Katiebug_1976 Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hi, I need some help from all you mommas out there. I am 6 months along in my pregnancy, and supposed to have a glucose test done on Tuesday. I am looking for alternatives to the traditional orange drink test. While I have never failed a glucose test, it does make me sick for a week! I'm just about to the point of refusing the test if I cannot find an alternative. I have tried the jelly bean alternative, but could not eat the # of jelley beans in the amount of time given, so I had to take the 3 hour test (Don't want to do that again!). Do any of you know of any alternatives? Organic/natural would be great, but at this point, I'm looking for anything that will work! Thanks so much for your help, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaJade Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 How were the results of your previous tests? Were they good, borderline? I'm training to be a doula. Let me ask around on the doula boards and see what they have to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennC Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 My mid-wife did not make me do these tests. Had to with 1st 2 - yuck. Don't they test for sugar in your urine at each visit - not you personally, necessarily, I mean isn't that what the pee stick is for every 2 weeks? Mid-wife had us did our own and match it up on the bottle with 8 different colors. I think there are warning signs for gestational diabetes, aren't there. Couldn't they just do the test if there is a reason for it? (again, not just you OP, but in general?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanna Tomlinson Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I always failed the test and sometimes couldn't keep the glucola in my stomach.:tongue_smilie: I'm like you, when I did manage to keep the glucola down, I usually ended up with a migraine and felt bad for days! I would ask for a fasting blood glucose and then a 1 hour post-parandial (1-hour post meal). I found options like this recommended by some health care professionals who were against the unrealistic load that glucola placed on the system. HTH, Leanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I know one of my friends always ate pancakes & syrup for her glucose tests, but it was a long time ago so I don't remember the details. Maybe that would be an alternative for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Do a google search for "gestational diabetes gentlebirth". The Gentle Birth website has some suggestions on there for alternative testing, including the jelly bean test. Another option is to ask your care provider to compromise. Get a glucometer and test your sugars at home. I think there are warning signs for gestational diabetes, aren't there. Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfinbaby Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I've had 4 kids and never taken a glucose test. I concluded from my research that it wasn't a necessary test for me. My midwives agreed. Henci Goer has a well researched book called A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Here is an article she wrote about GD http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/gdhgoer.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmeliaJade Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 If you are not high risk and you've had no problems with your sugars during pregnancy in the past then you could just opt out. They cannot force you to consent. It is up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Same here. I've had seven kids and never have I taken a glucose test. ETA: I guess for the sake of "full disclosure" I should also say that I do unassisted pregnancies & births, so that's why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorMama Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Refusing the test is a perfectly viable option. It's not mandatory...they just try to make it sound like it is. I wouldn't be drinking anything that would make me sick for a week, either! If you're not high-risk and you're having no issues, it's not an important test. If there's some concern, ask to do the finger-prick tests yourself at home to monitor it for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 My mid-wife did not make me do these tests. Had to with 1st 2 - yuck. Don't they test for sugar in your urine at each visit - not you personally, necessarily, I mean isn't that what the pee stick is for every 2 weeks? Mid-wife had us did our own and match it up on the bottle with 8 different colors. I think there are warning signs for gestational diabetes, aren't there. Couldn't they just do the test if there is a reason for it? (again, not just you OP, but in general?) The stick piddle tests are not very accurate. I was gestational diabetic and usually showed a normal glucose level. Gestational diabetes doesn't necessarily show warning signs either. Most of the symptoms are usual in pregnancy anyway. Peeing frequently? Yep! Fatigue? Yep! Getting a meter and doing a few finger prick tests at home ought to be fine. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BakersDozen Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I down a big glass of orange juice. It's kind of funny because after enduring 5 of those nasty glucose drinks the o.j. thing was suggested to me. Feeling anxious that I was going against doctor orders I went in for my OB appt. wondering what my results would be. They were what the results were with the nasty drink. From then on I used o.j. and simply "forgot" to tell my doctor that I was doing so. ;) I've considered forgoing the test altogether however figured this is the lesser of the many tests suggested to me so I don't have a problem with it, and should the results indicated GD I'd rather be safe than sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebug_1976 Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 How were the results of your previous tests? Were they good, borderline? I'm training to be a doula. Let me ask around on the doula boards and see what they have to say. I have always passed the tests. The only one that was questionable was with my last pregnancy. My Dr. suggested the jelly bean test, but I was unable to eat all the jelly beans in the amount of time allowed. He sent me to have the 3 hour test done at the hospital, and I passed that one just fine, but again, I felt sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara in AZ Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I've never tasted the orange drink. My midwife always told me to eat 40 carbs (from any source, Cliffbars have about that much) an hour before my appointment. Ask your doc if you can do that. I doubt it would be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
even_star Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 My doctor gives his patients 2 options: You can have either 2 donuts and a can of pop - or - bowl of cereal, 2 pieces of toast w/jam, glass of milk, glass of OJ I chose option 1 for my 2nd child. It felt like a guilt-free way to indulge since it was 'dr's orders!' Except later that morning I had a terrible sugar-crash. For my last child, who's 6-wks old, I did the 2nd choice. I believe you're supposed to eat about 1-hr before the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebug_1976 Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 Thank you all for your advice. I called my Dr.'s office today, and he is suggesting a fasting test. He said that I shouldn't eat anything after midnight the night before my appt. then they will test my blood when I get there. All of the fasting tests I have heard of go kind of like, don't eat for 12 hours, draw blood, eat/drink something, then draw blood 1 hour later. The nurse I talked to said that I wouldnt have to eat or drink anything, though. Is there a fasting test where you just don't eat and get your blood drawn? If it'll work, it sound a whole lot better to me that dringing that NASTY orange stuff!!! I wish I would have researched this out a long time ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanna Tomlinson Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 My Dr. would not allow me to fast for 12 hours. I was allowed to do an 8hr fast. I then left to eat breakfast (with orange juice - not that gross glucola) and came back to have my blood drawn an hour after eating. HTH, Leanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebug_1976 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Thank you all for your suggestions and help. I ended up fasting from midnight on Monday until my appt. and 10am the next morning. They drew my blood and that was that. My levels came back just great. I wish I would have known about this method of testing several pregnancies ago. Thanks again :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCA Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 My Dr. did not make me take this test with my 4th child. He said since it was my 4th and I had never had a problem with previous tests that is wasnt necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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