28 Week Gestational Diabetes test - told I need it but unsure?

[CharlotteB94]

My midwife has mentioned that at my 28 week midwife appointment I'll need a mini GTT test for gestational diabetes and to prepare for it.

I've since spoken to some friends who haven't been offered the test as they don't have any risk factors and I also don't have any (normal weight, active, under 35, no history of diabetes).

I wonder if it's just my hospital who offers it to everyone or if this test is routinely offered to everyone now?

I've read I have to take 17 glucose tablets and tbh it doesn't sound nice or that healthy for me and my baby so I'd prefer not to have it if it's not needed.

I had to drink a sugary drink at mine
I'd just take it tbh

My hospital trust did but no one else’s on our antenatal classes did at their hospitals!

Are you in a higher risk group by ethnicity?

I took one (actually I didn't in the end, but read on) as my baby measured large. And glad I did! I had no symptoms whatsoever, but my initial reading was so high that they sent me straight to the diabetic unit. I went in insulin right away. I'm now a type 1 diabetic.
If they ask you to have one why would you not? And never heard of tablets it's a sweet drink.

I’d do it if I were you - I had no risk factors at all so wasn’t tested (I was 33, slim, white, no diabetes or pcos in family), was diagnosed at 36 weeks when it was basically too late to do anything about it.

There can be lifelong implications for the baby (including greater propensity for developing diabetes and GD herself). My hospital is now moving to screening all women (maybe also the case for you) which is definitely a good thing.

I would take one if mw is recommending it

Lots of women go for a GTT; it's based on numerous factors and will include medical history, ethnicity etc.

You will most probably be asked to drink a sugary drink akin to lucozade and have a couple of blood draws before and after.

GD can be very serious if left untreated and unmanaged. Please go if you've been requested.

Of course just because something is recommended by your midwife doesn't mean you have to do it, you don't HAVE to do anything but having said that, alot of people who may not be considered high risk still get GD and many don't even develop symptoms so if your really in doubt as to whether to have it or not, I'd seriously think and consider what the risks/benefits are of you having/not having the test. Ive also never heard of having to take a load of tablets for the test, I've had it through three of my pregnancies and know other people who have had it done and it's always been the fasting blood tests with the sugary drink in between.

Risk factors are pretty irrelevant. DSis had gestational diabetes despite being slim and fit. It was diagnosed quite early and she ultimately had to go on to insulin injections despite being really careful with her diet. The care she received from the local NHS hospital was absolutely superb and the baby was born fine. I hate to think what might have happened if she had never been tested.

I’d 100% do it if i were you. It’s a sugary drink not tablets? And it doesn’t effect the baby. I was high risk for developing GD due to age and BMI. Funny enough I had a diabetes test 2 months before I fell pregnant as my Dad is Type 2, it was negative.
I found out I had GD at 26 weeks and my baby is measuring big and I have polyhydramnios so I need to have her early via induction or c section. I’m on metaformin and insulin injections. If I didn’t find out I had GD and changed my diet, I dread to think how big she may have got or how high my fluid would have got. It’s only beneficial to you and the baby to have it in my opinion but of course the choice is yours. I know ALOT of women who have a healthy BMI and have developed GD