine I had to fast from midnight, have some blood taken, drink the little glucose drink within ten minutes then just sit for two hours in the waiting room (in peace! Nobody wanting anything from me!) and have some blood taken again and then I was off.

I’ve had two GD pregnancies and no risk factors in my first pregnancy apart from being south Asian. I’m glad I found out because uncontrolled gestational diabetes can have awful outcomes for your baby. I don’t want to scare you but please do the GTT just to rule it out.

I would push for it, better to be diagnosed and controlled rather than being missed. I had one risk factor, my sister had GD and I had it, even though it was controlled by baby measured small and had placenta deterioration.
I know quite a few people who were missed (as they had no risk factors) or diagnosed late and babies were born unable to regulate blood sugars and also required emergency sections due to babies large abdomen.
If I had it my way all women would be tested as I know a lot of women are missed.
Only you can decide and this is my opinion

Also I had no symptoms and no glucose in my urine