I am also young, fit and healthy. And I had GD. There's no stereotypical category for people who get GD, unfortunately. It doesn't discriminate. Some people just get it, unfortunately. My first clue was the extreme thirst I developed. 3 or more litres a day, and I was still thirsty. Anyway, mine was only diet controlled, so it wasn't a big deal at all. I was pretty much borderline, so they slapped the GD label on me 'just in case'.
I endured a lot of intervention during my birth. I was scheduled for an IOL before I'd even come to my due date, based on nothing other than the fact I had GD (this was done by a very uninformed MW who didn't know me or my history).
You can absolutely refuse any tests you aren't comfortable with though. It wouldn't be the end of the world. If you do refuse it, keep an eye on your symptoms....... possibly ask if you can have a finger ***** machine to keep an eye on your glucose levels JIC. Not sure if they'd do that, but just an idea.
Yep - I refused it in this pregnancy. Again, like others have said, weighing up the pros and cons, and the fact that I am an extremely health consious person.
I don't normally consume sugary foods when pregnant - and after drinking this fluid in a prior pregnancy, bubs just kicked and punched me so violently for a prolonged period which was very uncomfortable and rather distressing. I suppose if you consume sugary foods on a regular basis it wouldn't be such a shock, but for me it just didn't make sense to expose bub to a high concentration of sugar in order to see if I was likely to develop a condition that I was actively trying to prevent - iykwim? But - each to their own!
Yes, I also was 'threatened' with induction and or c/s as soon as I got a positive result for GD. I was about 25 weeks pg. I was pretty horrified they would even mention it at that early stage, without any other complications presenting. At my 39 week checkup at the hospital, the MW booked me in for an IOL just 3 days past my due date. I just nodded and went with it, feeling like I should be saying something.
Of course, when I arrived at 40+3 to be induced, the MW on duty checked me and said I was high, closed, and completely unfavourable. I was thrilled to go home and wait it out.
What you choose to do with the knowledge is up to you. Don't allow anyone to dictate what you will or will not be doing without due medical cause. It's not a nice feeling to have IOL or C/S thrown in your face as a just in case measure.
Thanks for this thread girls. I am thinking of ditching this test this pregnancy too. I don't eat sugar at all, along with many other things, other than the odd piece of fruit every few days. I do not want to undo all the work I have put in to heal my gut and my sons gut (i'm breastfeeding him still) for one test...and i wasn't sure where i could stand on having this test.
I have a couple questions though....What are some of the warning signs of GD that you can pick up on without a test? Many of you have said your midwife is pretty clued in to what to look for?
Also for those that did have it, you said it was diet controlled....so what does that mean you had to cut out or eat specifically? I already don't eat a huge amount of things, as already said - including sugar, so I am just wondering how different the diet would be and if i'm already kinda on it.
Thanks in Advance!
this is my 2nd PG with GD & so i've done a bit of reading on it.
sometimes there may be other warning signs - for example thirst, frequent need to urinate (not a great one for PG women anyway!!) but in many/most cases there aren't really any warning signs - i've never felt any different from normal. there are certain factors that may make you higher risk (age, weight, ethnic background, family history) but it's worth noting that even if you don't fit into one of these categories that you may still end up with GD.
once you're diagnosed with GD you would normally test your blood sugar/glucose levels up to 4 times a day - fasting levels in the morning & then 1-2 hours after breakfast, lunch & dinner. they give you guidelines of what your BSL should be under. eating a low GI diet full of fresh, healthy foods/wholegrains etc is what they recommend (pretty much as we should all eat anyhow!). if your levels rise despite eating this way, then you may have to start taking insulin. i have had to take insulin both PG & the diabetes doctors are very quick to reassure you that this is not because of your diet (assuming you have been eating well) but sometimes you have no control over the hormones the placenta is producing that also affect the insulin that your body produces. gentle exercise is also recommended to help control BSL.
i think having a healthy diet & being a healthy weight will help but ultimately it doesn't mean you definitely won't get GD. i think everyone has the right to refuse the test but also get frustrated to see people assuming that they won't get it or that by eating a certain way they won't have to go on insulin etc. i go to a public hospital & the diabetes clinic for PG women is full of women of every size, age & ethnicity. i read some statistics that something like 40-60% of women who get GD demonstrate none of the factors that can make you high risk.
I was another that had GD with no symptoms. It progressed very quickly to needing large amounts of insulin to keep my bsl's in a range that acceptable for my long term health - high bsl's damage the pancreas and make it more likely you will develop Type 2 diabetes earlier. While I agree the treatment of GD is way overboard for those that can (and do) control it with diet, there are people like me that actually are at risk of harm to mum and bub if nothing is done to control it.
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It's not a nice feeling to have IOL or C/S thrown in your face as a just in case measure.
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