How To Pass Your Three-hour Glucose Test
So you “failed” your one-hour glucose test, and now you have to do the dreaded three-hour test? Yeah, me, too. I have had to do the three-hour test with two of my pregnancies, and it stinks! How to pass the test. Oh man, I have asked myself this so many times, but the truth is, there is no way to really make it so that you “pass,” unless you really don't have gestational diabetes. Sure, you will find tips around the Internet about what you could do that might help, but in all honesty, trying to do something to get a false “passing” reading on this test is dangerous to your health and the health of your little baby, too! It is important for the test results to be accurate so that if there really is a medical issue, your doctor will know what to do and can treat you properly and watch for the safety of both of you. What you should do. Do exactly what your doctor tells you to do before this test; some of them want you to load up on carbs for a few days before the test, others want you to avoid sugar, and almost all of them will want you to be fasting from midnight until the time of the test in order to make sure that your body is clear of everything. What to expect. At the very least, you should expect to get to your doctor's office with your tummy growling, only to be given another bottle of that yummy glucose syrup (seriously, it's sugar — can't they make it taste better?), which you will drink right after you have your first blood draw. You guzzle down the bottle of glucose and wait a whole hour without any food or drink, get another blood draw, and repeat that same process for three full hours. Some offices have a room for you to go into and sit. It is important that you not overexert yourself between blood draws because it can change the way that your bo Continue reading >>
Glucose Tolerance Testing
Most healthcare practitioners routinely recommend a glucose tolerance test (also called a GTT) between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to check for gestational diabetes, a high blood sugar condition that some women get during pregnancy. Between 2 and 5 percent of expectant mothers develop gestational diabetes, making it one of the mostcommon health problems during pregnancy. And because the condition rarely causes any symptoms, testing is the only way to find out whether you have it. Below are pretest instructions you will need to follow when having your glucose tested. You will be provided with a bottle of Glucola from our office which you must keep refrigerated before drinking. These instructions are also available for download on our Forms/Instructions page. GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST Keep your glucose drink (Glucola) very cold. Do not eat or drink after midnight. You may have water only. Drink the Glucola within two minutes. Drink the Glucola at 8 am, and then be at the office no later than 8:45 am. It is very important that you are on time. After you drink the Glucola, place nothing in your mouth (i.e. no gum, food, water, etc.) Arrive at the office at 8:45 am and we will draw your blood at 9 am. Bring a snack. After the blood draw you can eat if you would like. If you follow these directions you will decrease your chance of failing this test. Failure means doing a 3-hour glucose tolerance test during which we will have to draw your blood four (4) times as opposed to one. Please feel free to call the office any time with any questions. 3-HOUR GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST DIET INSTRUCTIONS If, by chance, it is necessary for you to undergo a 3-hour GTT, you will need to follow a specific diet beforehand. You will come into our office and we will draw a fasting blood sample. You w Continue reading >>
Pregnancy: What To Expect At The Three Hour Glucose Test
So, I’m pregnant and I got the dreaded call that I failed my one hour glucose screening and needed to go in for the three hour glucose test. This hasn’t happened with either of my other two pregnancies, so of course I hit up Dr. Google for a breakdown of how things would go. Here’s what happens… fasting, then four blood draws in three hours. Ouch. I’m not fearful of needles and have had my blood drawn plenty of times during this pregnancy, but my veins are small and often the phlebotomist has trouble either finding a vein or getting enough blood. To help keep my mind occupied, I chronicled how the experience went and what I learned… What to Expect at the Three Hour Glucose Test Thoughts on the way to the test: Instead of drinking straight up glucose concentrate, these tests would be much more pleasant if it were candy you were told to eat. Hour 1, eat a Snickers bar, hour 2 eat a package of peanut butter cups, hour 3 enjoy a bag of Skittles. There should be glucose test clinics that are day spas or nail salons. For a week I’ve been trying to find time for a pedicure. Since I’m literally just sitting here, it’d be nice to kill two birds with one stone. WiFi in the waiting room. I could be working instead of typing this post out on my phone. Hour 1: Blood draw was smooth. Easy peasy. Chug down a high concentrate glucose drink in 5 minutes. Fruit punch as opposed to orange this time. Baby moving around like crazy. He must have been hungry. 30 min in: Feeling nice and light headed. Oy. It’s going to be a long morning. 45 min in: There’s a guy in the waiting room yelling at CNN about a political story that’s on. Praying that he please, please does not come sit next to me. Debating putting my ear buds in. 10 min until next draw: Dizzy, thirsty and bore Continue reading >>
One Hour Glucose Test Instructions
Your one hour glucose test (also called “28 week labs”) can be done at any time of day. Drink all of the glucola beverage within a five minute period. Do not eat or drink other fluids after drinking the glucola. (A small amount of water is okay.) Arrive at the lab (with your lab) slip 40 minutes after you finished drinking your glucola to allow time for check in. Your blood needs to be drawn 1 hour after you have finished drinking the glucola. Bring a high-protein snack (such as crackers and cheese or peanut butter) to eat after your lab is drawn. Please note that although you may eat prior to drinking the glucola it is important not to have eaten sugary foods. This may alter your test results. We will have your test results available at your next scheduled office visit. If your results are abnormal, additional testing will be ordered and we will call you to schedule those tests. Continue reading >>
Blood Glucose Test
What is a blood glucose test? A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose, a type of simple sugar, is your body’s main source of energy. Your body converts the carbohydrates you eat into glucose. Glucose testing is primarily done to check for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood glucose level to rise. The amount of sugar in your blood is usually controlled by a hormone called insulin. However, if you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin produced doesn’t work properly. This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Increased levels of blood sugar can lead to severe organ damage if left untreated. In some cases, blood glucose testing may also be used to test for hypoglycemia. This condition occurs when the levels of glucose in your blood are too low. Watch a great review of the iHealth blood glucose meter » Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and teenagers whose bodies aren’t able to produce enough insulin. It’s a chronic, or long-term, condition that requires continuous treatment. Late-onset type 1 diabetes has been shown to affect people between the ages of 30 and 40. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in overweight and obese adults, but it can develop in younger people as well. This condition occurs when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or when the insulin you produce doesn’t work properly. The impact of type 2 diabetes may be reduced through weight loss and healthy eating. Gestational diabetes occurs if you develop diabetes while you’re pregnant. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you give birth. After receiving a diagnosis of diabetes, you may have to get blood glucose tests to determin Continue reading >>
- Home blood glucose test: How to test for diabetes at home
- Postprandial Blood Glucose Is a Stronger Predictor of Cardiovascular Events Than Fasting Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Particularly in Women: Lessons from the San Luigi Gonzaga Diabetes Study
- When Youre Afraid to Test: The Root of Diabetes Test Anxiety
Do I Need An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test?
Your blood sugar level can give your doctor important clues about your health, and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) shows how well your body handles sugar from foods. It can tell whether you are at risk for diabetes or if you already have it. A shorter version of an OGTT checks for diabetes during pregnancy. Normally when you eat, your blood sugar rises. Your pancreas, a long gland deep in the belly, releases a hormone called insulin. It helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy and storage. Then your blood sugar goes back down to normal. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body uses insulin poorly. Glucose builds up in your blood. This excess sugar can damage blood vessels around your body. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, nerve damage, eye disease, and kidney damage. You might need an oral glucose tolerance test if you: Have a close family member with diabetes Have high triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood) Have polycystic ovarian syndrome (which causes menstrual problems) Delivered a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds A shorter version of this test is done between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy to see whether you have gestational diabetes. It's called the oral glucose challenge test. To get an accurate result on the OGTT, eat about 150 grams of carbohydrates each day for 3 days before the test. Don't eat or drink anything except water after about 10 o’clock the night before. You don't need to do any special prep before the pregnancy glucose challenge test. You can eat in the morning. Just avoid foods with a lot of sugar, such as doughnuts or orange juice. You'll get the OGTT at your doctor's office, a clinic, hospital, or lab. Here’s what happens: A nurse or doctor will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm to test your s Continue reading >>
3 Hr Glucose Test Gd?
I know there are several posts out there about this already, but I'm a ftm and I'm super nervous. I did my 1 hr glucose test last week and just got a call this morning that my numbers were 151, which they said isn't THAT bad, but it's over the 140 range they'd like me to be at. So now I have to do the 3 hr test and of course, I start thinking worst case scenario and making myself freak out. I have always had low blood sugar - so much that if I didn't eat enough, I would pass out, or get dizzy and hot and sweaty... if I didn't get food in time I'd faint. I'd be fine once I ate something. So I know pregnancy makes everything different. It's just weird to me. I have had swollen ankles and feet the last 2 weeks... and my last blood pressure reading was a tad bit high. My doctor had me do the 24 hour urine test which came back normal. I started reading online that about 50% of women that have gestational diabetes end up developing regular diabetes within 5 - 10 years... that scared me! I know it's not even a for sure thing that I have GD yet, and still not even if the 3 hr test comes back high... but I'm super worried. Everything about this pregnancy has been totally fine so far. I had really bad morning sickness and nausea in the first tri, lost about 7 lbs, but now things have been great. So to hear I have anything abnormal makes me so worried! What are your experiences with this? Did you have similar numbers and fail the 3 hr? How did you calm your worries about your future, your baby, diabetes, etc.? I don't have any personal experience with GD, but I know that depending on IF you have it and how bad you have it, you can easily manage it with diet and if that doesn't work then you can take metformin every day...I know that doesn't sounds great but it sure beats taking a Continue reading >>
Instructions For 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Test
This test is done to evaluate how your body is processing sugar and to determine if you have developed Gestational Diabetes(Diabetes of Pregnancy). The test requires a total of 4 blood draws. The first is done fasting (after you have had nothing to eat or drink for at least 8-12 hours prior –except water) The you will be given a glucose liquid to drink that has a specific amount of sugar in it. Blood samples will be taken 1, 2, and 3 hours after you have completed this drink. In preparation for this test: You should eat your normal diet prior to the day of testing Do not eat, drink, smoke, or exercise for at least 8-12 hours before your first blood sample is taken. You may drink plain water but no other beverages. This test may take up to 4 hours to complete. Activity can interfere with the results so you will need to remain in the lab for the duration of the test. Consider bringing something to read or a project to work on while waiting. You may drink water so feel free to bring your own cup or water bottle. Once the test is completed, you may resume normal eating and drinking. You may be hungry once the test is finished so you may want to bring along a light snack to eat before leaving or driving home. Gestational Diabetes is typically diagnosed when two or more of the results are elevated. Your doctor may also use other criteria to make the diagnosis. Continue reading >>
Glucose Tolerance Tests
It seems as though every pregnant woman experiences nervousness prior to going through the dreaded glucose tolerance test between 24-28 weeks. It’s got a bad reputation among the mother community and now I completely understand why. When I was pregnant with my first child, I was terribly scared, but passed the 1 hour test with flying colors. Easy peasy. Fast forward to this pregnancy and it all changed. I failed the 1 hour. So, how does the 1 hour glucose tolerance test work, you ask? You fast from midnight the night before the test. Some practices will allow you to drink water during this fasting period, others won’t. Go to the doctor/hospital and drink a non-carbonated, artificially flavored/dyed beverage that contains 50 grams of glucose within 5 minutes. Then, you wait for 1 hour at the doctor’s office (bring a book!). They then draw your blood to test the blood sugar level. You usually get your results in the next 1-3 days. Results and what they mean: If you get higher than a 135 mg/dL then you have to come back another day and take the 3 hour glucose test. During this pregnancy with baby #2, I got a 151 mg/dL after the 1 hour glucose test. Three days later, I’m in for the 3 hour glucose test. How does the 3 hour glucose tolerance test work? You fast from midnight the night before the test. Some practices will allow you to drink water during this fasting period, others won’t. I opted to not drink any water, for minimal affect on my test. Go to the doctor/hospital and have your finger pricked to insure your fasting blood sugar level is between 70-105 mg/dL. (Mine was 77 mg/dL, enabling me to proceed with the test.) If so, they draw your blood for initial fasting levels. Then you drink a non-carbonated, artificially flavored/dyed beverage that contains 100 Continue reading >>
Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests
The purpose of the oral glucose tolerance test is to measure the body's ability to use a type of sugar, called glucose. Glucose is the body's main source of energy. An OGTT can be used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. An OGTT is most commonly done to check for diabetes that occurs with pregnancy, called gestational diabetes. How To Prepare - 1 hour test Eat a meal low in carbohydrates before this test. Example of foods to eat for breakfast would be eggs, cheese, bacon and or sausage. Avoid breads, cereals and fruit juices. Example of foods for lunch would be lettuce/salad with any kind of meat. Green beans, broccoli and any leafy vegetable. Avoid fried foods, no bread, soft drinks with sugar or sweet tea. 1 1/2 - 2 hours after eating, drink the entire 59 gram glucola drink. Be at the office 30 minutes after finishing the cola. This is to insure that you are at the clinic on time for your blood work which will be drawn 1 hour after drinking the cola. When you check in at the fron desk, be sure and tell the receptionist what time you finished drinking the cola. How to Prepare - 3 hour test If your doctor would like to see additional testing, based on your results from the 1 hour test, you may be asked to have a 3 hour OGTT. It is important to follow all of the instructions very carefully, as it will affect the results of the test. When you arrive at the office a sample or baseline glucose test will be run and used for comparing other glucose values. You will be asked to drink a sweet liquid containing a measured amount of glucose, it is best to drink it quickly. Then blood samples will be collected at timed intervals of 1,2, and 3 hours after you drink the glucose. Here is the best method of preparation: Eat a balanced diet that contains at least 150 grams of carbohy Continue reading >>
3 Hour Glucose Test - No Water At All!
Subject: 3 hour glucose test - no water at all! I have my 3 hour test Friday, and my doctor's office just said I have to fast from 9pm the night before with no water (or anything else of course) until after the test at the lab is complete. No water for like 15 hours! I think I'm going to die. And I dont know how they're going to get 4 blood draws from me either with no water. They dont require a urine test too, do they? Just venting...though it does sound weird because based on a search on this forum, other women got to drink water at least before the test started. I have my 3 hour test Friday, and my doctor's office just said I have to fast from 9pm the night before with no water (or anything else of course) until after the test at the lab is complete. No water for like 15 hours! I think I'm going to die. And I dont know how they're going to get 4 blood draws from me either with no water. They dont require a urine test too, do they? Just venting...though it does sound weird because based on a search on this forum, other women got to drink water at least before the test started. I know of no one who has not survived this test. Bring a candy bar with you so you can eat it as soon as you are finished because you may have a headache, as well as feeling grouchy. Eat the candy to boost your blood sugar and then go to a restaurant and have a lot of protein. Subject: Re:3 hour glucose test - no water at all! You could call the lab? They told me I could drink water. And I did. I drank lots actually. You could call the lab? They told me I could drink water. And I did. I drank lots actually. Me too. There is no way they could have done the blood draws on me if I hadn't had water for 15 hours! Subject: 3 hour glucose test - no water at all! I was told to keep hydrated before the Continue reading >>
Glucola Pregnancy Glucose Test: What I Do
In my post about the pregnancy and prenatal care options I chose, I mention that I don’t take the pregnancy glucose test that requires drinking glucola (that syrupy orange or grape drink) and that I use an alternate method of testing. I’ve gotten so many questions about this that I decided it deserved its own post, especially while I am still pregnant and the topic is fresh on my mind. IMPORTANT: Please note that I am only writing about my own personal experience with this and the decisions I made after consulting with my OB or midwife (depending on which pregnancy it was). The information in this post (or any post I write) is not medical advice in any way… I’m just sharing my experience. Always consult with your own medical providers before making health decisions, especially during pregnancy, and make sure that you find providers who are willing to work with you to make the best decision for your pregnancy. All that being said, here’s what I do when it comes to the pregnancy glucose test. What is the Pregnancy Glucose Test? This was one of the sections I found in all of the many pregnancy books I read when pregnant with my first child. Current guidelines call for a glucose challenge test somewhere between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy to test for gestational diabetes. This test typically involves drinking a sweetened drink called Glucola that contains 50, 75, or 100 grams of sugar in different forms. In most cases, the first part of this test is an Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) that involves drinking the 50 gram solution and having a blood test exactly one hour later to measure blood sugar. If a woman passes this test, she typically won’t be given further testing for gestational diabetes. If a woman does not pass the test, a longer test involving a higher Continue reading >>
My 3 Hour Glucose Test Disaster
If you’re here, you likely searched for something like: failed glucose test failed 3-hour glucose test what happens when you fail your glucose test what to expect at my glucose screenings sugar shock glucose test throwing up after glucose test And so I say: welcome! (Although I hope that what happened to me doesn’t happen to you!) Since I originally shared this experience, I have gone on to have two healthy, beautiful baby girls (read their birth stories here and here). Despite the dramatic moments I had at the glucose test, please be assured that it’s very uncommon and I recovered after a little rest and relaxation! A quick update on my story. During my first pregnancy, I failed my 1-hour glucose test, which meant I was ordered to undergo a second and more extended test. These glucose screenings are designed to diagnose high blood sugar during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). The first test involves drinking a liquid that contains glucose and after an hour, having your blood drawn to test the sugars. If you fail the first test, you have to do a tolerance test, which involves fasting and then another round of glucose screening with multiple blood draws. So, that brings us back to my experience! I showed up to my 3-hour test armed with my laptop and free wifi to pass the time, so I wasn’t too worried. I fasted and showed up at 8:15am. At 8:30am I was taken back and had my fasting blood sugar level drawn. I was handed the glucola, which was twice as sweet as the previous one, meaning it had 100g of sugar in it. Again, it didn’t taste bad, just syrup-y sweet. This time, I had 10 minutes to drink it and I chatted with the nurse while I sipped away. She told me some interesting facts: How you eat doesn’t necessarily affect your outcome. She has had large women c Continue reading >>
Glucose Screening Tests During Pregnancy
Definition A glucose screening test is a routine test during pregnancy that checks a pregnant woman's blood glucose (sugar) level. Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (diabetes) that starts or is found during pregnancy. Alternative Names Oral glucose tolerance test - pregnancy; OGTT - pregnancy; Glucose challenge test - pregnancy; Gestational diabetes - glucose screening How the Test is Performed TWO-STEP TESTING During the first step, you will have a glucose screening test: You DO NOT need to prepare or change your diet in any way. You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose. Your blood will be drawn 1 hour after you drink the glucose solution to check your blood glucose level. If your blood glucose from the first step is too high, you will need to come back for a 3-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test: DO NOT eat or drink anything (other than sips of water) for 8 to 14 hours before your test. (You also cannot eat during the test.) You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose, 100 grams (g) . You will have blood drawn before you drink the liquid, and again 3 more times every 60 minutes after you drink it. Each time, your blood glucose level will be checked. Allow at least 3 hours for this test. ONE-STEP TESTING You need to go to the lab one time for a 2-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test: DO NOT eat or drink anything (other than sips of water) for 8 to 14 hours before your test. (You also cannot eat during the test.) You will be asked to drink a liquid that contains glucose (75 g). You will have blood drawn before you drink the liquid, and again 2 more times every 60 minutes after you drink it. Each time, your blood glucose level will be checked. Allow at least 2 hours for this test. How to Prepare for the Test For either t Continue reading >>
1 Hour Glucose Test
The lab tech did a GREAT job on my blood draw! Im not a fan of needles or puncturing my veins, but I swear I didnt feel it. Shes been a nurse for 40 years, so she just smiled. Some recommendations for your 1 hour glucose test: 1. Bring a bottle of water to drink during the test. 2. Bring some food to eat immediately after the second blood draw. 3. Bring something to entertain yourself for an hour. I read a magazine but I would much rather have been on my Nintendo DS or on my laptop. I got my test done at 26 weeks. My doc does everyones test at 26 weeks. Still havent got the results yet, Ill let yall know! Helpful (0) @mightySapphire I brought unsweetened tea with me and they wouldnt let me drink it or anything else until after the test. I was sooo thirsty too because of the sweetness of the drink. I didnt think the drink tasted bad I just really wanted to wash the sweetness down! I forgot I was taking the test the day that I had to. They had told me not to have anything sweet before I came in. I ate toast with jelley followed by candy and some fruit juice before the test. whoops! I thought for sure I would fail it because of all of the sugar I had downed, but it was good. Helpful (0) @rnc620: Every lab has different rules. Some require a 12 hour fast before the test, some dont. Some let you drink water, some dont. (Which is silly since youd have to consume A LOT of water to effect the test.) My lab didnt require fasting for the 1 hour test, but since I already was, they got me in early (bonus!). Eating beforehand affects your baseline blood draw, and your subsequent draws. But if they see anything unusual in your results, theyll have you take the three hour test. Helpful (0) Continue reading >>
