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

[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?

[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.

[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.

[PumpkinZulu]

I just want to say, although completely possible (and I'm sure someone on here may have even experienced it) GD that goes completely unnoticed to the point that it becomes dangerous is very unlikely. As I've already said, a good healthcare provider will pick up on the other markers for GD. You will most likely display other signs before anything 'bad' happens. And as em said, there are a lot of false positives.

[AndiE]

I'm all into knowing what's going on with your pregnancy so you can be fully informed at every stage. Just my opinion, but that's whey I do the GD test, and the other tests. I'd just prefer to know what's happening with my body and potentially my baby.

I had GD with DS1 (diet controlled) and didn't get it with DS2. All going well with this bubba and I'll take another test when the time comes.

My only argument against taking the test is that when I tested positive it immediately started the Ob talking about possibility of inducing early because of the "chance" bub could be a big baby (I didn't want intervention of any kind and was quite vocal about that!). For the record, DS1 was 2.9kg when he was born (after spontaneous birth) at 39w5d.

ETA: I see a bit of talk about the test not being accurate. After my diagnosis, I had to test my levels four times a day (from memory) and that definitely showed I had GD. So in terms of accuracy, it's not really just one test that determines whether you have GD. It's ongoing. Well ... in my books, anyway.

[e_p]

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

I declined having the test. The blood sugar levels that determine whether or not you have GD varies between care providers, not to mention that there are a lot of false positives. I was low risk and eating a balanced diet, low in processed foods and high in protein, fresh fruit & veg and wholegrains. When a positive result can mean pressure to have interventions that may or may not be evidence based (insulin, induction, caesarean), I think it's important to be informed with the benefits AND the the risks of testing. All tests and procedures require your consent (actually, informed consent...but my experience is that consent in maternity care is often not especially informed) and you have a right to refuse or decline anything you don't want.