avoiding false positive on gestational diabetes test

[Anonymous]

First, let me say that I know that gestational diabetes is a serious diagnosis, and I have no desire to "cheat" the screening test. I do want an accurate diagnosis, and my girlfriend
failed the screening after having a very sugary breakfast. Since she was positive for the screening she had to do a 3-hour test, which is obviously a huge time suck (and I can't imagine the drink is good for you, either!).

How can I avoid a false positive?

[Anonymous]

Protein for breakfast - no sugar.

[Anonymous]

Umm, don't eat a sugary breakfast. But to be honest, lots of people fail the first and pass the 3 hour. It's not that the 1 hour is a "false positive" it's that the criteria to pass the 1 hour test is much stricter and just gives them an idea of who may not pass the 3 hour.

I had GD in my first pregnancy, but not my second. This is baby #3, and I had to take the GD 1 hour screen at 18 weeks, and I'll take it again at 28 weeks. I always schedule my appointments for first thing in the morning, and I eat a scrambled egg before I drink the "goop". I don't know if it helps me pass the screen, but it does help me be less sick to my stomach.

[Anonymous]

I got a false positive on the test due to eating lunch before my 1 pm test. No one told me not to and when I took the real test my score was closer to low blood sugar (but totally normal) than to GD. I agree with the PPs -- don't eat too much but do eat something like scrambled eggs or meat first. Also I was told coffee can skew the test, although I'm not sure why as coffee is supposed to lowr blood sugar, so I'd double check that one.

[Anonymous]

First of all, the three hour test (aside from making your arms look like those of a heroin addict) is not that bad. The drink is not that disgusting, and compared to the multitude of other things that happen to you in pregnancy, the 3 hour glucose test is really in the middle of the spectrum of horribleness. And, I used to hate blood draws, but as part of my general "this is all prepping you for having a baby" mindset about these things, I just tried to remind myself that there are way, way, more unpleasant things coming down the pipeline so I may as well try to make these minor irritations as minor as possible.

(That being said, I have a flexible employer and great leave, so for people who don't have those things I can imagine the GTT would be a major burden and I totally understand why you'd want to get out of it).

But, I did fail the one hour test (barely) after it was sprung on me earlier than I thought it would be. I had eaten half a bag of gummi bears earlier that day, which I have to think contributed to my blood sugar being so high -- 50 points higher than the reading they took an hour after I drank the second sugar solution for the 3 hour screen. So, if I were to do this again, I'd avoid candy the day of, try to do it early in the day, and eat normally (with a reduction in carbs and an increase in protein).

[Anonymous]

Just don't eat a sugary breakfast. I had an egg with toast and was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a false positive on the test due to eating lunch before my 1 pm test. No one told me not to and when I took the real test my score was closer to low blood sugar (but totally normal) than to GD. I agree with the PPs -- don't eat too much but do eat something like scrambled eggs or meat first. Also I was told coffee can skew the test, although I'm not sure why as coffee is supposed to lowr blood sugar, so I'd double check that one.

Probably because a lot of people drink sugary coffee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Protein for breakfast - no sugar.

This. I failed the first one-hour test by only a couple of points after fasting, so they gave me the option of doing it again instead of moving to the three-hour. With the second one-hour test, I had eggs and a meat for breakfast and was well within the normal range.

[Anonymous]

Is it better or does it matter if you do it in the beginning of the day or afternoon?

[Anonymous]

Beginning of the day is better (for me) just because it's easier to limit sugar intake prior to the test then. Sensible dinner, no snacks, protein for breakfast - and we're good to go. The afternoon would require a bit more discipline to not overdo it on sugar before the test, and i'm not great at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it better or does it matter if you do it in the beginning of the day or afternoon?

I think your blood sugar is extra-sensitive in the morning. Maybe someone with GD can weigh in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it better or does it matter if you do it in the beginning of the day or afternoon?

I think your blood sugar is extra-sensitive in the morning. Maybe someone with GD can weigh in?

I had GD in my first pregnancy. I was able to control mine through diet, and I never had high early morning readings. If you are getting high overnight readings, you almost certainly need insulin to control your blood sugars, and it would seem even more imperative to know ASAP that you have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it better or does it matter if you do it in the beginning of the day or afternoon?

I think your blood sugar is extra-sensitive in the morning. Maybe someone with GD can weigh in?

I had GD in my first pregnancy. I was able to control mine through diet, and I never had high early morning readings. If you are getting high overnight readings, you almost certainly need insulin to control your blood sugars, and it would seem even more imperative to know ASAP that you have it.

I had hypoglycemia in my first pregnancy, and my numbers were always WAY more sensitive in the morning (i.e., they would rise really quickly if I ate fruit, or instance), despite the fact that they were really low after fasting.

[Anonymous]

I had oatmeal before the 1 hr. because my midwife told me it was okay. I failed by 2 pts. so I had to take the 3 hour. You can get through it for sure but I don't blame you for wanting to avoid it. It was so much sugar it made me sweaty and shaky and dizzy. Not to mention 3 hours is a long time to just hang out at the doctors. I think what other PP's have said - protein and not to crazy the night before is probably a good recommendation.

[Anonymous]

I had eggs, butter, and wheat toast for breakfast both times. Maybe some green tea. Numbers were fine. There was a woman taking the 3-hour when I was there who was sweating and looked extremely ill. She became sick before she could complete the test and was told she'd have to come back and do it again. I can see why anyone would want to avoid that.