Refusing GD test?

[shiremummy]

Talking about this with a friend of mine... Is it wise to refuse the GD test? Is it possible for a Dr to see if you have GD without you having to drink the glucose?

[k4t]

I know it's not the most pleasant test but I'm not really sure why you'd want to refuse it? Random and fasting blood sugar levels can pick up problems but the glucose challenge is more accurate and sensitive.

[Rumpleteaser]

The glucose drink just tastes like flat lemonade.

[PumpkinZulu]

I started a thread about this a few months ago Basically, ofcorse you can! You aren't required to have any testing you feel uncomfortable with. I refused the GD test based on the fact that I am young, healthy and had a low risk and uncomplicated pregnancy. In the event that I did test positive, in my low-risk situation it would only have been managed with a low GI diet and a bit of watching what I ate, which I was doing anyway. Lots of people are not even offered the GD test if they're young and healthy. For me, being young and healthy, the risk of a false reading wasn't an acceptable risk for me, as I was in a trial homebirth program, and having GD means you can no longer be in it. So I refused, and my midwife was 100% fine with that. In fact, they were fine with me refusing NT testing, GD and GB or whatever it is Weigh up the pros and cons, like if you're low risk and eating well etc. You'll be able to go in and tell someone if things start to change and you get GD symptoms, a good care provider will be checking for warning signs anyway. Hope that helps.

[delphmoon]

Although being healthy, eating healthy and being young is a positive it doesn't guarantee you won't develop GD (or any other disease/illness). You cant predict the development of GD based on these. It is however the individuals choice to be tested and thats that.

Its a relatively simple test and can prove to be life saving (in the event that one has developed GD and doesn't know). Eating healthy and improving lifestyle is one of the recommended treatment for those who develop GD but is not always in isolation so further monitoring is involved so eating healthy isn't a guarantee either.

I personally don't see why someone would refuse this test- why risk it? I do however respect everyones right to choose what they feel is right for them

To answer your question tho, lol, I am not sure if you can be tested for GD without drinking the glucose. The purpose of the test is to see how your insulin levels change during the period of testing after you have had the drink. I think that perhaps frequent blood sugar testing may do, but I am not sure. Maybe speak to your midwife/GP about it

[PumpkinZulu]

No, you can definitely not predict if you will have GD or not! But my midwives (and the OB I saw) all confirmed that of I were GD positive, it would be managed with a low GI diet and watching what I do and don't eat. Seeing as I already did that, I didn't feel the need for the test. I also didn't want unnecessary intervention at my birth because I had GD. Like a I said, a good care provider will be able to monitor you accordingly. I'll try to link my thread, it had lots of helpful answers from both sides of the fence.

[Jennifer13]

I refused it for this pg, no issues. I had the test last pg and didn't have GD, so as well as having no risk factors at all, I also knew that.

I also didn't bother having follow up bloods at that stage to test iron levels, etc, I was happy with my earlier test results.

It's totally your choice.

[Ashlee]

I was pregnant with DS at age 19, weighed 60kg and 171cm tall - and I had GD. I ate well and did everything right but I failed both the GCT and GTT. Although it was only by a small amount, anything over 7.7 after the GTT is considered GD. I managed it with diet obviously and my son was born at 35+5 weighing 2.87kg. Had I have gone to term, I'd say he might have been closer to the 4kg mark - no a giant baby but a healthy sized bub.

In answer to the OP's question though, yes you can refuse the test, but if you plan on birthing in a birthing centre or are considered high risk, I don't think it would be wise. Is there any particular reason you wish to refuse it?

[Beatrix]

I have had 3 children and not once did I have the GD test. I birthed through a midwife program which was a very women trust your body type program. My midwife and I spoke about it and because I didn't have absolutely any indicating factors to diabetes we decided I wasn't going to take it.

My midwives were perfectly fine with the decision even supported it.

[shiremummy]

I would love to refuse the test as I just can't handle the glucose. With DS I had a migraine for quite a few days after drinking it and I promised myself never again. But after reading all this: its probably not wise for me to refuse it :-( I just wish there was an easier way to test for it!

[SareBear]

I wasn't going to do the test this pregnancy either, after remembering how awful I felt last time. The midwife I saw said I was so low risk that it was fine either way. I decided to do it anyway at the last minute, and yep, I have it. So you just never know.

This time though the drink was much easier, it seemed much less disgusting, so I hope the same goes for you. I think it had something to do with being green this time, made it taste better, ha ha.

Good luck, I hope it's easier for you this time

[Eenee]

Yep you can refuse it I did. It's not really an accurate test anyway. I mean for starters consuming that much sugar at once is not really normal.

You can ask them to do random blood glucose levels if you want.

[kristi14]

As someone who had GD recently, i would urge everyone to take the GTT as unpleasant as it is. I wanted to refuse it but my OB made me, thank goodness she did, i had GD and ended up on insulin. There is no way of telling if you have GD just by simple urine tests etc. Glucose MAY show up in your urine but thats a very big MAYBE. I only had it show up once my entire pregnancy, so its not something you can rely on. Untreated GD can cause big issues for baby as it causes the placenta to deteriorate at a faster rate, as well as it can make baby bigger or smaller depending.

[delphmoon]

Yep you can refuse it I did. It's not really an accurate test anyway. I mean for starters consuming that much sugar at once is not really normal.

.

Coca cola contains more sugar in it

In terms of accuracy-it is accurate. Its a measurement of glucose in your blood per mmol/L of blood.- its not an estimation tool like an ultrasound for example where the babies size is estimated IYGWIM

[Eenee]

I'm a nurse don't need to explain the test to me but there are a lot of false positives.

[delphmoon]

Sorry, when you said they are inaccurate I thought you were referring to the actual blood sugar level

[Eenee]

All good I wasn't angry at you

[Lisa]

I refused it with DD3. I have no family history of GDD and I had never had it with any of my other pregnancies, so I figured there was a bigger chance of me not having it than having it.
I never wanted to have it with DS2 & DD2 but felt rather forced into having it. I get headaches and feel very nauseated after the drink too. I was happy to have not had it done and there was never an issue with me not having it.