Declining GTT

[~phyrephly~]

Hello BB Forum...

Just pondering and interested in hearing from people who have declined the GTT.

I have been placed in the high risk category as both my parents are Type 2 diabetics.

I am also in a situation where if I test positive to GD, then I can't birth at my local hospital as they only take low risk births and GD would make me a high risk. I would have to go to a hospital about an hour away. I would rather freebirth than go to that hospital - eww...

I dont believe I have GD, and I am thinking of declining the test but I am doing my research before I decline. As a high risk for GD, I go straight to having the 2 hour fasting test between 26-28 weeks, which is (unluckily) in the first few weeks of January after the whole crazy holiday season... Boo...

So please, I would love to hear if anyone has declined the test after being told they are high risk based purely on family history (or my parent's history of their poor lifestyle choices ) and not on any symptoms experienced...

TIA

[Artechim]

You don't always experience symptoms if you do have GD. There is no way of just knowing if you have it or not, you need to have the test.

I had a strong family history of Type 2. I had absolutely no symptoms but had a crazy high GTT and was on insulin within a couple of weeks because diet couldn't control it. I shudder to think of what might have happened to my DS and to my long term health if I had been walking around with BSL's up in the 30's for three months.

[Trillian]

You are allowed to refuse the test if you want to and having weighed up the pros and cons of having it/not having it. Have a read of these articles too Gestational Diabetes - The Emperor Has No Clothes by Henci Goer and here Michel Odent on Gestational Diabetes

[Early Kids]

You can refuse the test if you like, I would imagine that refusing the test won't change your risk category though. I would look into it with your local hospital. perhaps speak to one of the midwives there.

[Traveller]

As with any test, you have the right to refuse if you don't want to have it. Considering you are higher risk, would you be comfortable asking your midwife to dip your urine for sugar and get the GTT done if that showed something suspicious? Also you could adjust your diet so that if there is any hint of diabetes you are already controlling it through diet, thereby reducing the risk to your baby if you are GD and not diagnosed as such.

[Arimeh]

I've refused it this time round as my only high risk is that I'm overweight.

My midwife said that she looks for specific symptoms of it during pregnancy and I'm happy to trust her abilities.

[~phyrephly~]

Also you could adjust your diet so that if there is any hint of diabetes you are already controlling it through diet, thereby reducing the risk to your baby if you are GD and not diagnosed as such.

Yep, I am onto this one I have always eaten good anyways, just need to watch it moreso over Christmas... I like the dip stick idea too. I might ask for that at my next appt - thanks Traveller (ps. I loooove Spike!)

I've not resigned myself to declining BTW, also not resigned myself to doing it without really looking into it first. Just asking for input from others who have been placed in the high risk category and gone onto decline.