Can gestational diabetes be missed?

Maranda27 · 2024-12-13T23:44:59+00:00

I was never tested for gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy (normal bmi, no immediate family history) and I had a big baby 8lb 8oz (I’m 5ft 1 and my partner is 5ft 6ish) which was born via emergency c section. im now pregnant with my second who is on the 80th centile at my 20week scan, last baby was on the 50th centile at this scan. very faint feeling this pregnancy and when I told the midwife she said still said I don’t met the criteria for a diabetes test and to just lie down.. could I of had it last time ?

OneDandyTurtle · 14/12/2024 05:22

Yes. Different countries have different testing criteria and anyone can get gestational diabetes. You do not have to have any of the risk factors (although obviously this makes it more likely), it is down to your placenta causing insulin resistance. Not saying you had it - but it is incorrect to say you definitely didn’t!

FigBatSue · 14/12/2024 07:48

If you had/have Gestational Diabetes, I'm sure it would be picked up in your urine when the midwife dips it? The excess glucose would show up.
I have pre-existing diabetes and when my blood sugars are slightly elevated when giving a sample, it will show when dipped.
My first weighed 6lb 8oz and I'm currently 36+2 with my second and currently above 97th centile from growth scans. People keep telling me "some babies are just big"

Mooselooseinmyhoose · 14/12/2024 07:50

Totally anecdotal I Have no evidence for this but i am convinced I has undiagnosed GD with my youngest. I was horrendously thirsty for the last three months. I mentioned it in every single midwife appointment, every urine dip I was told was fine then my son was 11lb 8 ozs at birth (naturally!).

So I have zero evidence at all for this and of course I believe scientists and doctors more than my theory but I'm convinced it happened to me!

Shutupandsitdown · 14/12/2024 08:05

I think I had missed diabetes as well with my youngest. Growth measurements were fine until 34 week consultant appt to get booked in for ELCS and growth was off the chart!

10lb 8oz baby who then lost 9.8% in the first week, almost had to be re admitted because of weight loss and had to have blood test for jaundice at their first check up.

So basically same as the previous poster!

StarShine23 · 14/12/2024 08:09

Been tested this pregnancy due to twins (have GD) and chatted with consultants about first pregnancy and they think had GD at the end of that pregnancy, though it was never diagnosed. (Baby went from 50th centile all the way though to 90th on the last few weeks)
DD ending up on hospital at 3 days old due to severe hypoglycemia....
I thought the blood test was for pre-eclampsia, the GD test was a fasting blood test

OneDandyTurtle · 14/12/2024 11:43

FigBatSue · 14/12/2024 07:48

If you had/have Gestational Diabetes, I'm sure it would be picked up in your urine when the midwife dips it? The excess glucose would show up.
I have pre-existing diabetes and when my blood sugars are slightly elevated when giving a sample, it will show when dipped.
My first weighed 6lb 8oz and I'm currently 36+2 with my second and currently above 97th centile from growth scans. People keep telling me "some babies are just big"

Not necessarily - glucose has to be a certain amount above normal to show up in urine, whereas for gestational diabetes only has to be very slightly raised as pregnant women should have a lower glucose level. I have gestational diabetes and have never had a positive dipstick. It would show up if you had really raised levels but there’s definitely a range where it wouldn’t.

InfoSecInTheCity · 14/12/2024 11:45

FigBatSue · 14/12/2024 07:48

If you had/have Gestational Diabetes, I'm sure it would be picked up in your urine when the midwife dips it? The excess glucose would show up.
I have pre-existing diabetes and when my blood sugars are slightly elevated when giving a sample, it will show when dipped.
My first weighed 6lb 8oz and I'm currently 36+2 with my second and currently above 97th centile from growth scans. People keep telling me "some babies are just big"

I had GD, never had sugar in my urine, was only tested because I had a high BMI and it came up positive for GD.

FlowerInTheSea · 14/12/2024 14:25

You can buy a blood glucose monitor for about £20 on Amazon. I'd do that if I were you and test at home for a few days.

Original poster

Maranda27 · 28/03/2025 11:14

Just thought I’d come back to this , got my own gp to do a regular diabetes test at around 28weeks it came back normal , fast forward to now 36 weeks had a trip to hospital re reduced movements and which resulted in a scan and baby’s on the 94th centile weighting 7lb 12oz … didn’t seem concerned by this have a routine appointment on Wednesday now anyways but yeah ..

OP posts:

MattCauthon · 28/03/2025 11:21

I don't think it could be missed if you had the test. GD isn't the only reasonf or large babies. Hopefully they'll put some effort into getting him or her out asap! Good luck!

LolaJ87 · 28/03/2025 11:29

It depends on what test they did. If it was a GTT then you're in the clear. If it was a HBA1C then they aren't accurate in pregnancy. I have a perfect HBA1C and have never had sugar in my urine, yet am currently on my second GD pregnancy. Some countries are now testing everyone as while there are factors which increase its likelihood (high BMI, family history, being over 35 etc.) it really can happen to anyone.

I really hope everything goes well for you @Maranda27 ❤

Original poster

Maranda27 · 28/03/2025 12:04

@MattCauthon @LolaJ87

it wasn’t the glucose tolerance test it was just the one they would do to check if anyone had diabetes as they wouldn’t agree to the gtt when I didn’t meet the guidelines 🤔

i can’t think of any other reason for a big baby personally 😅

I’d a c section planned anyways for 39 weeks but now I’m wondering should I look for that to be brought forward to 38weeks 🥺

OP posts:

stackhead · 28/03/2025 12:09

I just wanted to say it's uncontrolled gestational diabetes that can cause big babies. If you keep your blood sugars within range there's no reason (other than in any normal pregnancy) why your baby would be larger than normal with GD - had GD in both pregnancies, had a 6lb7 and a 7lb1.

If you think you have GD you can buy a blood sugar monitor (finger prick tester) easily enough and that will tell you without any doubt - the tolerances are easily found online. It was lower than 5.2 fasting and lower than 7.8 1 hour after a meal for me.

Blue2020 · 28/03/2025 13:34

@Maranda27 Yes it can definitely be missed if they rely on the hba1c.

I don’t meet any of the requirements to be tested. My hba1c was 40. Apparently 48 is the point they test, although trusts might vary and lower it.

I ended up somehow being tested due to advocating for myself for something unrelated:

-at 16 weeks the midwife said it was normal to feel very very tired, I will skip the details. Just to note I had low iron in my first pregnancy. So by 18 weeks I was almost passing out driving to work. I contacted my gp who did a full blood count. (Well to conclude I did have very low iron). It also picked up that my thyroid tsh was high 4.63. It counts as borderline for general population with 4.3 being the higher limit. However in pregnancy it should be much lower.

-I was tested again twice more at the gp (23+28 weeks). The gp seamed fine with the borderline result. I was hesitant mostly due to being pregnancy and any affects it could mean for the baby so she sent it off to the hospital endocrinologist. They told me to start medication for thyroid.

-32 weeks I was assigned a different consultant due to the thyroid. At 33 weeks I talked to her on the phone, she said there can be a link between thyroid and gestational diabetes (hormones related). So put me in for the test.

-34weeks I had the test. At 34+3 I got a text from the hospital for a diabetes appointment. Called up the midwife to find out I have GD.

im now 36+4 and managing it with the blood test monitoring 1hr after meals, and adapting my food to reduce sugar. It’s working so far I’m on day 8.

Oh I have a csection scheduled for 39 weeks and they haven’t told me it should be any sooner. My baby is only on the 57th percentile according to scans.

This makes me think I had it in my first pregnancy too. Mostly due to being very thirsty and drinking lots at night from 30+ weeks in both pregnancies. My son also had low blood sugar when he was born (although he was born suddenly at 35 weeks due to preeclampsia so it could equally have been that instead). Also my son was between the 75th and 90th percentile in pregnancy.

LolaJ87 · 28/03/2025 14:42

Yeah HBA1C isn't really a suitable diagnostic in pregnancy. It doesn't catch it for people like me who don't have very high blood sugar readings, my main issue is my fasting readings being too high and the HBA1C doesn't reflect that.

If you've a c-section booked then I'm sure all is fine. I had a vaginal birth at 39+6 with my first GD pregnancy and am hoping to go to at least 39 weeks this time also.

AluckyEllie · 28/03/2025 14:47

Maybe you just carry big babies? I’m 5ft 3 and had a 9lb 6 (40 week) and a 9lb 4 baby (39 weeks.) However it runs in our family- my mum was a size 8 and me and my sisters were all 9-10lbs. Everyone loves a chubby baby!

Original poster

Maranda27 · 28/03/2025 16:11