If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you know that Tuesday was my 28 week appointment, meaning it was time for my gestational diabetes test. The test involves drinking a sugary drink with 50 g of glucose, then having your blood drawn 1 hour later to check your blood sugar level.
Guess what. I failed.
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. HOWEVER, 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 as option for me, so I followed my doctor’s advice to eat normally.
The night before the test, I met friends at Cantina 1511. I ate come chips, salsa and guacamole, along with this chopped salad.
Then 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 doctor had told me to EAT NORMALLY.
At 1:15, I pulled out my glucose.
I had to drink it within 5 minutes. Down it went!
Finishing it within 5 minutes was easy. Any University of Georgia grad could have done it 
And it didn’t taste too bad- like super sweet kool-aid.
About 10 minutes after I drank it, I felt a little nauseas. I’m not used to putting straight sugar into my body, I guess. 20 minutes after I drank it, Baby D went nuts in my belly. Guess baby isn’t used to straight sugar, either.
I arrived at my appointment and they drew my blood right around 2:15. I was told I’d get my results back the following day.
Well, yesterday I called, anxious to hear the results. The nurse called me back and told me the news. I failed.
They want your number to be below 140. Mine was 143.
This means I am sitting in the office this morning for a 3 hour long test. I was told to fast for this test and I’m sure it will be hell. I can’t NOT eat. It makes me sick. but here goes nothing…
Questions…
Am I surprised I failed?
Yes and no. Anyone I talked to said if you eat anything besides eggs, you’ll fail. Check. Also, I know I have slight issues with blood sugar (self-diagnosed), which is why I eat every few hours. If I don’t, I get shaky, feel slightly sick and can get mean. I eat often enough though that it is never an issue for me.
Do I wish I wouldn’t have eaten?
Kind of. Part of me wishes I would have just had eggs and toughed it out so I wouldn’t have to sit through 3 hours of starvation at the hospital, but on the other hand, I don’t want to try and ‘trick’ a test that is put in place for the sake of my and Baby D’s health. If I have GD, I don’t want to dupe the test and put our health at risk.
Am I nervous that I’ll fail the 3 hour test, too?
Not really. At first I was, but now, I really am more curious to see what my blood sugar levels are. When I get the results, I’ll deal with them then.
If you’ve been pregnant, what was your experience with the glucose test?
Pass or fail?
If you’ve never been pregnant, practice taking shots. It works wonders for downing the glucola
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
I have my test next week and it sounds very similar to yours in that they told me to eat normally, now I’m nervous!!
Aww. sorry you have to take the extra long test, today Brittany.
I think it is too hard to have people not eat before tests.. especially people who eat every couple of hours (like you.. and me).
Hoping everything checks out for you today!
Sorry to hear you didn’t pass, especially by only 3. You’ll probably pass this morning with flying colors though! I got a headache shortly after I took mine…too much sugar for me and Garrett went nuts as well. My recommendation with the test for any Mom’s- to-be who have it coming…try to schedule your appointment for the morning if possible. That way you can at least eat eggs before you go and not have to worry as much about fasting. I have my follow up appointment with my blood pressure and urine check this morning. We also have an ultrasound
. Fingers crossed for good news! I am so ready to meet our little guy!! Let me know how everything goes!
Oh no, Brittany! I’m so, so sorry! You’re so healthy so I’m shocked you failed. What I’m more surprised by though is that they allow you to have late appointments and eat beforehand. I have hypoglycemia and have had many 5 hour glucose tests in my life. But they’re always first thing in the morning and fasting b/c that’s most accurate. I’m so sorry you have to go through this again. Fingers crossed for better results this time!
You will be fine! I failed my first at a 177 (like you I was just hungry all day). When I had my last appointment I asked what my numbers were and I had one outlier – because it was SO LOW (66)! Hopefully there’s somewhere near by the hospital where you can get something to eat ASAP after your test. It is seriously frustrating though. My doctor told me that the 1 hour test is designed to catch more people than actually have GD rather than miss people. Guess I can’t get too mad about that. Thinking about you!
oh i am destined to fail. I have blood sugar issues and tend to act just like you…I wish you the absolute best today
I hope everything works out for you today!
Ah, sorry to hear that. Good luck on the next one, i hate those tests and specifically FASTING, just sucks. At least you have a good attitude about it
bahahaha loved your last line
hope the next test goes better!
Boo to not passing the first test
Hopefully this one will be different – the idea of that sugary drink makes me cringe, lol that it made baby gymnastics though
Aw, you were so close! You’ll be fine my dear! And this part had me laughing, “Any University of Georgia grad could have done it.” HA!
This experience is fresh in my mind as I took my 1 hour test last week. I was sure I would fail, but I passed. I’m not sure the exact numbers I didn’t ask. My test, like yours, was at 3:45 in the afternoon. I ate oatmeal for breakfast with a TBSP of PB, a snack of celery, carrots and a piece of cheese and then tuna salad on an Arnold sandwich thin for lunch. I was advised by my doctor to fast 2 hours before the test. So after lunch I didn’t eat until after the test. Good luck on your test today! I’m sure you will pass as your numbers were so close before.
I was very apprehensive about the glucose test. My dad is diabetic, and I thought I might be more likely to have gestational diabetes. I passed, though. And I thought the stuff for the test was nasty! I agree that you shouldn’t dupe the test. It’s better to know if you need to make adjustments for the rest of your pregnancy. That being said, I hope you do pass this time and that you don’t suffer from the fast. Good luck!
Yikes I am NOT looking forward to that test. Though you make it sound much more tolerable- I’ve heard the stuff you have to drink is terrible!
I am the same way- my blood sugar gets really low and I get cranky if I don’t eat every few hours. Good luck with the three hour test!
That sucks you have to wait 3 more hours. Good luck and I hope you don’t starve!!
Good luck, Brittany! I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Granted, you do everything right as far as eating habits, workouts, and taking care of yourself and the baby, so remember that!
GD is just one of those illnesses that some get and some don’t, pregnancy does so much to a womans body it should be no surprise that it would include changes to our bodies insulin production. On my first child I failed the 1 hr and passed the 3 hr, 6 yrs later on my second child I failed both and had GD but with the help of my nutritionist, was able to manage without shots and kept to a restricted but manageable diet, and she was perfect and healthy! We will do anything for our kids, starting now☺
I had my glucose tolerance test at my 24 week appt and it went well. I don’t know what my number was, just that I passed (could have been 139 for all I know.) But I was told just to eat a normal breakfast (drank the stuff at 9:15, test was at 10:15) so I had an egg, avocado and cheese sandwich and water. I was told no juice, pop or candy bars which (DUH) is obvious, esp at 9am.
I’m sure you’ll pass this one with flying colors, three points above isn’t huge but I’m sure they just want to play it safe for you and your little one.
Hang in there!
Yay for UGA grads! Go DAWGS!
I am so sorry you have to take the three-hour test!
I took mine at 23 weeks and I was told NOT to eat. I did take mine in the morning so I just had to be up for a few hours before drinking the kool-aid. The last thing I ate before my test was probably 12 hours before. From my friends, those who had to take the 3-hour test were all GD negative.
Hang in there and don’t worry!
Aww thats frustrating
I’m sorry you “failed” (ha, that sounds kind of funny when you say it that way) but hopefully next time it’s fine!!
Boo! I’m so sorry you have to do the fasting test. I’m not looking forward to the first GD test- I hate the sugar rush feeling. It usually sends me to eating as much fat and protein as I “need” to until things have leveled off. It’s not a pretty sight! I’ll be thinking of you for the next one- I would bet that you’re going to pass!
For both of my glucose tests I was told to fast and they told me to go to the lab first thing in the morning so I wouldn’t have to fast for that long. Waiting until 2pm is crazy to wait to eat, pregnant. I am sure it has everything to do with you eating before the test, I am sure you are fine but that sucks you have to go through the three hour test!
Bummer! Sorry to hear that!!
I know everyone’s pregnancy is different, but you are the first person I have ever heard that didn’t take the glucose test in the morning. The few pregnant women I know, myself included, fasted from midnight, went to the doctor first thing in the morning (8 am) did a blood draw, drank the drink, saw my doctor, than an hour later did another blood draw (not a finger prick). Then I stuffed my face with an egg and cheese sandwich I brought with me.
I am sorry you have to do the 3 hour test, I can’t even imagine. Good luck, I will be sending positive vibes your way!
Awww…Brittany. I also did the 3 hour test. I hated the repeated blood draws and was bored out of my mind during the 3 hours. Remember to bring a novel or your DVD player! You will do fine!
Forgive my ignorance, but is it standard practice to test every pregnant woman for diabetes? Or is it only if you have some symptoms? It sounds very common from what you’ve said here, but some of my friends who’ve gone the natural/midwife route never mentioned it.
Yup- every pregnant lady takes the 1 hour test (usually between 24-28 weeks). Doctors have different cutoffs (130, 135, 140 or 145 depending on their preference- REAL scientific, right?). If you fail, you come in for the 3 hour test, though statistics show 75% of women who fail the one hour will pass the three hour.
It’s amazing to me that after only learning about gestational diabetes last year, I’ve already known two moms-to-be who have had it. I hope everything comes back perfectly okay.
And I totally believe you about UGA grads. I went there once for your homecoming and it was cer-razy. That’s all I’m saying about that.
{ 1 trackback }