GD test post pregnancy

[Bloom]

Hi all,

I have a few questions as I'm a bit confused about some tests which the Dr ordered and I'm hoping for some clarity from people who know a bit more than me.

I'll tell you the whole story now. No prior history of GD but have a family history of diabetes and am obese, but active. I had given up sugar for 1 year, but lapsed while pregnant as I needed it to deal with severe MS. During pregnancy I passed the "short" standard test at 28 weeks. A scan at 32 weeks showed a big baby and the sonographer "assumed" I had GD. I was worried so I asked the MW if I need another GD test, and she said no, I'd passed the first with flying colours. DD was born at 40+5 naturally after a 7.5hr labour weighing 4.9kg.

In hospital the diabetes educator said I needed to go for a test 6 weeks post partum and wrote down 2hr GTT (overnight fast, NO change to diet prior). 1 week post birth I gave up sugar again and I have been "clean" ever since and bubs is now almost 8 weeks. She wrote on the form "gestational diabetes, query pre existing diabetes"

I guess I'm confused how I could have pre exisiting diabetes but pass the GD test in pregnancy. Is this possible?

Also it is a long 2 hr test and I have to stay at the blood place with my newborn (and have to get babysitting for the toddlers). Someone told me that the normal test for diabetes is a straight forward single blood test after fasting. Has the Dr ordered the wrong test?

I guess I'm just a bit cranky at it all and need to vent.
Any help or ideas appreciated!

[Mumma T]

I have had to do 2 post tests now. No idea why she wrote GD on your form if you didn't have it.

But yes it is sit there for 2 hours and do nothing (which personally I find completely ridiculous). I didn't realise the diabetes test is normally a single blood test

[little_O]

The test they gave ordered is correct. Fasting, 2 hour etc. the 1 hour test isn't overly accurate. But if you passed it, you passed it, so it's odd you'd have to do the follow up.

I had GD, but was clean on the follow up. Doesn't hurt though to be checked if you have family history.

I understand about it being annoying though. Especially because you passed originally...

[blondedoctor]

As pp's have said, the correct test to determine diabetes is the 2 hour GTT. However, since you weren't diagnosed with GD during pregnancy, why are they asking you to do the test at all? Bit weird really. If you want to do it, it won't harm you at all, but I can't see that you have to do it.

[BlackCat]

I think they are just being cautious that nothing is missed. After all you can't possibly just have a big baby for any other cause. my eldest was bigger than your bubs and I passed the first test no one ever mentioned going for another afterwards. They tested bubs blood sugar after birth which was also aced and that was the end of it. We just make big babies apparently. If you don't want to do it perhaps call and talk to your doctor to see if it is really necessary.

[black_rose]

It's probably because there is diabetes in your family but its wrong of the midwife to assume just because your baby was big that you had GD.

[jellybean88]

I dunno why they do it but I work in a lab. That runs the test and we get test just as many 6wk post partum gd gtt as we do pregnancy ones