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glucose gestational diabetes

Read and learn more about glucose gestational diabetes. For more, visit the Diabetes website DiabetesFAQ.org

Q: 3 hour glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes?
I flunked my first glucose test and have to take the 3 hour one. I was hypoglycemic before pregnancy, and I know that has to affect the results, because I can’t eat anything for 12 hours before the test, then drinking the sugary drink will cause my blood sugar to skyrocket. Does that mean I have gestational diabetes? I know hypoglycemia is low blood sugar and diabetes is high. How do they tell the difference in the test? I’ve tried researching it and can’t find anything online.

A: They will draw your blood every hour to see how the levels go. Hypoglycemia is actually considered to be ” prediabetic” . It’s all a sign that your body is having a hard time knowing how and when to use the sugar you are giving it. A person who does not have gestational diabetes numbers will remain with in normal limits even after the drink. Someone who has diabetes numbers will not be with in normal limits. Plus, they will also draw your blood initially to see what it is fasting.

Good luck!

Q: Have you ever had a FOUR hour gestational diabetes glucose test?
I have heard about the 3 hour one, but never the FOUR hour one.
Ashley… Not what I asked..I am aware what the protocol is with the one hour test, but I have NEVER heard of the “Four” hour test that they were trying to pass off on me.

A: I did some searching online for a 4 hour test, and all I can seem to find is that people would end up there for about 4 hours though it’s actually a 3 hour test. Good luck with it. Make sure to NOT eat a thing for 12 hours beforehand or the test will give you a false positive.

Q: Glucose Gestational Diabetes Test- what is it?
I just read a post that asked about getting sick from it, and I have one coming up but it hasn’t been explained to me yet, what is the test? (I know it screends for GD) But what is the procedure for the test? Thank you :)

A: You fast (no food or drink except plain water) and then you gulp down a very sugary drink that your doc or tech gives you.

Then they test your blood in one hour.

If you fail, you go back for the three hour test where you fast, drink the drink with an even higher sugar content, and they test your blood for three hours.

I failed both and have gestational diabetes. It’s no fun but there are worse things that could happen.

GL with your test.

Q: Is it a bad thing to have lower glucose levels in gestational diabetes?
I am 7months pregnant and have gestational diabetes. I have to check my blood sugar 4 times a day. Sometimes my numbers are lower than the guidelines. Is this bad or ok because it is lower than being too high?

A: You really need to seek professional help on this. You have a baby to consider. Unless someone answers you as a doctor or other health professional…..even then that doesn’t sound good. They do not have your complete medical record to know the whole picture. Make an appointment!

Q: what is the normal target glucose level with Gestational diabetes?
I have tested positive with gestational diabetes a couple of days ago and have been montoring my blood sugar level at home. The result I’ve got seems a little bit low to me. My before breadfast is around 82 mg/dl and my 1 hr. after breadfast is around 98mg/dl. Should I be concern? Is it normal?

A: when i had gestational diabetes my dr. wanted my fasting to be around 70 and my 2 hr under 90 so yours sound good keep up the good work, I could not control mine with diet and ended up on shots it sucked so keep doing what u are doing great job, you can email me if you have further question will be glad to help you through this cause it is really scary.

Q: What parts of the body can i monitor glucose levels during gestational diabetes?
this is crazy. it hurts way too much when testing on my finger…can i test somewhere else?

A: All of your blood has the same sugar content. Take it from wherever bleeds easily and is least painful.

Q: Can someone tell me glucose readings for Gestational Diabetes?
Like what is normal or high.

My doctors appt isn’t for another 7 days and I just got my test kit today.

A: Are you talking about a blood sugar monitor, where you have a lancet, test strips, and a monitor?

You can test your own blood sugar (anyone can) although I wouldn’t panic at what you see.

First thing in the morning it should be below 100.

Exactly one hour after you finish eating, it should be less than 130 or so.

Just know that it’s easy to use the meter wrong so read the booklet. If you don’t put enough blood on the strip, for example, it will read artificially high. If you have any food residue on your hands it could skew it – I know that sounds like a long shot but if you had been eating an orange, say, you could have dried juice on your finger.

Q: Anyone been through the 3 hour glucose test for gestational diabetes?
I’m 29 weeks pregnant and found out Tuesday I did not pass the screening. I am going back for the 3 hour testing tomorrow morning. Has anyone been through this process? Anyone found negative second time around? Or if positive, please tell me what you had to change. Thanks!

A: I had gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy, i’m 26wks pregnant again and this time i’m border line gestational diabetes so am trying to manage it with diet and exercise.

with my first:
i had to do 40minutes of exercise daily. a choice of swimming, walking or pregnancy yoga.
take insulin injections 3 times a day (needle to my stomach that i did myself).
take and record my blood glucose level 4 times a day using a glucose meter and finger-prick blood tests (do it yourself at home).
eat a diabetic diet – counting carb serves, low fat, low salt, low sugar and regular carb, regular protein.
see the dietitian at the hospital twice a week until the baby was born.
have a diabetes test once baby was 6wks old to make sure i hadn’t developed type 2 diabetes.

with this pregnancy where i am border line gestational diabetic:
do 30 minutes of exercise a day
follow a diabetic diet
take and record blood glucose levels 4 times a day (using the finger prick test at home)
see the die titan at the hospital every 2wks.

Q: While pregnant, did you have to take a glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes?
If so, was it because it was something your OB routinely did for all of his/her pregnant patients, or was it just because you showed some risk factor for it such as history or a high urine/blood glucose level?

A: Its routine. Everyone said the drink was horrible and made them throw up so I was kinda nervous when I had to do mine. To me the drink was not that bad, mine tasted like a orange drink with alot of suger. I didnt get sick.

Q: So I failed the initial gestational diabetes glucose test…? Few questions help!?
This was the NON fasting test, where I just drink that medicated glucose drink and have a blood test an hour later.

It came back I had elevated levels so I go back tomorrow for the 2 hour test, that involves fasting and 3 blood tests in 2 hours

Me and the baby are exceptionally healthy up until now with noone in family ever having this.

Now for the questions. Please answer any or all!

My friend asked her midwife and she said the softdrink I had before could have affected the result. I think they should TELL you what not to have, but oh well. But the thing is it was DIET coke from mcdonalds as well as a small chicken burger. I had healthy breakfast. Could this diet drink still affect the levels if it was sugar free??

What are the chances of actually having gestational diabetes after this test? Ive heard only 1 in 10? anyone know?

If I DO have it, what does this mean? I mean I eat very healthy generally so what can i do for it and what does it do to me?

A: I also had to repeat the glucose test with the longer version. Your levels may have only been slightly elevated and can be effected by many things. Please relax and don’t worry! Many of my pregnant friends have also had to go back for the longer test, and we all came back in the clear! Just bring a magazine and a snack for when you are all done (b/c you will be hungry…and bored while waiting).
I do know some people who did have gestational diabetes and they resolved it through diet. Just be careful, b/c if you do have the gestational diabetes, it usually goes away after you give birth but they also say it can be an indicator of diabetes later on in your life.
Take good care of yourself, best of luck!

Q: I have gestational diabetes. What should my blood glucose be THREE hours after a meal?
I’ve been doing so well with this gestational diabetes diet that I’ve grown a little bored testing. But today (I’m 36 weeks and two days pregnant), I had a small lunch OUT at a restaurant, where I didn’t really know exactly how many carbs I consumed. Probably too many carbs and not enough protein. My one-hour-post-lunch test is supposed to be less than 140, per my doctor, but it came back high: 159. Opps. So I had a bad lunch after all. But after two hours, I tested again, and it was 175! 120, I am told, is what the max should be after two hours. What should my level be after three hours? Everything I find online gives the levels for the three-hour glucose screening test. This is just a regular after-meal test, three hours later instead of one or two.

I failed my glucose screening test primarily because my sugar after two hours went higher when it should have gone lower. But I don’t want to have my afternoon snack before my blood sugar comes back to a level where it should.

A: Gestational diabetes is a form of Type II Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes, which is a risk factor for the development of diabetes in the nongestational state.

Gestational diabetes is associated with a number of pregnancy and newborn problems and complications the most common being excess weight gain by the mother and the delivery of a newborn who is heavier/larger than would be otherwise expected.

Your blood glucose level 3 or more hours after any meal should be close to that of a fasting level which is in the 75-125 mg/dl range. A single reading of 159 or even 175, if your other glucose readings are in the range I quoted, is not something to worry about. The effects of diabetes are due to prolonged exposure to elevated blood glucose levels.

Review your dietary recommendations as your glucose level at any point in time is due to three factors:

1. Your total recent caloric intake (not the proportions of carbohydrates, protein and fats).
2. Your recent energy expenditure (exercise!).
3. Any medication you may have taken for diabetes.

While overall the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat is very important in the control of diabetes all of these food sources will raise your blood glucose (not gram for gram equally). Testing your glucose at one and two hours after eating is going to provide you with confusing results due to the unpredictability of pancreatic insulin release after eating a given meal, your state of hydration, hepatic glycogenolysis (glucose release from liver stores), the rate of absorption of nutrients from your intestines, the degree of insulin resistance you have (the primary cause of Type II Diabetes) amongst several other factors.

Your goals are to:

1. Follow closely the total daily caloric intake recommended by your physician which should take into account the additional needs of the growing fetus.
2. Follow closely the physician-recommended levels of exercise (even daily walks) which will act to keep your glucose down.
3. The proportion and types of carbohydrates, protein and fat you are eating as recommended by your physician.
4. The times you are to measure your glucose.

Remember, it is not a single glucose reading that is important but it is the trend of readings which determine glucose control. Also, be sure to keep a check on your glucose level long after you delivery your baby as Gestational Diabetes is a risk factor for development of Adult Onset Diabetes.

The following link is an excellent resource with other important links for Gestational Diabetes. It is by the American Diabetes Association:

http://diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp.

Congratulations and Good Luck with your newborn!

DrEarp

Q: Failed my Glucose Scan Gestational Diabetes?
I failed my glucose scan and my ob called today asking that I come in for more testing on tuesday they are going to run a 3 hour test where they take your blood every 3 hours to see the changes in your blood sugar level. If the baby and I have gestational diabetes what can I expect to happen?
Yes I meant a 3 hour test where they draw blood each hour…
I didnt consume any food prior to the test just the glucola I has my test done in the morning that way I wouldnt eat before my test because i had a fear it would effect my blood sugar levels.

A: I’ve had gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies and am waiting to be tested with this pregnancy. First off, they don’t test your blood every 3 hours, they test your blood every hour for 3 hours. Secondly, it depends on how bad your diabetes is. They may start you off with a diet plan and exercise and if that doesn’t help with keeping your sugar down then they will give you insulin. I had to take insulin via shot 3 times a day which isn’t fun. Hopefully, they will be able to get yours under control with a diet plan. It’s a long process having the diabetes and it takes a lot of work on your part to make sure your taking care of yourself.

Q: 1 hr glucose for gestational diabetes came back with high markers?
I am 30 weeks pregnant and got the 1 hr glucose blood test done, they did not tell me not to eat high sugar foods before the test so when I went to a potluck brunch and ate a cinnabon, a piece of cake, and four cream puffs ( not my normal diet I assure you! ) I thought nothing of the fact that my test was only two hours away… My markers came back high and they want to do the 3 hr test ( four blood draws in three hours, no thanks )

My question is this… should I suck it up and do the 3 hr or ask them to order the 1 hr again? I am more than willing to do the 3 hr IF I really am at risk, but I am thinking it was the high sugar foods…..

p.s. I have only gained 4lb during my entire pregnancy ( current weight 164) from what I understand a major symptom of gestational diabetes is alot of weight gain??? I am also not hispanic with no family history…. am I grasping at straws… ;)

A: If the high glucose levels were caused by all the sweets you ate just before the 1st test, then it will show on the 3 hour test because you will pass it. If you are really gestational diabetic, then it will also show on your 3rd hour test, so why not have it done? If you ask them to do the 1 hour test again and you fail it, then you will have to do the 3 hour test again, so it’s better to just go ahead for the 3 hour one. I know, it’s not a fun test to do, but you will finally find out if you have or don’t have diabetes. Good luck

Q: Gestational diabetes morning glucose reading??
My morning readings vary between 5.9 and 6.5 before food or drink.
Is this too high for my baby or is it ok. I am 28 weeks.
I am worried as it says on a few websites that Insulin therapy is needed if the reading is 5.9 or above first thing in the morning.
Anyone out there got any advice or personal experience of what the doctor may do for me?
Thanks so much to all that have endured all my glucose/diabetes questions recently. xxx

A: Your reading will not harm your baby between 5.9-6.5, however the worry here is what will your reading be after you eat food if it is this high before you eat. You have to follow the plan of your doctor as all doctors/institutions have different protocols for insulin therapy. I would monitor your blood sugar levels before & half an hour after eating & then present it to your doctor. Some doctors will prefer that people with highish blood sugar levels before they eat take some insulin to prevent a high reading after food. The risk of insulin however is hypoglycaemia which is a sudden & dangerous drop in insulin levels causing coma & sometimes seizures. I’m suprised that you have not been given a detailed plan by your doctor so you need to get one asap. Best of luck.

Q: Are there side effects after or during the 1-hr glucose challenge test for gestational diabetes?

A: The only side-effect that you may experience is nausea. This is due to the extreme sweetness of the glucola drink that you’re expected to imbibe. It is, however, a short-term thing and will soon pass.

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