FAQ: Gestational Diabetes (GD) Test

[paintdadanta]

For those who missed the previous FAQ thread last week, the general consensus was to ask one question a week that everyone could leave feedback on or information about to be copied as a series of quotes for our FAQ section of the blog. I'll do my best to post these each Monday based on suggestions made in last week's thread and any others that may come up.



This week's topic: Gestational Diabetes Test 


Samples of what we are looking for (feel free to expand outside of these):

- When is it given?
- How did it taste or did it make you sick?
- What do the results determine?
- What about the secondary tolerance test?
- Pregnancy with GD
- Recipe resources

[bendherova]

- When is it given? With my first I had it at 28w. I have no prior history of diabetes. I was able to take the bottle of liquid home with me and drink it on my own. I had to mark the time and show up in the lab about 40min later. This will not be the case for this pregnancy (different hospital/different rules) I know that I will have to sit in the lab, drink it, and then wait for an hour.


- How did it taste or did it make you sick? It tasted like really sugary sunkist. I was never told to fast in advance and I took it on a Friday which means coworker brought in his wife's fab cookies. I def had a lot of sugar beforehand. Fortunately, I passed.


No advice on the rest as my blood sugar was under their limit at 1hr!

[nettje]

With my first, I had to take it at about 28 weeks. With this one, the doctor told me I could go get it at about 26 weeks.

I didn't feel ill taking it but it was disgustingly sweet. I just quickly slammed it down so the taste wouldn't last too long. I had to sit in the lab and take it... And wait the hour. I'd bring a book or something to read.

I passed and have no other advice in regards to the other questions.

[nicolec78]

Typically given at 28 weeks. I had my first one at 10 weeks since I am on a glucophage, I have pcos. I was able to ween off of it. I will have the one at 28 weeks as well.

It tastes like a super sweet orange pop. The last few sips were rough but kept it down.

It tests how your body processes sugar.

[mrsdee1982]

My OB has me taking mine before my 24 week appointment. I'm probably going to go this weekend to the lab. I don't have to fast before hand.

What I want to know is why they have to take a whole tube of blood if they're just checking my blood sugar? I don't do well with blood draws. I am a very hard stick (some of you may remember my post on the bump from my last OB blood draw where it took over an hour, multiple stabs, me passing out, me dry heaving, and then me having to come back again 2 days later to try the whole thing again, where it once again took 40 minutes and many stabs before they got the damn tube of blood).

I asked my OB if it is a finger prick or a blood draw and she said blood draw.

[erbear]

I've heard to eat a protein/rich breakfast before if it's in the AM. What do you eat?

I'm hypoglycemic so I'm nervous.

[wormgerm]

I've heard of magical unicorns who have magical unicorn doctors that let them substitute an approved sugar source for the test. Apple juice or something.

I want to known if anyone in real life asked if this was an option and if it was what they were able to do. I'm tempted to ask my midwife but I don't want to be a they-can't-put-it-on-the-interner-if-it-isn't-true special snowflake.

[Deleted]

- With my first and now with my 2nd the test is at 28weeks.
- it tasted like if you drank a warm orange sunkist soda with no carbonation left in it. or like children's orange triaminic medicine.  gross.
-i passed the test with DS so i have no advice on what happens if you don't pass. hopefully ill pass the 2nd time around.

[schnurette]

It is given between 24 and 28 weeks but will be given earlier if there is a higher likelihood of GD (for example, moi, who has to take it now at 21 ish weeks because my urine test was glucose 3+ at my last appointment)

The drink I was given was a very very sweet orange drink. The lab I went to kept it in the fridge to at least make it semi palatable. (This is from my experience with DD, not my current pregnancy.)

If you measure less than 7.7 then you are fine. If you are over 7.7 but less than 10.1 (I think) then they will send you for secondary testing where you have to fast and drink more of "the drink" and have multiple blood draws. If you measure over 10.1 then you have GD and they won't do further testing. This is based on the research I have done since being told I might have GD.

I measured 7 with DD, which my doctor said was high but acceptable. I have no experience with "after the diagnosis" but would love to read about it since I think I'm going there this time, unfortunately.

FYI - The labs in my area require you to sit there for the full hour. Their explanation was that if you are up moving around you are potentially burning off some of the drink / sweating it out. Apparently I looked like I was going to sweat buckets if I moved when pregnant with DD.

My doctor did advise me that if I have GD I will have to meet with the dietitian. I have started a "food journal" where I am keeping track of what I am eating each day so that I can give an honest record.

[honeybunches101]

My doctor's office required that I drink it and sit in the waiting room, they didn't want me to walk around afterwards so bring a book! Mine was fruit punch flavored and refrigerated, which I think helped. It was very sweet but not too bad. I was worried about getting sick so I took a zofran that morning.

[noeliav]

I failed my one hour by one point, and passed the three hour with flying colors. Each time, I've been given the option of tracking my blood sugar with finger sticks for a week.
- When is it given?
28weeks with both pregnancies
- How did it taste or did it make you sick?
It tastes like flat, syrupy soda. If you have a choice, pick the lemon-lime one. (I've had both the fruit punch and the lemon-lime)
The one hour did make me feel sick (head achy, nauseated, just generally icky), but the three hour did not. After the one hour, those feelings of ickiness carried for several days.
- What about the secondary tolerance test?
The three hour was similar to the first, except instead of drinking the glucose drink before my appointment, I had a fasting blood draw, and then drank the drink. Then I had blood draws at one hour, two hours and three hours. ETA (because, memory jogged): yes, you are not allowed to walk around after ingesting the drink, because exercise can bring down your blood sugars. So, I had to sit in the waiting room, in front of the reception desk, between blood draws. Bring magazines or other things to entertain yourself.

Random tip: pack a cheese stick or other high protein snack (greek yogurt, hard boiled egg) to eat immediately after your blood draw. I did that with the 3 hour and I do think it helped with the post-test side effects.

[silv3rlining]

- When is it given?

typically between 24-28 weeks unless you need to be tested early. (For instance I took it at 15/16 weeks this time since I had GD with my 1st pregnancy. I will retake at 28 weeks)

- How did it taste or did it make you sick?

Really cold extra sugared orange drink (kind of flat)

- What do the results determine?

Your risk for GD. Different OBs use different cutoffs. Mine uses 139. So if you test 140 or above you take the 3 hour. If you test extremely high you can be DXd wo the 3 hr.

- What about the secondary tolerance test?

this is fasting and you get 4 blood draws. Drink is similar in taste but higher in glucose.

- Pregnancy with GD

Balancing what you eat and exercise is key. 1-2 protein servings (7-14g) protein for every 1 carb serving (15g). Plus you want to include good fats in the mix. Also you still need carbs so don't cut them out. Too low of carbs and you can actually spike from a dip. Snacks are your friend. You will also pretty much eat a meal or snack every 2 hours. Expect to test your blood sugar 4-6x/day depending on your doctor's preference.

- Recipe resources

TIP before 1 hr- bacon and eggs only (my OBs instructions). Also my OB requires you to consume the drink in office and stay in the office the whole hour. Some give you the drink to consume at home. But you have 5 minutes to consume the glucola.

You may be tired, shaky, nauseated from it.

[billyhorrible]

- When is it given?
variable per office. Last time i had mine at 25 weeks. Fasting is also going to be variable per office, so don't worry if you have to/don't have to fast and someone else doesn't/does. There are 2 different tests for GD, fasting and non fasting, just depends on which your OB uses.
- How did it taste or did it make you sick?
It tastes like flat, syrupy soda. I didn't think it was nearly as bad as people made it, but I don't drink a lot of non-water drinks (juice/soda) so maybe that affects it? I thought it tasted like the orange drink at McDonalds
I passed the first time, so no advice on the 3 hour.
Tips Eat normally before the test. Don't try to "cheat" it. GD sucks, but unmonitored GD could be dangerous for you and your baby.

[billyhorrible]

Feb 2, 2015 14:06:43 GMT -5 wormgerm said:

I've heard of magical unicorns who have magical unicorn doctors that let them substitute an approved sugar source for the test. Apple juice or something.

I want to known if anyone in real life asked if this was an option and if it was what they were able to do. I'm tempted to ask my midwife but I don't want to be a they-can't-put-it-on-the-interner-if-it-isn't-true special snowflake.

I've heard this too, but never bothered asking. The drink really isn't the worst thing in the world.

[wormgerm]

Feb 2, 2015 16:41:21 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Feb 2, 2015 14:06:43 GMT -5 wormgerm said:

I've heard of magical unicorns who have magical unicorn doctors that let them substitute an approved sugar source for the test. Apple juice or something.

I want to known if anyone in real life asked if this was an option and if it was what they were able to do. I'm tempted to ask my midwife but I don't want to be a they-can't-put-it-on-the-interner-if-it-isn't-true special snowflake.

I've heard this too, but never bothered asking. The drink really isn't the worst thing in the world.

I had it once before and it was awful not pregnant. I'm still having aversions and getting gaggy at 20 weeks so if there was a chance to skip the orange drank of doom I would. If I'm feeling confident that day maybe I'll venture asking. Or not. It's just one shitty day.

[ladysif]

With DS1, I took the 1 hour test at 24 weeks due to PCOS. My clinic also refrigerated it (bring ice in case yours doesn't, it is easier to drink cold), flatish orange drink as others described. If you pinch your nose closed while drinking it or hold your breath, you won't taste it and it won't make you as nauseous. I ended up chugging the last half as it was getting harder to drink the longer I took.

I agree billyhorrible that you shouldn't try to cheat. Going undiagnosed is far worse than having it. It isn't that bad. Though frankly, if you have it, any attempt to cheat likely won't work. And that being said, I would recommend having some protein before simply because that will stay in your system and help avoid nausea.

I was diagnosed at 7 weeks this time so didn't have to do the drinking tests. Those of us with GD will be very helpful with food ideas; I'm posting a weekly check-in on Tuesdays.

One thing I did not realize would happen was that after I was diagnosed and started the diet, my weight gain plateaued for 6 weeks which scared me at the time, but is totally normal. I didn't end up gaining a typical amount but that was fine and normal for someone with GD. DS1 was right around 8 pounds and this baby is measuring just fine.

TL;DR: I'm doing a weekly check-in on Tuesdays for those of us with it and it isn't that bad to have it. Don't try to cheat.

[sordidvolition]

Ditto what everyone else said and I wanted to reiterate bringing a high protein snack for after. I felt like crap for a while afterwards.

Overall it's not a totally horrible experience

[billyhorrible]

I just got back from my monthly appointment and thought of another tip if your OB has an in-office lab.

Mine schedules the GD test alongside one of your monthly appointments. You go in early, drink the drink, then during that hour wait, instead of hanging in the waiting room you have your appointment. Then back for the blood draw. So my 26 week appointment is at 1:50, they're having me come in at 1:30 for the drink, 2:30 for the blood draw.