countrygal Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 So I recently failed my 1 hr glucose test by 1 point - 135. They recently told me they lowered the standard from 140 to 135 because they felt like they were missing some people. When she called she said the cut-off was actually 134, not 135 like someone previously told me. So now I'm upset because I don't want to take the three hour. My previous pregnancy I failed by 1 point, at that time 141. I took the three hour then. I live 40 miles away from the clinic, so driving there caused me to get really lightheaded from not eating and I was scared I might pass out driving (I tend to be hypoglycemic.) I got a huge headache that day and ended up sitting on the toilet during the test and the rest of the day (it gives me the runs.) I did pass that time. I'm mad now because I would have passed with a 135 last time!!!! I just don't want to do it. Rewind 2 pregnancies ago, I failed the one and the 3 hour. So I was counselled by a nutritionist and told to check my blood sugars 4x's a day. My fastings were always in the 60s and 70s. When I ate toast and eggs and milk in the morning (she said don't eat cereal) I would get shaky by the time 2 hours went by and my sugar would be in the 50s or 60s. So after 3 days of that I started eating cereal again (with eggs) and my blood sugar would be in the 70s or 80s after 2 hours. I was able to eat anything, canned fruit, bread, pasta, and ice cream... I only had 2 blood sugars over 100 the rest of my pregnancy (they wanted them under 130 after 2 hours) Even the nutritionist was confused... I felt like even though my blood sugars weren't even remotely close to the cut-off, I was treated like a high risk pregnancy. Thankfully I went into labor a week before my due day and had a natural, unmedicated birth. I cancelled the 3 hr I'm suppose to take now. I don't have an appointment for 2 weeks. What should I do? I understand they have protocols to follow to save their @$$ if anything goes wrong, but I really feel like my body does not respond well to this test and it isn't an accurate representation of how my body responds to how I normally eat. I suppose if I drank pop all day every day my levels would be high, but I don't drink pop. But how do they know that unless they track me? I can see their point of view, but I'm also tired of being treated like protocol instead of an individual. I know there are some people that really have glucose issues, but I also feel like a lot of women get unnecessarily 'treated'. I asked earlier in the pregnancy if I fail the 1 hr if I could just check random blood sugars because I dread the 3 hr and how bad it makes me feel. They said yes I could but then I'd have to do it 4x a day for the rest of the pregnancy and I'd automatically be diagnosed with GD and I got a schpeel about having a dead baby from the midwife and a nurse if I don't. I feel trapped because I don't want to do that just by missing by 1 point. I don't want to look for another provider this late either, especially since the opinion may not be any different. I know I have the right to refuse, but I don't know if they'd refuse to see me anymore either (which is appealing....) I don't want to try to talk to anyone, because nobody listens. Maybe I should just to it and get it over with. I wish that if I failed I would have done it miserably instead of by 1 point.. 2 times... I don't know what I'm rambling about.... maybe just for someone to feel sorry for me :( or maybe anyone who has been in a similar situation, especially failing but having low/very normal blood sugars when checking them at home... I haven't come across anyone else like that. I also don't have any risk factors other than the test failings and now being pregnant for the 5th time. I've never been overweight, I'm on the light side actually, and 29 yrs old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Eww... I have to do the one hour on the 11th, I also tend to be hypoglycemic but I do drink pop during the day. When pregnant with my first I freaked the doctor out because my sugar did not rise a lot. Hope whatever you decide goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuzu822 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I'm not a professional, but I've had several midwives tell me not to take the test fasting. I wonder if that's why your test is "high" while under regular circumstances it's low/normal. If you're eating a balanced meal with protein/fat, your blood sugar won't spike. I've always had a high protein breakfast before taking the test. I also drink grape juice instead of the glucola, since it has the same amount of glucose per ounce (plus you avoid the arificial gunk). I'm not sure what the protocol is for the three-hour test, but maybe you'd be able to have some eggs and cheese beforehand? Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I totally agree with Zuzu. My midwife told me that the majority of the population (pregnant or not) would fail the glucose tests under their fasting guidelines. Who wouldn't have a sugar problem after not eating for 8-12 hours, drinking a bottle of syrup, and then having to sit there for three more hours with that garbage in your body? I feel queasy just thinking about it. Eat some eggs and whole wheat bread beforehand, but don't tell them you did. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I just got a home glucose monitor and tested myself a couple of times a day for a week or two during my last pregnancy, then showed the results to my midwife. She was fine with that. I tried to get one fasting glucose in the morning and at least one post-prandial (I think I'm remembering that term correctly, in any case I mean after a meal) reading every day I would way rather prick my finger a couple dozen times than do the sugar drink test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I've always failed until this last pregnancy. My new OB says to eat a normal breakfast (I'm low-carb so for me a normal breakfast is 2 eggs and sausage) before the test. If I had to take it ever again, I'd cheat and eat even if it wasn't allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Just say no. It's ridiculous that they are trying to scare and control you over 1 point . . . and just recently, before they made the change, you would have passed. Can you find a new practitioner to work with you with regards to this? If you can't I would go ahead and eat as suggested before that horrid test. I feel for you . . . I failed that test, too. To this day I can't drink orange crush, which I used to enjoy. I don't think anyone could pass that silly test. I mean, who really, on purpose, ingests sugar like that? It is a total set-up for failure. Growing a baby is work enough without a bunch of medical drama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenn121 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Pregnant or not, myself and all my close blood relatives on my mom's side alway have a high one hour glucose with beautiful A1C and 2 and 3 hour results. I spoke on the phone with my Dr. who was fine with my results and then I get a call from the regional perinatal center to make an appointment with the dietician and dicuss my options to treat my glucose intolerence. I explained that we are fine, that is my baseline and we were not interested. She was less than cordial. If you do not feel you need it don't take it. It took some fancy words from my Dr. to get me to do it at all. In my first pregnancy I had an awful doctor that made me do the 3 hour once a month because she could not believe some one of my size would not have gestational diabetes. In both my previous pregnancies I have not been diabetic and I am not with this one either. I refuse to let them label me for what is normal for me. Trust your gut and tak to yor Dr. at your next appointment. If he can give you a reason other than "it is procedure" then you can decide. Blessings with your pregnancy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara in AZ Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 My midwives always told me to eat something with about 40 carbs around an hour before the visit in place of the glucola. That way they could take the test right then and not make me sit around for three hours. Maybe you could do that instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrygal Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Thanks for all your replies :) I'm not upset as I was a few days ago when I wrote this. I feel like this test is so inconsistent, so how can it be accurate? I did eat lower carb this time for breakfast, but it was a few hours since, but maybe that's why it was a little lower than last time. They wouldn't let me drink anything else - orange burping heartburn!! ack!!! I just can't bear to go through the 3 hour so I'll just have to talk to the midwife. I see a group of midwives and this next time I'm seeing one I like so maybe it'll turn out ok. I got to thinking... I do have an endocrinologist for my hypothyroidism, so maybe I'll talk to him. I talked to him about it a few years ago and he said that they don't realize that the test is inaccurate 20% if the time. Over a year ago I decided to do lower-carb (cut-out refined foods) to help correct my hypoglycemia which I would get almost daily since I was a kid, so I am eating better than even a last time I was pregnant! I guess I'll have to see what happens at my next appointment. Thanks again for listening to my cranky pity party. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Thanks for all your replies :) I'm not upset as I was a few days ago when I wrote this. I feel like this test is so inconsistent, so how can it be accurate? I did eat lower carb this time for breakfast, but it was a few hours since, but maybe that's why it was a little lower than last time. They wouldn't let me drink anything else - orange burping heartburn!! ack!!! I just can't bear to go through the 3 hour so I'll just have to talk to the midwife. I see a group of midwives and this next time I'm seeing one I like so maybe it'll turn out ok. I got to thinking... I do have an endocrinologist for my hypothyroidism, so maybe I'll talk to him. I talked to him about it a few years ago and he said that they don't realize that the test is inaccurate 20% if the time. Over a year ago I decided to do lower-carb (cut-out refined foods) to help correct my hypoglycemia which I would get almost daily since I was a kid, so I am eating better than even a last time I was pregnant! I guess I'll have to see what happens at my next appointment. Thanks again for listening to my cranky pity party. :laugh: Talk to your midwife, and if worse comes to worse, they are only going to send you to see the endocrinologist anyway. Go have a nice visit with the specialist you see for your thyroid (I always had to go when I was pregnant anyway to change my synthroid) and let them check the box and be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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