Gestational Diabetes Test?

[Vera]

Has anyone taken this? I am thinking of taking it but not sure if it is necessary as I don't have any risk factors. Does anyone have any experiences with this test?

[sophie]

I didn't bother with the test either as I had none of the risk factors. If I had any of the risk factors I guess I would have done it. The test itself is harmless but annoying as it takes an hour or so to perform.

[frenchie]

I did it, and wished I didn't. First of all, I didn't even have any of the risk factors. When I did do the test, I was given improper instructions. I ate before I drank the glucose, and that was enough to put me a few points over the maximum [blood sugar] level they allow. I had to do the 4 hour test which was very frustrating to say the least. I had to fast, and I could only drink water. I was angry, hungry, nauseated, and extremely bitter towards everybody in the Dr.'s office. I vowed I wouldn't do it the next time unless medically necessary. I went through all that to be told what I already knew. What really made me mad, was they wouldn't just re-do the one hour test. The 4 hour test consists of a stronger glucose drink, on an empty stomach, and blood is drawn 4 times. Of course the phlebotomist that drew my blood SUCKED and left me very bruised. If I were you I would just refuse the test, unless you are showing signs of GD.

[Erin Pavlina]

In my first pregnancy, they tested me at 8 weeks! I had several risk factors. My first test came back borderline. They wanted me to do the 3 hour glucose test. I insisted we wait and do the one hour test again.

Again, the test came back borderline. I agreed to the 3 hour test and came out okay there.

For this pregnancy, I still have risk factors and I've had some scary low blood sugar situations in the past couple of weeks so I'm going to do the one hour test again.

I'd say if you have no risk factors, you can probably safely decline the test. If you have any risk factors, I would take the one hour test and see what happens, and then make a decision from there.

[Christa]

I have to play devil's advocate here - sorry! I do tend to go fairly against traditional medical suggestions myself, but this is one test that I would not skip. Not all women show any signs of gestational diabetes when they have it & the test is non invasive. It is a pain, but it isn't putting you or baby at risk & I would most definately treat this if I was diagnosed with it.

Risk factors for GDM include history of stillbirth or miscarraige, family hx of diabetes, previous delivery of a baby weighing 9 lbs or more, hx of urinary tract infections, excessive amniotic fluid, sugar in the urine, or being overweight. Certain ethnic groups also have higher than avg risk. Also your risk increases with each pregnancy & as you get older. Even if none of these apply to you, you can still have GDM.

Sorry to go on a long spiel - I just think that this test is worth doing b/c it isn't going to do you or the baby any harm to check it. Even if you got a false +, the retest isn't like an amnio or anything that puts you or the baby at risk. About 3-5% of women have GDM, so you are probably not really likely to have it. I would imagine that it would not be a huge risk if you don't get the test, but just to be safe...

[Erin Pavlina]

I mostly agree with Christa. Of all the tests that it's suggested to get, the Glucose test isn't all that invasive.

However, I have read articles/information suggesting the test is not all that valid the way it's done. Women are given different instructions regarding what to eat before the test, the results are interpreted differently by different doctors so that one doctor would say you have it and another would say you didn't, and also the glucola they make you drink does have side effects.

A jelly bean test has been developed, but it has not been widely tested.

Some people just drink orange juice before the test, other doctors won't allow that. To me, there is not a good enough standardization here.

[kykarraliv]

I too have found that the test is not very reliable. In Ina May Gaskins book, Ina May's Guide To Childbirth, pg 196, she states that between 50-70 percent of women if retested will have different results then from their first test. Plus there is evidence out that there is no treatment for Gestational Diabetes. That the outcome for babies is not affected by diet or insuline. So that is a lot of worry for mothers with no affective treatment and no reliable testing results.
She further states that she will test beyond routing testing with urine dipsticks with a glucometer to identify women who can benifit from dietary changes if blood surgars are varying too widely. She tests women with a glucometer if they have several of the following symptoms
*fast weight gain
*feeling "funny" or "dizzy" after meals
*constant thirst
*craving for sugar
*family history of diabetes
* previous large baby
They get a glucometer reading 15-30 min after breakfast and again 1 hr later. They have encountered a few cases in which a woman's glucose was high (250) within that time range and back to normal (120) or less within an hour. These are the women who feel funny after a meal and whose high sugar reading wouldn't be detected by the Gestational Diabetes Test. They have found it is usually because the woman was eating something that she didn't tolerate well durring pregnancy-sugar and white flour. In the short term the best way for the woman to bring down the sugar level in her blood is to get up and excercise. For the rest of her pregnancy it best if she completely eliminates white flour, pasta, other starchy food, and sugar from her diet.
Ina May's Guide To Childbirth is a wonderful book. A must read for every women who is pregnant. It will really open your eyes and give you confidence in yourself to birth your baby.
Kim

I want to add one other thing. I have had in my last pregnancy 4 of the above listed symptoms. I had fast weight gain, craving sugar, family history of diabetes, and 2 previously large babies.I was given the Gestiaonal Diabetes test. when the results came back the doctor said,"Well, your results are boderline. Some doctors will treat this with diet or insulin and some doctors won't. Let's just get you started on treatment to be safe." My reaction?:eek: Some doctors will treat and some won't treat. What kind of care is that? Since I questioned the doctor he ordered the 4 hour test:( OUCH! My results came back with in the normal ranges that time and the doctor admitted I didn't need "treatment". This test is very unreliable and different doctors will do different things with the same results. I am not comfortable with that.

[VOW]

I'm going to agree with Christa.

And I'm also going to agree that sometimes the testing is slipshod. The only remedy to that is to be informed. With the sorry state of healthcare in the United States today, you must be a CONSUMER, and educate yourself on your body and its care.

If it has been suggested that you undergo the testing, find out what you have to do beforehand. Don't assume the doctor, or the office assistant doing the scheduling, or the clerk at the lab necessarily know the correct procedure. Ask questions, do the research.

If the lab results indicate a problem, do some research on Gestational Diabetes. Ask for a prescription for a glucose meter, lancets, and test strips. Find out what the target ranges should be for your blood glucose (BG) at various times of the day. Study--Ask--Learn.

Whether or not you are diagnosed with GD, if you are at risk, it's time to clean up your diet. Processed foods may be Vegan, but when it comes to diabetes, they're poison. Increase your fiber, do research on the Glycemic Index of foods, and don't overload yourself with protein, because your kidneys are already doing a lot of work. Exercise helps, yes, but it must be in conjunction with the right diet.

And lastly, if you are diagnosed with GD, or if you are told that your test results are "borderline," please be aware you will most likely develop Type 2 Diabetes later in life.

The good news is: a Vegan diet with exercise can postpone your need for prescription medication!


~VOW