Refusing GD test?

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.