Would you take the 3 hour GTT if....

[ecomommy]

your 1 hour test level was 137?  I took the 1 hour test last week at 27 weeks.  Yuck!  I haven't done the drink test since my first pregnancy in 2000.  Usually I have done eggs, toast and juice on my midwife's orders and have never had a problem before.  But this time I'm with an OB (another long story in itself, but due to finances and insurance basically) and so I did the drink.  I thought the cut off level was 140 but the OB said that they had dropped the threshold to 130.  He wants me to take the 3 hour.  I basically said that I didn't think I needed to and he said well you can do your thing or you can do the right thing.  I have 4 children 9 and under, homeschool and am in the process of a move...I feel so stressed to even think of doing something else, especially if it involves yucky drinks, fasting, entertaining children in a lab or finding childcare for 4 hours.

I basically think I don't need to do the 3 hour...I am being irresponsible not to do it?  My only "risk" factor would be my age...I turned 35 last month.

Thanks for your input!

[geekgolightly]

did you also get a fasting drawn? if so, what was it.

[ecomommy]

I didn't have a fasting drawn.  

[javilu]

Personally, I would decline it.  I failed my 1-hour with a 150 with my son, and passed the 3-hour with flying colors (seriously, I kicked butt).  But I imagine it varies by person/pregnancy.  For me, the 1-hour did not reflect my actual glucose tolerance very well at all.

[MarineWife]

I was diagnosed with borderline GD with pg#2. Borderline because my 1 hour level was high, my 2 hour level was right at the upper limit but my 3 hour level was normal. If I remember correctly, you are supposed to have at least 2 or maybe it's even all 3 numbers high for you to be diagnosed. However, because I was on insulin regulating medication for PCOS when I got pg and through the 1st trimester (for fertility issues related to PCOS, not insulin resistance, prediabetes or diabetes), my OB wanted to treat me as if I had GD. So now my records say that I was diagnosed with GD and if you are diagnosed once it's assumed that you will have it every time. Whenever I tested my blood sugars at home after eating a normal meal, even if I ate a meal or snack high in sugar, my blood sugars were always very good so I never really considered myself as having GD.

With pg #3, I failed the 1 hour test but refused the 3 hour test. I was able to convince the OB to let me eat a regular breakfast at home and come to the office for the 3 blood draws and they were all good. I was getting dual care with an OB and a CPM at the time so I knew I was getting good, holistic care from my CPM and wasn't worried about what the OB thought. I don't plan to even do the 1 hour test this time. I have my A1C tested every few years and it's always very good and I've never had any problems with any of my pgs so there's no reason for me to think that I'm at risk for GD (if there even is such a thing). It's just not a concern of mine at this point.

I think it's totally up to you. Do the 3 hour test if you think it's necessary or could be helpful but don't do it just because the doctor is pressuring or coercing you. To say something like, "You can do your thing or the right thing," is outrageous, imo, and if at all possible, I would be looking for another HCP.

[orange_mommy]

I don't like your doctor's control tactics!  Wow!  I would say, if your gut tells you that you don't need to take it then I would probably decline it... that is partly because you mentioned the old "cut off" is 140 and they revised it but your 137 is under their original cutoff so it seems like one of those "grey areas" that you have to leave to your gut instinct.

I hate the whole GD screening thing.  I just took it a week ago and the health worker forgot to set the timer and didn't test me until I went up to ask an hour and a half later, and said I'll likely have to take it again.  Grrr!

Good luck on whatever you decide!

[Jenne]

I wouldn't do the 3 hour but I'd use a glucometer at home to monitor myself for a week or two. This should give a great indicator based on *your* diet whether you are having blood sugar issues. Would your doc accept that?

Good luck!
Jenne

[texmati]

I would do it. I took my 3 hr even though my  number was a 140, and my ob's cutt off was 138

[ecomommy]

Thank you for all your responses.  DH and I decided today to switch to a midwife and will re-do the test with her and go from there.  I think that I was having doubts about more than just the test and didn't fully trust the doctor and thus the questions.  I appreciate your input.

[baby3in2011]

my ob let me have a regular lunch as long as it was 2 hours before my appointment and he did that 2 appointments in a row and the numbers were fine so he's fine with that. maybe your mw will be willing to do the same? i just have no interest in chugging that drink and told my ob i didnt want to do it and he didnt pressure me at all, just offered the other option.