Glucose tolerance test does not make sense....?

Question

I failed my one hour glucose tolerance test by 4 points when I was 28 weeks pregnnat. I took another one a few days ago (I am now 33 weeks pregnant) and it was 154. My doctor wants me to take a three hour test. Here is what does not make sense....I hardly eat any sugar in my normal diet anyway. I was in my normal weight range when I got pregnant and I have only gained 16 pounds during this pregnancy. This is my third child and I had no problems with the other pregnancies. I never drink any soda or juice, just water. I don't eat pizza, fast food, ice cream or anything like that ever! I'm a health food nut. I have no family history of diabetes. I am 28 years old. I walk 30 minutes each day and swim for one or two hours a few days a week. How is it possible that I could have GD if I alreay follow the diet and excersise plan that they would "prescribe" to me anyway? AND I have had a nurtitionist of the past 5 years who keeps track of my dietary needs. Could it be possible that I failed the test because I was not use to that much sugar all at one time? None of this makes any sense to me at all and the nurse could not answer my questions. She just stared at me.

Answer 1

I also had this senario play out with my last pregnancy.

I do have family with Diabetes, and myself have Hypoglysemia.  

After I failed the 1 hour I told them I wasn't going to take the 3 hour.  I told my Dr I didn't think it was accurate to determine my usual blood sugar off of this stress your system test.

We agreed that I would test my blood sugar at home before every meal and 2 hours after every meal then again at bed time for a few weeks.  I kept a log of what I was eating, what each reading was and how I felt.  This was a lot of finger pricking, and logging and it sucked, but it gave them insight to what my body was really doing.

I don't bother talking to our nurses about this stuff, because it is the Dr who really works with us on our care.

Patients Bill of Rights allows you to deny any testing or treatment, even life saving, so you could always say you wont take it.

I would explain all of your issue with the Dr and see if you can come to a common ground.  I like to try to work with them, knowing they are looking into my best interest (in most cases) with the knowledge they have, so our Dr's request for monitoring blood sugar was a good common ground for us.

Answer 2

I was the same way.  Here's how they explained it to me.

Sometimes, it does not matter how you eat, or what your family history is.  Gestational Diabetes is when the baby/pregnancy has something to do with your blood sugar.  Maybe - the baby is taking a lot of your natural insulin.  or maybe he's 'blocking' it.

I was a "mystery GD-er too".

JMK - I refused the test with my second pregnancy too.  After speaking with a family friend (an RN), I found out that there are way too many flaws in the tests that they do.

Answer 3

You either have a predisposition for gestational diabetes or you don't. You can't eat your way into gestational diabetes, and it happens to plenty of "normal" weight women. Pregnancy hormones interfere with your endocrine functions, and each pregnancy puts a little more wear and tear on the body so that you're more likely to develop it with subsequent pregnancies.  

The good news is that most likely you won't have to do anything different than you are already doing.  You just have have to not overload your system with fast sugar like they do during a glucose tolerance test.  It's not caused by your diet, but if you have it is absolutely affected by diet. It is more than avoiding junk food, though.  It's balancing your carbohydrates with protein and fat - and most likely that's what your nutritionist is already telling you, so you'll be fine even if you are diagnosed.

Answer 4

It is for this reason I have declined the Glucose Test. The rate of false positives are FAR too high.

I refuse to put my body through the sugar shock like that for no good reason.

A better alternative, without the high false positives, is a simple urine test for sugar. There is always the chance that someone with very low risk for GD will get it. But for low risk patients a urine test for sugar in the urine is a much better initial screening than the Glucose Test.

You have alternatives but you are probably correct that your body is not used to that amount of sugar, so it basically shocked it, likely you won't fail the 3 hr. I would discuss a urine test first though.

Answer 5

The fact that you do not have any of the risk factors for GD does not mean you are risk free.

GD can hit anyone and in any pregnancy.  Because of your very healthy diet you have an excellent prognosis for any diagnosed GD not being particularly problematic for you during and after pregnancy and likely controllable by diet alone during the pregnancy.

Answer 6

It happened to me to. But I passed the 3 hour test. Go figure! Just do the test and see where you are at. Sometimes the littlest thing will change the results.  

Answer 7

well i did this with both of my kids and i couldnt figure out why when with my first i didnt have a problem but my last two was this way. it is because at this time they took your blood it was either higher or lower then normal because you drink a cup full of sugar then they take blood. your body did not properly store all this sugar like it was supposed to in that hour. when you take the three hour most likely you will be okay. your body just takes a little longer to store this sugar. i did find out though that i am borderline diabetic. my sugar levels drop fast and i eat about 4  to 5 small meals a day and keep candy in my pocket.