Failed my one-hour glucose screen - anyone else????

[Anonymous]

Frankly I'd suggest taking the test even if your 1 hour test is borderline. I was right on the border for the 1 hour, took the three hour and failed miserably. I have gestational diabetes, managed with insulin and taking my blood sugar a million times a day. I am terrified of needles. The hassles of the testing, the shots, the strict diet, all a pain. But, if it will help (hopefully) to keep the kiddo from gaining too much weight, so I can do a regular delivery and so he/she is healthy it's worth it. I wouldn't try and wiggle out of the three hour test- it's awful, but worth it just incase you are diagnosed. It's only for a few weeks/months at most (generally, since this usually goes away after delivery). Plus, I have only gained 15 lbs and I'm due any day now (I'd be a little concerned except that I started out with about 10 extra pounds from the first kid I never lost). Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I scored a 131 on the 1-hour test and had to do the 3-hour test, which I passed with flying colors. For the 1-hour test, I didn't wait the full hour before having my blood drawn (I think I had it drawn 5 minutes too early), and I had a pretty bad week filled with chai tea lattes and peanut m&m's... both of which are atypical. But even the chance of having GD made me start exercising more (even if just a 15 minute walk) and giving myself only 1 day a week for a special chai treat!

[Anonymous]

There was an article in today's NY Times discussing gestational diabetes and the risks associated with it, for anyone who is interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/health/28brod.html?ref=health

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I failed the 1 hr with a glucose reading of 173! I was freaked out and had access to testing equipment and started testing my own sugar leading up to the 3 hr test. It was always within normal range.

I was given a "carb-loading" diet to follow for three days before taking the 3 hr and I passed. The idea behind carb loading is that if your system is not used to producing large amounts of insulin, it will take a little longer to bring the numbers down after a 75g or 100g of sugar intake. During carb loading, I found it difficult to load 50g carbs into every meal. Consuming 100g of sugar in 3 minutes is just not something that would happen under normal conditions. The test is designed to be cautious.

THis is absolutely correct - please follow these guidelines if you want to pass.

[Anonymous]

OP here - in case I never followed up, I did end up taking the 3hr and I passed with great numbers. I was actually kind of thankful to have gone through the whole exercise insofar as it made me more mindful of what I was eating and how I was feeling after eating. I scaled back on ice cream dramatically after I failed the one hour, and although I was originally on track to gain well-above the recommended 25-35 pounds, I'm at a little over 35 weeks now and right on target to gain no more than 35. The three hour test sucked. not only did I feel awful after drinking the solution, but the drawing of the blood was very uncomfortable. I'm no stranger to blood tests and the like, but having four blood draws over a 3 hour period makes for sore veins and lots of bruising! I suspect labor will be more painful