Pregnancy Glucose Test Tips

6-letter Word

Written by: Robert My pregnant paleo-wife ran into the bathroom crying. The phone call from the doctor’s office informed her she failed the glucose-tolerance test, looks like gestational diabetes. Second test will confirm this. If she can’t control her blood sugar through dietary changes or insulin injections, baby will be so big she will need a C-Section. Scarring. Subsequent pregnancies all requiring C-Sections. More scarring. On the bright side, they said there’s a chance her gestational diabetes might not turn into type-II diabetes after she gives birth. . . I’m thinking of a 6-letter word that starts with ‘S’ and ends with ‘D’. I grab a dictionary. Second definition: ‘Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes’. I opt for uninformed (‘Not having, showing, or making use of information’) instead, and dial the doctor’s office. I explain what my wife eats, how there must be a mistake. “If she eats that well and still failed, then she probably has Type I diabetes that was undiagnosed before her pregnancy. We are learning how Type I can develop later in life now.” You have got to be S—–uninformed. I guess we should have seen this coming. After all, she only gets two hours of brisk walking in daily, could only do 100 full sit-ups and 30 pushups before her belly got too big. At a height of 5 feet, 126 pounds (26 weeks pregnant), the thinspo body-mass index rates her as grossly obese. And did I mention she was living on an organic farm when we met, eating vegetables straight from the field? That couldn’t have been good for her. All that sunshine and fresh air, yikes. Do we really know the side-effects of an over-dose of health? Maybe the fact she doesn’t have a cavity in her mouth should have tipped me off something just isn’ Continue reading >>

Describe Diabetes in ONE Word!

Pcos: Preparing For Your Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

If you have PCOS and you’re getting ready to have an oral glucose tolerance test, you may be wondering how to prepare for the test and what the results may mean. The test can help your health care provider figure out whether you have a high risk of developing diabetes and whether lifestyle changes and medications such as Metformin might be helpful in treating your PCOS. What is Glucose? Glucose is a type of sugar and the main source of energy used by your body. The glucose that your body uses for energy comes from many kinds of foods called carbohydrates, such as cereal, bread, rice, pasta, and other grains, not just sugary foods. Dairy products, fruits, and vegetables all contain carbohydrates as well. Your body uses the glucose it needs and then stores the rest as “glycogen” in your liver and muscles. What is an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)? An OGTT is a way to measure your body’s ability to use glucose. Your pancreas (a gland located behind the stomach) makes a hormone called insulin, which helps your body use the glucose in your blood. If your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or if your body is unable to use the insulin it makes, you may have a high blood glucose level. The OGTT involves fasting overnight and then having your blood checked early in the morning. You will then drink a special glucose drink and have your blood tested again after 2 hours. Sometimes blood sugar levels are also checked at other times such as 1 hour, 3 hours, or 4 hours after the glucose drink. What if my blood glucose level is high? If the OGTT shows that your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, your health care provider may tell you that you have “impaired glucose tolerance”. This often means that you are at risk for developing diabetes. Rarely, diabetes Continue reading >>

For The Pregnant Mom Who Failed Her Sugar Test… What You Really Want To Know

Recently, I got a text from a friend who is pregnant with twins. She said, “I just failed my sugar test and have to go back for the three-hour test… I’m sort of a sobbing mess about it right now, and I remember you saying you had gestational diabetes. Any words of advice?” It’s true. I actually had gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies, though I’ve never written about it here. I was, of course, happy to share a little bit of my experience with my friend, but – since reaching through the phone to give her a hug wasn’t really an option – I mostly tried to encourage her that this wasn’t the WORST thing ever. I could absolutely relate to her feelings of worry, guilt, and sadness over the first (and, in my case, second) failed tests; but, for me, gestational diabetes ended up almost being a blessing in disguise. I was lucky enough to be able to manage mine through dietary changes both times and, in the end, delivered perfectly healthy little 7 pound babies. Other than the inconvenience and stress of having to prick my finger to take my sugars five times a day and not being able to eat donuts, gestational diabetes really was just a good incentive to eat healthier and get more physical activity during my pregnancies. I figured there are probably other mamas-to-be out there in similar situations (waiting to take the 3-hour test or recently diagnosed with GD), who might also benefit from hearing about my experience. So, below is my story with a few “words of advice” sprinkled in. First though, and hopefully this goes without saying, but just in case: I’m not a medical expert. If you have (or might have) gestational diabetes, you need to work with your doctor to make the necessary changes in your diet (and, possibly, figure out medications) to Continue reading >>

When You Fail Your Glucose Test: Surviving Gestational Diabetes

THE GLUCOSE TEST. For many pregnant women, it’s simply a hoop through which to jump. For the rest of us – those who have failed this test – it marks a sad moment: the day we must give up our pregnancy rights to eating cold pizza at 2 a.m. When I failed my own glucose test, I actually cried real tears. What? No more bagels?! Perhaps that sounds dramatic; after all, some of you reading have lived with diabetes for much longer than a few months (and you have my complete respect for doing so). But even if gestational diabetes lasts only a short time, the diagnosis still marks a sudden life change during a time when you’re already facing a lot of change. Somehow, I did survive three hormonal months without pizza or bagels … and with only a few bites of cake! I also learned quite a bit about food and blood sugar control along the way. So, I want to help clear up a few common misconceptions about gestational diabetes and then provide some tips for those of you who are navigating (or helping a friend navigate) a similar diagnosis. When I told people I had gestational diabetes, their first response was usually, “but you work out!” True, I was probably in better shape while pregnant than I am now since having a kid has given me plenty of excuses to stay home from the gym. But while certain lifestyle habits can be risk factors for developing gestational diabetes, nothing makes you immune from becoming diabetic. That’s because gestational diabetes is triggered by pregnancy hormones which create insulin resistance. That resistance can be heightened if you are already genetically prone to insulin sensitivity. The good news is that gestational diabetes usually goes away as soon as the pregnancy hormones leave your body. Misconception #2: You should offer a woman with g Continue reading >>

How To Pass Glucose Tolerance Test Pregnancy?

As much as conceiving is a blessing, one has to undergo various challenging things over the 9 months of pregnancy. Personally, before conceiving I wasn’t aware that one has to undergo a glucose screening pregnancy test. Maybe it is, for this reason, I failed my first screening test and had to undergo the glucose tolerance test? So, what does it take to pass the glucose tolerance test? To begin with, 1 in 10 pregnant women will be diagnosed with gestation diabetes. Statistically speaking, the percentage is even lower with only 5-10% of the women being diagnosed with GD (gestation diabetes), which is a high blood sugar condition. Ironically, one out of two women will fail the glucose screening pregnancy test only to pass the tolerance test booked later. That’s about 50%? Why you should ensure you pass the glucose screening pregnancy test? Pregnant women have a lot to deal with. The hormonal changes, ever expanding belly, morning sickness and being stared at in public. Hello, let’s face it. Human beings have a tendency of staring at pregnant women in public. But, why shouldn’t they? I mean you are carrying the evidence of sex in public. You know how sex is a sensitive issue to most people? Moving forward, this article shall walk you through the whole process of the glucose screening pregnancy test and provide reasonable ways in which you can adopt and pass the tests. However, in the meantime let’s evaluate the various why it is necessary to pass the glucose test. The normal blood glucose level is 120md/dl. Anything above that would mean that you need further tolerance or be diagnosed with gestation diabetes. Being diagnosed with gestation diabetes will open you to unnecessary early induction, C-section and not mentioning the fact that you will have to be put on a Continue reading >>

Is The Glucose Test During Pregnancy Optional?

Doctors recommend having a glucose test for gestational diabetes, but it's not mandatory. Here's what you need to know to make an informed choice. It’s an appointment on the calendar most pregnant women dread: the glucose test (or oral glucose screening), usually scheduled around week 26 to week 28 of pregnancy. You’ve no doubt seen many Instagram or Facebook pics posted by women tasked with drinking the super-sweet, typically orange liquid to gauge their body’s ability to handle glucose. This test is one of the ways to screen for gestational diabetes, a temporary form of diabetes that occurs only in pregnancy and typically resolves after delivery. The mama-to-be drinks the juice, hangs out for an hour in the waiting room, and then has blood taken to measure her glucose levels. (Ask your doctor, midwife or blood lab if you should fast beforehand or not—it can vary by clinic.) Your care provider may also specify a time constraint, like drinking the whole bottle in three to five minutes. A reading higher than 7.7 millimoles/L on the gestational diabetes chart calls for further follow-up testing, often called the glucose tolerance test. A reading higher than 11.1 millimoles/L likely means a gestational diabetes diagnosis. When I was expecting my second baby, the nurse at my bloodwork clinic told me there are two kinds of women when it comes to the glucose test: chuggers and sippers. I was totally a chugger. I downed that syrupy drink in just a few mouthfuls, to get the test over with as soon as possible. But a couple of days later, the doctor’s office called me back. There had been an error at the lab. I had to do the test again. I chugged the second time, too, eager to get back to work. That time my results were borderline, just a hair above acceptable levels, a Continue reading >>

How To Prepare For The Gestational Diabetes Screening Test

1 Consider your risk factors before and immediately after you’re pregnant. There is no way to determine if a woman is going to get gestational diabetes before she is pregnant. But there are certain risk factors that may indicate a higher probability in some women. If you’re planning to get pregnant, or you are pregnant, review these risk factors and speak to your doctor about possible testing when the time is right.[2] Age. Women who are 25 years of age or older are at a higher risk or developing gestational diabetes. Medical history. You are also at a higher risk if you have a personal history of diabetes, PCOS, insulin resistance, or history of diabetes in your immediate family. In these cases, you should be screened for gestational diabetes at the beginning of your pregnancy. Previous pregnancies. Get screened for gestational diabetes at the beginning of your pregnancy if you have had gestational diabetes before or if you delivered a macrosomic (larger than average) baby, then you are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes. Weight. Obese women with a body mass index (pre-pregnancy) of 30 or higher are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and should be screened for gestational diabetes at the beginning of any pregnancy. Ethnicity. Black, Hispanic, Indigenous peoples, and Asians have a higher risk factor for gestational diabetes. 2 Monitor and record your symptoms. Throughout your pregnancy, record any medical symptoms you may experience, especially those your doctor has asked you to track. This information may be useful to your doctor in diagnosing gestational diabetes at a later date. Some symptoms (and other items) to keep track of include:[3] Excessive thirst and urination. Birth weights of previous children. Details on when you’ve Continue reading >>

3 Secret Ways To Pass The Glucose Test Your Doctor May Not Tell You About

One in 10 women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her pregnancy – that's a big percent of all moms by any means. But a whole lot more will get a positive result on their glucose tolerance tests – one in two, by some estimates. This test is important, as it's often the first sign that a mom has a condition that needs extra-special care and attention throughout the rest of her pregnancy. But why the huge discrepancy between the test result and number of women who actually have the condition? Often, women test positive simply because of what they ate in the hours before the test. This happened to me with my first baby (when I was actually diagnosed with borderline GD very late in the pregnancy). So, I did a lot of research before my test with Baby #2 and discovered the following "secret ways" to beat the sugar test with flying colors -- things your doctor may not tell you. The second time around all the tests came back completely normal, and I was complication-free. 1. Avoid high-sugar foods shortly before the test and cut back on simple, or refined, carbs. I was completely clueless when it came to all this my first time around. I didn't know that eating a moderately sugary cereal for breakfast the morning of the glucose screening test -- which involves downing a sugar-laden drink in a matter of minutes and then getting blood drawn an hour later -- could yield a positive result and force a poor pregnant mom to go back for a longer, more brutal 3-hour version (called the glucose tolerance test). But that's exactly what happened to me. I proceeded to take the 3-hour torturous test a week later. Luckily, it came back negative... that time. Little did I know that was only the beginning. 2. Chow down on healthy carbohydrates and make sure you eat a good bal Continue reading >>

All You Need To Know About The Glucose Tolerance Test

Most of the food people eat is turned directly into glucose when digested, and the body uses it as energy. The pancreas is responsible for making the hormone insulin which helps to get glucose into the cells of the body. Diabetes is a long-term disease that occurs due to the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the body being unable to use the insulin it produces effectively. The body is unable to process food properly to use for energy. Glucose builds up in the blood, which can lead to severe health problems. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and is also known as juvenile diabetes. With type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin. According to The American Diabetes Association, only 5 percent of people with diabetes have type 1. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In people with type 2 diabetes, their body does not use insulin properly, which is known as insulin resistance. The pancreas responds by making more insulin to cover the deficiency but is not able to keep blood glucose at normal levels. As glucose builds up in the blood, the body's cells do not receive the energy they need. Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Glucose tolerance test: Testing for diabetes A simple blood test can often detect diabetes. If the test produces borderline results, a glucose tolerance test may help with the final diagnosis. In a healthy person, glucose levels will rise after eating a meal and return to normal once the glucose is used or stored by the body. A glucose tolerance test can help to work out the difference between normal glucose levels and the levels seen in diabetes and prediabetes. The glucose tolerance test is used to measure t Continue reading >>

Gestational Diabetes Test: What To Expect

Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy, and it usually goes away once you’ve delivered your baby. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes have higher than normal blood sugar. This is because their bodies aren’t producing enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Gestational diabetes can happen at almost any time during pregnancy, but it typically occurs between 24 to 28 weeks. This is also when testing typically takes place. Getting tested for gestational diabetes is an important part of prenatal care. Doctors test all pregnant women at least once during pregnancy. Your doctor will consider your risk factors when determining when you should have this test and how often you should have it. Learn what to expect during this test and how to prepare. Many women who have gestational diabetes have no symptoms. If symptoms do appear, it’s possible you may overlook them because they’re similar to typical pregnancy symptoms. These symptoms may include: frequent urination extreme thirst fatigue snoring You should call your doctor if you’re experiencing these symptoms to a greater degree than is normal for you. The exact cause of gestational diabetes is unknown, but it may be due to hormones your placenta produces. These hormones help your baby grow, but they can also stop insulin from doing its job. If your body can’t make enough insulin, the sugar in your bloodstream stays put. The sugar is then unable to convert into energy in the cell. This is called insulin resistance. If it’s left untreated, gestational diabetes can have significant consequences for both you and your baby. Once your doctor knows you have this condition, they’ll work with you on a treatment plan to ensure your and your baby’s health. Any pregnant woman can g Continue reading >>

Glucose Tolerance Test (gtt)

What is a glucose tolerance test? A glucose tolerance test (GTT) diagnoses diabetes in pregnancy by checking how well your body regulates your blood sugar levels. Gestational diabetes, or GD, is a common pregnancy complication. It's thought to affect one pregnant woman in six. Although GD is common, testing for it is not routine. Your midwife will offer you the test only if she thinks there's a chance you could develop GD. Usually, you'll have the test when you’re between 24 weeks and 28 weeks pregnant. You could have the test earlier than this, usually at 16 weeks, depending on your medical history and where you live in the UK. For example, your midwife will offer the GTT sooner if you’ve had GD before. Why do I need a GTT? GD doesn’t often cause obvious symptoms, which is why testing is important. If GD isn’t recognised and treated it may put your health and your baby's health at risk. GD happens when your body fails to make enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that keeps your blood sugar levels stable. It also helps your body to store sugar for when you need it later. During pregnancy, your body has to produce extra insulin to meet your baby’s needs, especially when he's growing rapidly. If your body can't make enough insulin, you may end up with too much sugar in your blood, resulting in GD. Having too much sugar in your blood may mean that your baby grows large. This increases your chances of having an induced labour, and a caesarean birth. GD, especially if it's not controlled, even raises the risk of a baby being stillborn. That's why it's so important to follow the advice of your midwife or doctor if you're diagnosed with GD. Am I at risk of developing GD? You’re more likely to develop GD if: Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or above. You have previo Continue reading >>

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 >>

How To Survive Your Glucose Tolerance Tests

I’m back from the doctor’s office. And we’re pretty sure I have gestational diabetes. Here’s what happened when I had elevated results on the gestational diabetes screening, along with some tips for surviving the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. In other words: How do you drink that yucky sugar drink and not get sick in the waiting room? All pregnant women receive screening for gestational diabetes — usually between 24 and 28 weeks. The test is simple: Choke down a bottle of sugary solution. Wait an hour. Let the nurse draw your blood to test your sugar. Blood sugar levels above 130-140 are considered elevated. (Mine was 190, and I had to wait 2 days to get results back from the lab.) But you still can’t say you have gestational diabetes… yet. According to Babycenter, only 1/3 of women who test positive on the screening will also test positive on the next test. It’s the 3-hour screening that’s hard to swallow. Here’s what happened at my glucose tolerance test today: Fast from all food after midnight (i.e., starve). Drive 30 minutes past every fast food place imaginable. Let the nurse draw blood for a fasting blood sugar reading. Chug a bottle of 2x concentrated sugar solution… within 5 minutes. Sit out in the waiting room for 1 hour and try not to vomit. (Seriously, the nurses warned me: if you feel like you’re going to be sick, please come back into the inner office before setting off a chain reaction!) There are 3 more blood draws to look forward to! One after the first hour, one after the second hour, and one after the third hour. (Don’t worry, at least they alternated arms!) The sugar solution really doesn’t taste that awful. It’s drinking it on an empty stomach that feels so bad! I prefer the orange flavor over the tropical punch. It tas Continue reading >>

Gestational Diabetes Test: Take One

Update: since publishing this post, I have had two beautiful, healthy baby girls. I share my experience for anyone wondering what happens if they, too, fail their first gestational diabetes glucose screening. At my 28 week appointment during pregnancy #1, it was time for my gestational diabetes test. The test involves drinking a sugary drink with 50g of glucose, then having your blood drawn 1 hour later to check your blood sugar level. Guess what. I failed my gestational diabetes test. Let me tell you the whole story… I was given the glucose drink at my last appointment and told to drink it 45 minutes before my appointment. My doctor told me to eat normally prior to drinking the substance, but don’t have anything afterwards. I had heard from numerous sources (friends, blogs, online, etc) that eating before the 1-hour test usually results in a failed test. But my appointment wasn’t until 2pm, so not eating wasn’t an option for me, and I followed my doctor’s advice to eat normally. The night before the test, I met friends at Cantina 1511. I ate some chips, salsa and guacamole, along with a chopped salad. The morning of the test, I made myself a protein-heavy omelet of 1 egg, 2 egg whites and veggies, hoping I wouldn’t need to eat again before the appointment. I also couldn’t resist my morning cup of decaf and 1 Tbsp of Breve Cream (straight sugar… should I have resisted? Maybe?) I went for a light 20-minute stroll with Koda and decided not to to do a full workout because I hadn’t asked the doc about exercise. By 11:45am, I was starving. I knew I wouldn’t make it until 2:00, so I caved and, like the doctor said, ate normally. Spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, hummus and Annie’s dressing. I know the veggies made it carby, but again, the docto Continue reading >>

Don’t Eat The Cucumber And Other Helpful Tips For The Gestational Diabetes Tests

This is not my first rodeo. Three pregnancies in four years and you’d think I could walk through the pre-natal care routine backwards with my eyes closed, but no. No, I made some rookie mistakes last week and I want to share them so that a) you don’t do the same thing b) I remember for the next time, if there is one. Just writing the words “next time” right now makes me want to curl up in the fetal position and find a corner to rock in. But I digress. The one-hour gestational diabetes glucose test: It has a reputation that precedes it, and any formerly pregnant woman anywhere will strike up conversation about that blessed orange drink. First of all, the drink for this test is not as bad as lore makes it out to be. (Isn’t that true of so many things in pregnancy and birth? Hype does not equal reality.) I remember being pleasantly surprised during my first pregnancy to discover that it is carbonated and pretty much tastes like Orange Crush soda. Even for a non-pop drinker, I don’t think it is as much of a shock to the system as we preggos like to yack about. For those who don’t know, you drink the soda, wait for an hour, and then they draw a vile of blood and test your blood sugar level. If it is lower than 140, you pass. Higher, you fail. The one-hour test has no official dietary guidelines except eating nothing between the glucose drink and your blood draw. Most practices and online pregnancy forums will tell you to watch your sugar and carb intake the day of the test, and to stick to a lot of protein. My appointment for the one-hour test was Monday at 2:40 (rookie mistake number one). I had eggs for breakfast, a no-tortilla Chipotle burrito bowl for lunch, and cucumber slices for an afternoon snack before leaving for my midwife’s office (rookie mistake Continue reading >>