GTT - ok I need some help

[NaeNae]

Howdy all,

I had my test done last week and I got the results today and my MW said I was a little high 9.5. I have to go back next week to have the 2 hour test done so that is all booked and I am sooo not looking forward to them trying to find 3 good veins to draw blood from (whole other thread right there)

I was also told that sometimes the first test can come back high but the second shows absolutely nothing.

Now while I have not been great with my diet this pregnancy, I certainly have not been bad. I have porridge every morning, veggies and chicken 5 nights a week lunch varies depending on my location for work but usually soup.

Granted I really enjoy soft drink but drink no more now then I did before pregnancy. I was a bit over weight 78kg at the beginning but o=have only gained 7kg so far.

How often are these things wrong? Could the chockie Big M I had with breaky that morning have made a difference?

I really do not want GD and end up on insulin because there is not a hope in hell that I could inject myself. I faint when I see needles could you imagine it passing out every time I had to jab?

Anyway, I still have this rotten test so I am probably worrying for nothing at this stage but can someone please tell me if GD can be managed by diet and if so what types of things I should be eating?

Nae x

[kelebek]

When I was in my 2nd trimester and had the standard round of blood tests by blood sugar level was also high. I then went on to have the 2 hour GTT test and was fine. I do remember on the day I didn't have breakfast and then had some white bread for lunch with soft drink (I don't often have soft drink and usually always have wholegrain bread) so it is possible the choccy milk might have influenced the test.

Make sure you follow the instructions with the carbo loading before the test so the results are accurate but a high sugar level doesn't always mean GD. If you don't mind please let us know what happens.

[Junglemum]

I think being over weight and having a bad diet are only increased risk factors. So just because someone has those risk factors doesn't mean they'll get GD. Conversely someone with a good diet who is not overweight can also get GD.
So i don't think you should beat yourself up over it. You didn't cause this if you have it. iykwim

GD can often be managed by diet. When you have any kind of diabetes your body is unable to break sugar down due to a lack of insulin, hence the need for insulin injections in some people. If the pancreas is producing some insulin but not quite enough, then, by avoiding sugar, often people are also able to avoid needing insulin.
If the pancreas is not producing anywhere near enough insulin (or people don't stick to their diet) then people sometimes need insulin.

Having a good diet is a great start, but sometimes even with a good diet the GD is not controlled.

Fingers crossed all is ok and you wont have to worry about needles. xx

[Inanna]

As the others said my love the random blood test is an indicator. So, follow the dietary instructions prior to the GTT for the most accurate result.
Also, many women develop GD and they have great diets and are not overweight (ME!!!). Other women can be very overweight and eat abominably and sail through. As Falguni said its a bit hit and miss there.

It is only a small proportion of women with GD that require insulin so don't put the cart before the horse. Just one step at a time. Book in for that test and I hope very much it's all good for you...

[Mak]

NaeNae - try not to worry, the chocky milk may have thrown you over but best to get things checked out anyhow. I had GD for #2 and after a few tweaks of my diet had no higher than acceptable BSL readings for the remainder of my pg and bubs was delivered naturally with no intervention and had no issues. Just make sure you eat properly for the lead up to the test and follow their instructions. Most people that fail the first test pass the second.
Don't get too far ahead of yourself, one step at a time. Good Luck.
ETA - Generally a low GI diet/portion control and moderate exercise is the initial treatment. Don't stress about the needles until you have too. xxxx

[feeb]

Hun a high GCT result means nothing the big M could have been an infuence.

Diet and overweight can contribute to it but does not mean you will get GDM, I have a friend who was a tiny stick of a girl and would never eat lollies, soft drink, junk food etc and she had GDM.

Just follow instructions for 2 hrs GTT and wait and see if it comes back that you do have GDM then hopefully you can control with diet alone. As many people do successfully.

Good luck and rememmber it is not the worst thing in the world you can go through.

[Artechim]

As the others have said, the 1 hour test is not a great indicator because it is influenced by what you have previously eaten ie the 50g sugar load can in reality be higher depending on what you have eaten prior to the test. Only about 10% of people with GD end up on insulin, the rest can control it with diet so even if you do have it don't assume the worst. There is an option of insulin tablets as well if you have the right doctor.

Is your porridge the proper stuff or those instant sachets? The instant ones are bad for spiking BSLs.

Google Glycemic Index, it will give you an indicator of things that are low GI which keeps the blood sugar levels more stable instead of the peaks and lows you get from high GI foods.

[Nai]

Nae, with DD1 I had a high reading from the frst test as the stupid man made me go and eat something just before having the test. So the choc milk could definitely have affected the result. My fasting test came back normal.

With DD2 I went straight to the fasting test as my OB didn't want me to go through the hassle of doing the test twice like the first time. Once again it was fine. She told me the first test is often inaccurate so try not to worry too much about it.

[Just Me]

Try not to stress too much - I had a high GCT in my first pg and my GTT came back fine. Having a chocolate bar could impair the results, but if your body is producing insulin the way it needs to then it should be keeping your BSL down. I ended up with GD in both my subsequent pg so it might be something to keep in mind for future pg even if your GTT comes back negative this time.

Gestational Diabetes is not caused by anything that you have done wrong - as others have said your weight and diet are only risk factors (as are family history, age, ethnicity and all those other things they list), but GD can strike anyone and it can be really unpredictable. It is to do with the hormones produced by your pg inhibiting your insulin production and sometimes there is very little you can do about it.

If you do end up with GD, you may be able to stay diet controlled but if you can't and need to have insulin injections (which I do this time), the needles really don't hurt. I hate needles and freak out completely at the thought of them, but they are such fine, short needles, I can't even feel them when I do the injections. I think the idea of it is far more scary than the reality. I also just keep thinking that it is only for a time so that I can deliver a healthy baby. There is an end in sight, it's not forever. Having a healthy baby is more important that anything. That is how I get through it.

I am also like you and have awful veins. I have one good vein that they can get blood out of and that is it (due to the number of times I have had blood taken from that vein). Everytime they try and take blood from a different vein I end up very bruised for a couple of weeks. They just took blood from the same vein 3 times. It is a bit stingy and not very nice, but I just kept saying over and over to myself 'anything for a healthy baby'.

Good luck Nae and I really hope that your GTT comes back fine (which is a good possibility). There's not much you can do till you get the results, so just try and relax (easier said than done) until you know one way or another.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Aww hun try not to stress too much (yes, easier said than done!).

My first GTT came back at the exact same level as yours and i had to do the 2hr test too. - Unfortunately for me, the second one showed higher levels (9.9) after 2hrs so i was diagnosed with GD. - Now, i managed mine with diet alone for 6 weeks, but at 34 weeks i had to go on insulin as the diet alone just wasnt working. - Like the PP said, the needles are so fine you dont even feel them and its in a pen injector so you dont even really see the needle. i found doing the finger ***** tests more painful than doing the actual insulin injections!

Best of luck with your next test im sure all will be fine!

[Just Me]

i found doing the finger pr*ck tests more painful than doing the actual insulin injections!

Totally agree!

[NaeNae]

Thanks all for your responses.

I will be definately trying to relax until the test next Thurs its just the thought of more needles that sends me into a bit of a panic PLUS not knowing that much about GD to begin with

Artechim - yeah its the honey flavored ones that I eat so I know they are not as good as the real stuff its about the only thing I have been able to stomach in the morning as I am not normally a breakfast eater. Maybe the porridge and Big M weren't such a good combo to have before the test - I didn't know what I was in for as I had never done it before nor was I given any instructions .

Thanks again everyone, I am a bit of a worrier at times. Will see how things go, I just hope I don't have GD coz I have lots of yummy treats for my baby shower and man would I be peeved if I had to eat like a bunny that day

[Miss E]

Try not to worry too much honey. I also failed the first test (they didn't tell me what my score was though) and then went on to get the all clear when I had the second test. My OB told me that roughly 75% of women who don't pass the first one are fine when they have the second one.

I do however remember how worked up I got waiting to do the second test and then waiting to get the results... I'm also a fainter when it comes to needles so was petrified as well, but I put on by brave face and got through it, which I know you will too x