Gestational diabetes test advice

[Frenchylove]

Hi all, I’m going to do my test next week. Any tips or tricks that I should know about beforehand. My friends have said how horrendous it can be so I am nervous. Thanks

Just follow the instructions given and know that it's 1 day, well a few hrs really, will be over soon enough and the result is useful information. Take a book or something for the waiting around bits, and if you are generally hard to get blood out of, make sure you keep your arms nice and warm to make it as easy as possible.

I had this test for my second pregnancy and can't remember anything horrendous about it. It was just a blood test and a bit of hanging around, possibly with some fasting, unless I've blanked something out. What's meant to be so horrendous?

Have you suffered a lot with sickness? That is when my friends found it really bad when they had to fast before hand then have the super glucose drink on an empty stomach made them feel terrible. Those who weren't really sucky found it fine on the whole.

I don't remember it being horrendous, I just took a book. Having GD wasn't fun, the constant pricking fingers and doing readings and not being able to eat loads of things, but the test itself was fine

I was really worried about it because I've been feeling so sick this pregnancy but I just had it and it wasn't as bad as I'd expected. I think it probably just depends on the person so be prepared in case you do feel unwell.
I was worried about being lightheaded so had my partner drive me and booked the day off work.
Mine was first thing in the morning and I had to fast overnight - still drink lots of water in the morning would be my recommendation, I just got up and went straight to the appointment so had only drunk a small glass and taking blood was a bit of an ordeal which they attributed to me being a bit dehydrated.
I was particularly worried about the drink making me feel sick because I thought it would be like flat coke or something which makes me feel super ill at the moment but it was quite tasteless to me, a little sweet. Then I just sat in the waiting room for 2 hours with a book, had my blood taken again and went home! I had crisps in my bag to eat immediately assuming I'd feel unwell but because I felt fine I didn't eat them but by the time I was home and making myself some food I felt really shaky and lightheaded. Had to wolf down some food and have a lie down. Which might have been avoided if I'd eaten straight away rather than waited another hour.
So I'd suggest eating immediately even if you feel fine!

I've had bad sickness and found downing the vile drink tough but I just took little sips and managed to keep it down.
There were about 4 others doing this around the same time and they all managed to quickly down theirs without issue so chances are you'll be absolutely fine.

@Frenchylove I had it last week and they gave me 5 mins to drink the whole pouch, which was a bit of a challenge with my sickness, but I managed sips and kept it down.

Similar to pp, I will say that they really struggled to get blood from me, partly because I didn't drink enough water beforehand.

I find it really difficult to drink plain water - if I gulp a glass in a few minutes then it will just come straight back up - but my advice would be to start sipping an hour or so before the test and try to get a decent amount in your system the night before. Your veins will thank you!!

I had the test during my first pregnancy and I thought the drink was fine - tasted a bit like a sugary lemonade. The test itself was fine too, just a bit boring but i had my mum to keep me company. I had two sets of blood tests and an hour later i was out shopping 😁

It's not awful in general, but women suffering from HG do find it particularly tough.
I didn't end up feeling hungry during it at all as the amount of sugar made me feel a little queasy, nothing major but enough to not have an appetite.

A little boring. Bring a book/earphones.

From a medical perspective don't restrict your diet the day before or anything like that (some people think this helps but it does the opposite). Eat a late evening snack before your fast starts. Hydrate before your fast starts. And keep warm during the test to help with access for your bloods.

Horrendous how? Some people find the drink gross but I found that fine. I didn't find any of it bad. The wait is just a long one, and not eating whilst you fast for the test!

I was so worried about it as people seem to say it’s awful, but it was honestly fine. The drink wasn’t the nicest, but just drank it quickly and then hung around for a couple of hours. Though I didn’t have any sickness by this stage

Never understood what’s so bad about it, it’s just a blood test x 2. Plus a drink that might not be your favourite, but I had worse. And feeling nauseous was something I was well used to already by that time 🤣

It’s not horrendous at all. If you were suffering from HG or a bit squeamish of needles then it might not be good, but if I remember right you have a bloods drawn then drink the drink (which tastes like sugary orange juice) and wait for a few hours. Another blood test and home you go.
I downloaded some films to my iPad to help with boredom.

It's boring but not horrendous. You have one blood test, a drink (down it like a shot if you're not sick), wait around for two hours and have another blood test.

Take a comfy pillow for your lower and something to keep you occupied.

I had it on Monday and found it fine. I’m not a huge breakfast person though so I didn’t miss food, just had to remember not to eat anything. Had a blood test at 10:30am, drank a drink that was like a sweet-ish strawberry water but fine really. Then another blood test 2hrs later.

I did have to move it from last Friday due to having bad acid reflux and needing rennies at midnight and 2am, which the midwife then said it needed to be rearranged.

It’s horrendous if you are positive for GD IME. I don’t think there are any tricks but try not to throw up if you possibly can because then you have to start it again.

I was more frightened of this test than giving birth, I really built it up in my head but I had it 2 weeks ago and honestly it wasn't that bad at all! The only thing I struggled with was heartburn after the drink and only being able to have small sips of water to help with it. I was just hungry and exhausted afterwards but I only needed food and a nap and then I was fine. It sounds much worse than it is.

I had mine two weeks ago. It wasn’t horrendous. Fasting from 10pm the night before, drinking only water. Then appt at 10am where they took bloods, drank the glucose drink and sat and read my book in the waiting room for 2 hours before having the repeat bloods.

Alls I would say is to be prepared for feeling tired afterwards. I’d expected to feel fine and return to work in the afternoon, but started feeling very tired and lightheaded then had a headache afterwards. I slept for 3 hours after I’d eaten. It did turn out that I have GD though so that could purely be due to the rapid increase of glucose in my system following the test.

Honestly, don’t stress yourself about it. Just take something with you to keep you occupied and the time flies.

Best of luck with your results.