[Neldavi]

So last pregnancy I just refused the GTT because I saw no reason to take it - #1 because I have questions about how accurate it is and #2 I had no risk factors.

(a word about my birth options and plan this time - there are very few midwives in my area: one I really don't like, one won't see me because she said I'm too far away, and another would only see me if I birthed at someone else's house who lives closer to them, BUT ONE lives fifteen minutes from me and I really like her. The only catch is that she's a CNM and has to have official OB backup, and it's this doctor who is very supportive of home birth but who I have to see in his office and kind of be under his care as well, since the CNM isn't really practicing anymore (she's making an exception for me) so doesn't have an office)

This time however I go in for my first OB appt. and spill sugar into my urine and my blood tested 135 because I drank a huge soda right before the appointment. I drink maybe 3 sodas a year and my body is just not used to it. So, understood, I should watch my sugar and carb intake. I go to my second appointment and everything is normal, but now the doc has me flagged for possible GD and I feel like it's going to be harder to just refuse the test. I really don't want to be labeled with GD and then get funneled into hospital birth.

So I guess my question is, do you think I should be worried? I know GD can be really serious in people who actually have it, I'm just wondering if there's a more accurate test. I really don't trust drinking 50 grams of glucose after not eating, yk? I mean, you can see what a soda did to me.

I would birth in someone else's house or go unassisted before going to the hospital but I really want this situation to work out, plus of course I don't want to be endangering myself or my baby.

What would you do?

 

[ktbug]

See if you can re-test with the quick glucose (NOT the 3-hr fast) - and this time, DON'T drink any sodas! I failed my quick glucose test because I was starving on the way to the appointment and stopped for McBreakfast on the way there. Needless to say, I failed and had to take the 3-hr test, which I passed without a problem. If you get roped into taking the 3-hr test for some reason, don't worry, you'll more than likely pass, but be sure not to drink or eat anything sugary (in fact, drink water before and during the waiting period). See if they'll retest you on the quick test - just explain that you think you may have tested high because you uncharacteristically drank a soda before the test.

If you actually do have GD, it's serious, but easily controlled, and as long as you eat sensibly and keep track of everything, you will be ok. BTW, a lot of people refuse the 3-hr GTT, and if you want to do so, you're perfecly within your rights. As my pg friend put it, "I'm refusing the test because if I fail, what would I do differently? I don't consume HFCS, fast food, sweets, or refined carbs, and if I failed the test my diet would be exactly the same, so what's the point?"

Just eat right and exercise! (It sounds so easy on paper ...)

 

[mom2owen1]

ami right in understanding that you did not drink the glucola? they just pricked your finger and tested your sugar that way?

i think if i were in your shoes i would stick with the midwife/ob team you have, but talk to the ob. if he is up for homebirth, i would assume he is ok with other things and may be open to your situation.

before i would take the glucose test i would ask to allow self monitoring at home for a determined amount of time.

 

[katt]

I think she just had a cola and during the 'pee in a cup test' it was high for sugars. Maybe?

I'd just talk to your primary about it and let them know what happened.

 

[Neldavi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by katt I think she just had a cola and during the 'pee in a cup test' it was high for sugars. Maybe? I'd just talk to your primary about it and let them know what happened.

Yeah, that's right. I'm only 17 weeks so I'm not due for the GTT yet, I'm just thinking ahead. I did talk to the OB about it. I told him exactly what happened and why I think it happened, but he's still worried and I don't think he'll just say "sure, whatever" to me refusing the test now. I just want to have my facts straight.

I need to do more research on the GTT and GD, thought this would be a good starting point. Self-monitoring sounds like a good option.

 

[cam&kat's_mom]

I'd self monitor, and explain to teh Dr and midwife about the soda. then i woudl tell them i'm not doing teh test UNLES i have another high sugar read in teh urine OR i gain soem astronomical amoutn of weight that is unexplained. AND form what i know the only way to treat GD is with diet, os i would just monitior my diet and watch my intake of carbs adn sugars. HTH!
I skipped mine and had no issues what so ever. I think you'l be fine.,

 

[boscopup]

Spilling glucose in urine after eating something sugary (especially if you've fasted beforehand - like slept at night and then drank a coke without eating a good breakfast) can be NORMAL. At every single midwife appt, except for yesterday, I have spilled glucose in my urine.

Yesterday, I actually ate eggs for breakfast and avoided chocolate milk and other such sugary things before the appt, and I didn't spill glucose.

I usually eat eggs for breakfast, but it just so happened that on midwife appt day, I kept having horrible, sugary breakfasts, or not much food for breakfast, etc. In reading about glucose in urine, I found one article saying that doctors in Australia stopped testing for glucose in urine on a regular basis back in the late 90s because it really wasn't a good diagnostic tool for GD, since spilling glucose can be normal for a pregnant woman.

At 21 weeks (I'm 25 now), I tested my blood sugar 2 hours post-meal with my dad's glucometer. It was 94 - perfectly normal. At 2 hours post-meal, you should be under 120. If you drank that coke on the way to the doctor's office, a reading of 135 probably isn't that bad? If that reading was 2 hours post-coke, then yes, it sounds like you have a blood sugar problem (even if your body isn't used to it, your body should handle the sugar anyway if you aren't diabetic), but if it was an hour or less, I wouldn't say you're having a problem quite yet.

I'm refusing the GTT, and my doctor is ok with that. I did, however, tell him that I would test a few times at home with my dad's glucometer. He suggested doing one 2 hours after eating a dessert, and I think that's a good idea, so I will do it. I do normally eat desserts on occasion.

As far as there being nothing to do for GD except diet change... That is NOT true. There are cases where diet is not enough to control your blood sugars, and insulin is required. It's not that common, but it can happen. I do have risk factors for GD (dad is diabetic, as are all his brothers, I started out overweight, and I have biggish babies to boot), so I do want to know if I'm having a blood sugar issue. But I don't agree with the GTT testing methodology, and I don't think I could drink that glucola stuff without throwing up.

So I'll be testing blood sugar at home a few times, including after eating a dessert, and if I'm below 120 for all of those 2 hour post-meal tests, I will assume that I don't have GD. All they do if you have GD is have you test your blood sugar regularly, so at-home testing should catch it if your current diet is not sufficient for your body. And obviously, if your blood sugar is high even on a good diabetic diet, then you need insulin. But you don't need a GTT to determine that, kwim?