Tests during pregnancy - Blood-Glucose- Pregnancy forum

Blood Glucose
The majority of women will be checked for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. At the beginning of the glucose screening test, the mother is asked to consume a drink containing a known amount of glucose. An hour later, a blood specimen is collected. If the level of glucose is acceptable, then it is unlikely that she has gestational diabetes. If the level is moderately elevated, a longer, more conclusive glucose tolerance test (GTT) may be discussed. If the level is significantly elevated, the results are considered conclusive for gestational diabetes and a GTT may not be recommended.

About four percent of women with no prior history of diabetes will develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. Although it can occur at any time, most cases will develop during the later part of a woman`s pregnancy. If increased blood sugar levels in the mother are not controlled, they can cause the baby to increase in size and weight. They can also cause the baby to be born with very low glucose levels and to have breathing difficulties. Diet control and/or insulin injections throughout the rest of the pregnancy may be required to bring glucose levels down to normal levels. In most cases, gestational diabetes will go away after delivery, but women who have gestational diabetes will be at an increased risk of having it again with subsequent children and of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

The health professional taking a sample of your blood will:

Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
Clean the needle site with alcohol.
Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
Apply a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
Apply pressure to the site and then a bandage.

Comments: Tests during pregnancy - Blood-Glucose

Comments 1 to 24 of about 114.
1 2 3 4 5 Next

earthmomma - 6 hours ago.
i missed my first appointment too. call them first thing monday, bc they will want to get u in as soon as they can. for some reason they really want u to have the tests in week 28.

kayleejane - 11 hours ago.
I walked all the way to the hospital today after being told to go late afternoon for my blood tests and when i got there at 5pm there was a note on the door saying they close at 4.15pm on a friday!! Im in week 28 do u think im ok to go have the tests done on monday or is it too late??

latasha480 - 9 days ago.
Hello everyone I'm from week 22 and I have my glucose screening (or whatever that is) in September. Can someone tell me what I can do to study for it so that I don't fail!? LOL! Are there certain things I should/shouldn't eat or drink and how long in advance do the sweets have to be out of my system so that the test won't catch it!? :)

my2beautifulgirls - 16 days ago.
Hey ladies, i have had two previous pregnancys and passed the 1 hour glucose test with flyig colours. I still had big babies, 9lb10 54 cm lon and 8lb13 and 54cm long. With this pregnancy i passed my 1 hour test with flying colours again, but when i saw my midwife she told me that i had to do the 2 hour test because my baby is measuring big. 2 weeks ahead by 30 week scan. I'm confused. Have any of you experienced this?

michiganmama - 37 days ago.
DONT EAT BEFORE THE TEST! lol i ate KFC and had to take the 3 hour test! all because no one told me not to eat! hope that helps ladies!

MJ1210 - 45 days ago.
Hi, I failed the one hour glucose test so now I have to go for a 2 hour test (I guess they don't do 3 hour anymore here). Do any of you currently take metformin and if so, did you take it the morning of the test? I am trying to figure out if I should take it or not. I am supposed to fast for 12 hours so wondered if I should take it at about 10 hours of fasting and then go for the glucose test. Will the metformin have a signfiicant impact on the results of my test? Thanks!

priceymommy - 64 days ago.
went to the doctor a couple of days ago for my glucose test... the results came back high!!!! my doctor called me and told me that i would have to come back in and do a 4 hr test!!!! YUCK!!!! i barely made it thru the first one!!!! It kinda has me spooked because diabetes does run in my family..... my grandfather got his leg cut off from it and my great uncle died from it.... so i am just hoping and praying that everything works out ok....i wonder can it hurt jayden??? i asked my mom and she said no... all my sisters said no too... so i am gonna stay as calm as possible until i do the other test and get my results.

jennie4694 - 69 days ago.
Weav623, I did the same thing. I had to take the glucose drink, go for an internal outrasound for my cerclage, and wait for the bllod work. I was so hungry I ate a candy bar. So stupid I know. Go the results and my level was 141. Told my ob what i did. she said even eating a candy bar wouldnt make my glucose level go uptp 130, never miond 141. so next saturday i have to go to the hospital and do it all over but wait the 3 hours. my ob told me i have to fast. looks like we're in similar boats jennie

Tori(a.k.a. Tinkerbell) - 91 days ago.
yay i passed..i don't have GD.good luck to all you ladies who do

weav623 - 98 days ago.
SO i went for my glucose test and didn't know that I should only eat protein before I tested. Since I could eat up to 10:30 am, I had to take something that i could eat during class (I am a teacher). I took 2 PB and J's and some pretzels. Now I got my results back and where my glucose should be 130-139 it was 151! Now I have to go to the doctors tomorrow and do the 3-4 hour test! i wish someone would have told me before hand. I actually didn't know that I was supposed to fast until reading the fine print at the bottom of the paper, then my Sister-in-law told me about only eating protein (but this of course was AFTER I took the test). I am kinda worried now. I thought that I was healthy, my blood pressure is 120/70 and I haven't gained much---like 5 pounds maybe. I just don't want something to be wrong!

texasrose - 105 days ago.
Well i just failed my glucose test today.........:( I did the one hour one and normal is 140 and mine was 159. Doc said it's barely over, but it is. I am scheduled for the 3 hr. test in two weeks.......hopefully i'll pass.

Mercer - 135 days ago.
I get mine at my next visit on may 7th. I remember doing it with my son so it's not such a big deal. Plus I'm kind of used to having my blood drawn. I know it's a standard procedure. While I'm sure you could opt not to, I think it in the best interest of your baby to have it done. LIke Kim said, it can be very dangerous to have untreated GD that you are unaware of. Just chalk it up as another slightly unpleasant thing we have to go through for our little miracles : )

mama40 - 135 days ago.
mommyrock, my doctor wouldn't give me an options, said this test is standard procedure in the US and I have to have it. They draw a ot of blood from me - don't know why they needed so much. But otherwise it is not so bad to be afraid of it or try to get into fight with your doctor about it.

KIMIKIMIKIM - 135 days ago.
mommyrock-you don't ever have to take any tests but I would think if you have GD and you are unaware of it, it could endanger your unborn childs life and yours as well. Is there any where else you can get your blood drawn somewhere else?

mommyrock - 135 days ago.
Does anyone know if you HAVE to take this test? I know it sounds dumb and I still have a while before I get it but with my daughter I had to go to LabCorp and do it and it was the worst experience. They had to take all three samples from the SAME arm and it wasn't a cup of the orange stuff but a nice sized bottle. I have to go back to LabCorp although a different office again and the thought of going through that again is terrifying!

thencamebaby - 144 days ago.
I failed the one hour glucose test, but passed the three hour. Is this common?I am very happy/relieved that I passed the three hour, but I am still a little nervous, I don't understand why I failed the one hour.

angelbabies14 - 148 days ago.
Help me ladies...I don't know what this means and I don't know when my doc will have results this is my story from yesterdays glucose test... Since no one could decide whether or not I should fast I had eggs for breakfast, (was trying to stay away from any sugar like some of you had mentioned) I went in and had to sit and wait..I was like just give me the drink already!! so they finally called me in to drink it...it wasn't too bad as far as taste gulped it down and sat, well about 30mins later I felt really lightheaded and dizzy, I couldn't stop shaking my leg, I felt like my whole body was vibrating, now I don't eat sugar normally just get whats natural from fruit or normal carbs and this was just too much for my system to handle..I hope this doesn't mean I have GD... I just sat breathing deep and trying to focus my eyes I was miserable...finally the hour past and they drew blood and sent me on my way... I felt like my feet weren't hitting the ground on the way to my car, that stuff really screwed me up... I continued about my day and started getting a massive headache a few hours later (coming down off sugar is bad news) by the time I got home it was a full blown migrane and I was useless...I went to bed at 8:00pm and got up at 2:00am still with a headache all my muscles were contracted and everything was hurting...oh my goodness I didnt realize how bad that drink was for me...i hope i never have to go thru that again.

mrssection8 - 157 days ago.
My doctor told me to not have breakfast until after the test (my test is at 10 am tomorrow). I'm just planning on drinking water so I can give a urine sample for the regular appointment afterwards.

MOMMY2008 - 161 days ago.
SO MY DOCTOR SAID I'M NOT SUPPOSE TO FAST WITH THE 1 HOUR AND THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WORK AND GET MY LABS DRAWN TOLD ME I HAVE TO FAST....IM CONFUSED. HOW DID U ALL DID YOUR 1 HR GTT?

ariel1 - 162 days ago.
the drink for the 3 hour test is the same amount but it has twice the amount of sugar!

junglebaby - 163 days ago.
when u go back to take the 3 hour test are u drinking the same amount or more of that syrup lol

shirls - 163 days ago.
During my first pregnancy I took the one hour test and had high levels. So then I had to take the 3 hour test, but those results came back normal. Then during this pregnancy, I took the 1 hour test, and my levels came back fine. Just because one test come back high doesn't mean the follow up one will as well. :)

heathersprk - 163 days ago.
Has anyone ever failed the one hour test and been offered an alternative to the 3 hour test by their Dr?

junglebaby - 164 days ago.
my dr had me fast for the 1 hour testing i fasted for 12 hours

caitie - 164 days ago.
ariel the same thing happened to me except i ate a bowl of cereal (i couldnt have found anything else that had more sugar in it i dont think) and i dont know what my test came out to be but i actually got a call from my doctor telling me i had to go back and do the three hour one. I just finished that today and by the time i got home i was so faint feeling all i had the energy to do was eat something and take a nap. Cause i dont know if they told you but you have to fast for the 3-hour and sometimes i can take longer then three hours. The only reason mine was 3 hours is cause i got an intern and he messed up lol. he was suppose to wait and make sure the initial blood test was normal but he didnt, if he had i wouldnt have even started my test until an hour and a half later.