Glucose Test

[Guest guest]

Hi all.

I just found out that I have to take a second glucose test for pregnancy

because I may have gestational diabetes. The first test was a 6-8 hour fast

followed by drinking this truly obnoxious and sugary sugary sugary drink, then

a blood test an hour later. The next test is similar, an 8 hour fast followed by

one blood test, then the drink and then three hours of testing, taking blood

three times more on the hour.

I asked my OB if I could try the 2-hour Postprandial Glucose test before doing

the 3 hour. In this test, you eat a meal, then they take your blood 2 hours

later.

It is generally considered an alternative to the original simple glucose test,

but I

have read it is also sometimes used as a way to check the first test findings

and may have a better accuracy rate. The OB (or rather the nurse, after

speaking to the OB) rather condescendingly brushed off my concerns (see

below) and told me flat out no and that I would have to go to an endocrinologist

if I wouldn't take the test. I told her that I would go to another OB and hung

up.

This is no biggie because I have been lining up a transfer to prenatal care at a

birthing center by midwives.

I have an appointment set up at the birthing center for the three-hour test.

They

were at least very gentle and patient in explaining to me why the 3-hour test is

necessary, and didn't order me to do anything. Also, they have a very detailed

diet you must follow for 3 days before the test, so the body's response to the

glucola drink can be more accurate. (I think my OB had a 1-day diet plan right

before the test.) The diet is, however, way more carb and sugar heavy than I

ever eat: fruit juice, sugary cereal, 8 teaspoons sugar over the course of the

day, jelly, canned fruit in heavy syrup, bread (maybe I can substitute sprouted,

but I don't know)...

Maybe someone could talk to me a little about these tests (their accuracy and

any alternatives) and gestational diabetes, if they have experience or general

knowledge. It is hard to just decide to drink another one of these super sugary

concoctions after my baby and I have had nothing to eat for 8 hours, if there is

indeed an alternative. I've been trying to eat in the NT manner for all of my

pregnancy, and dumping those sugary drinks into my starving body and not

expecting some unusual reaction seems strange to me. I take Primal Defense

so I can reduce sugar cravings, but this diet will make things hard, even for

three days. (I can just hear the yeast saying " yeah! " =-) ) I'm also influenced

by

Swarzenbein's (sp) comments on Type II diabetes not being genetic. Maybe

this is the way it must be.

Of course I'm really hoping the test will be negative, but I'm trying to prepare

and find resources for my own special diet if necessary, because I absolutely

want to avoid insulin shots and I don't want to get stuck on some low-fat diet

either. (OR keep my pregnancy weight gain to 15 pounds, which I may have

already exceeded, as they've mentioned on the websites I've seen.)

Long winded. But hope some of you might have some info.

Thanks,

Kathy