High glucose result

[CTD]

Hi

I had my lucozade test last week and they called to tell me that the result was slightly high. I now have to go back again this week and have a fasting glucose test. Gotta fast, have a blood test, drink 480ml of lucozade and then have a second blood test 2 hours later to see if I have gestational diabetes.

I'm really worried about it! My glucose level was 8.5 but I don't know if this really high or what the normal range is? Has anyone else has a high test result and then the fasting result comes back normal? Or does anyone have gestational diabetes and can tell me what's involved once it's diagnosed?

Thanks for any help/experiences anyone can share x

 

[Lolie14]

Hi, I'm only 20+5 and was diagnosed with GD two weeks ago after having the GT test. My fasting level was fine at 5.2 but they said my after test was high at 9.

I now have to eat a very low carb/sugar diet and record my blood levels 6 times a day - before eating and then two hours afterwards. I have to keep my levels within 5.5 - 7.8 and have rarely reached 7 so seem to have a good control on it.

Because of the risk to baby's growth you will also get extra scans which is a positive

 

[babyscotcher]

Hi CDT. I was diagnosed from my GTT just under a week ago. To start with it is just monitoring blood sugar and controlling it with diet which isn't too bad.

They also wont let you go more than a few days past due date if it is diet controlled. If you have to take metformin or insulin to control it then they would induce a week or 2 beforehand. X

 

[CTD]

Thank you for replying, do you know what your results were?

I got a feeling I'm gonna have it too. All I ate was plain porridge and the lucozade and my result was 8.5. She said it could have been something I ate that morning but surely plain porridge isn't too bad?

I've been googling and its just made me worried cos of the risks. But are the risks only if you don't control it?

 

[Lolie14]

I haven't googled anything but the diabetic midwife who diagnosed me said that if it can't be controlled by diet they will give me metformin and if that fails I will have to go onto insulin. She said the risk to baby is that if not controlled baby will be big and that the tummy could grow at a different rate to its head. The risk to me is that I could be type two diabetic afterwards. So yes, the risk is only there if not controlled.

Try not to worry too much, it is a lot to take in but once you know which foods to avoid it'll become easier.

 

[Ella1979]

I had GD with my second pregnancy (fasting bloods 9.4 and 2 hour result 10.2, so pretty high!). I found that breakfast was the worst, with anything like porridge or any other cereal causing extremely high blood sugars, so the combination of porridge and Lucozade can be quite awful - I'm not sure why they'd do a non-fasting blood sugar using the Lucozade. Your fasting one will give a much clearer result. 8.5 is quite high, but given what you'd eaten, not all that surprising. Hopefully your GTT will come back normal.

My diet was pretty good and I ended up on metformin to control the diabetes, which was fine, and I had a C-section at 37 weeks (I was given the choice of induction or section and from my previous experience with my first baby, went for section).

There are loads of risks if the GD remains uncontrolled. Even if you do control it during pregnancy, your risk of type 2 diabetes increases just by getting GD. I have to have a blood sugar test every 3 years now because of it.

 

[LaceyKeo]

This is an interesting read.

I have to go in for the 12 hour fasting test next week as my fluid levels are slightly high.

I already have fortnightly scans because baby is small.

Apparently something like 13% of pregnant women have the first test due to reasons, and have to take the 12 hour fasting one, but then only something like 2-5% actually have GD. Xx

 

[littlemonkey]

I don't know about the non fasting test as I've only ever had the fasting GTT.

My results on it after two hours were 7.1 and I was told anything above 8 is considered as having GD. Like I said though this was for the fastingtest .

I've had two already this pregnancy and need to have a third this coming week because I'm continually measuring large. I'm not sure what difference it can make now as I have my section booked for three weeks time if I don't go before then!

 

[bongopants]

I had the fasting gtt and thankfully it came back negative but whilst waiting for my results I tried to eat as if I did have gestational diabetes. Eating little and often seems to be the way forward and following a low GI diet. Avoid sugary foods and try and eat well rounded meals. There's lots of diet plans on the internet.

Good luck with your test! Make sure you take something to read, it gets very boring!!

 

[CTD]

I had the fasting gtt and thankfully it came back negative but whilst waiting for my results I tried to eat as if I did have gestational diabetes. Eating little and often seems to be the way forward and following a low GI diet. Avoid sugary foods and try and eat well rounded meals. There's lots of diet plans on the internet.

Good luck with your test! Make sure you take something to read, it gets very boring!!

Yeah since I found out I might have it, I've been avoiding all sugary things and trying to eat healthily. Even if the test comes back ok I'm deffo going to continue healthy eating. It's really worried/scared me and don't want to risk anything!

Yeah, I can imagine it is gonna be really boring! Not looking forward to it at all, sitting there for 2 hours between blood tests! x

 

[MrsG81]

I had the 12 hour fasting one as I have a high BMI and also my last baby was on the big side.

My fasting result was 5.2 and 2 hour result after the glucose drink was 6.3, not sure what the levels are but I was told this was fine.

 

[CTD]

Just got call, I have gestational diabetes

Gotta start keeping a food diary and go to a 3 hour endocrine clinic appointment on Friday. Will see what they say. I thought this pregnancy was going too smoothly for me! x

 

[babyscotcher]

CTD- dont worry too much. The class that I went to was really good and the diabetes midwife was lovely.

I was the same and have had an easy and enjoyable pregnancy so far. I have found that I havent had to make too many changes to my eating habits to keep mine under control. I was only borderline at 8 when the cut of was 7.8 though so depends how high you are perhaps.

Good luck with the appointment on Friday. X

 

[CTD]

Thank you

My result today 2hrs after the lucozade was 8.4.

I think I'm just worried at the moment and having a bit of a "why me" phase cos I literally don't know anything about it apart from what I've googled and the leaflets they gave me. The leaflets mention all sorts of worrying things and Friday seems so far away to be able to discuss it with someone!

I'm hoping mine will be diet/exercise controlled too as the leaflet makes having to take pills/insulin sound worrying with the whole induction thing etc.

Just out of interest, what sort of things do you eat on a daily basis? I've googled diet plans but they all seem to be things that normal people wouldn't eat on a daily basis! I've been eating well (I think) since they told me I might have it but wanna know I'm on the right track before I get to speak to the dietician Friday x

 

[babyscotcher]

You need to eat a low GI diet which means limiting the type of carbs which you eat. You can also use low GI foods such as cheese to lower the overall GI value of a meal. There is lots of info online. The only thing I was told to cut out completely is white bread and the obvious stuff like sweets. Can even still eat a little bit of chocolate if you are careful.

I was only diagnosed a week ago but have not had a single high reading since just by making a few simple changes. X

 

[grannyw]

my daughter had GD and ended up on insulin. The early morning readings always tend to be the highest (something to do with a dawn phenomena which raises blood sugars to prep us getting up). The best breakfast to eat is one that's higher in protein (eggs, cheese, meat etc). Unless you are overweight to begin with you don't have to worry too much about the fat content in food (fat has no GI). If you want to eat bread at some stage during the day try the Soya and Linseed - it's the lowest GI bread out there and very filling (and pretty yum too) - think open sandwiches rather than two slices of bread sandwiches. The GI diet is very easy to follow and it's one of the best diets out there - everyone should be following it in my opinion - she gained just over 2 stone in her pregnancy and baby accounted for 9lb 2oz of it (plus related excess water etc and other good stuff!!)... try not to worry - they are very good at monitoring you, if you go on to insulin, the needles are so tiny she said you can't feel them... good luck

 

[Lolie14]

Scrambled egg on granary bread is a good breakfast.

I haven't had a single high since I was diagnosed either, and like mentioned above I can still eat some chocolate. I can have half of a twix a day and it doesn't affect my readings.

I was told that I can eat no more than a fist sized amount of carbs a day - whether I have it in one meal or to split it up over the day, that's my choice. I was also advised that berry fruit, ie strawberries, blueberries is much better than other fruit as they are lower in sugar.

I have switched to sugar free cordial and avoid fruit juices. Aside from what I mentioned above I've barely changed my diet and readings are normal. My highest reading so far today is 5.9

 

[babyscotcher]

I agree too with what has been said above although I eat a lot more in the way of carbs. Just careful what sort I eat.

Breakfast is the hardest meal of the day to get good readings. Cereal is a hard area and was told by midwife that the only option is proper porridge or shreaded wheat. Sweatener can be used too if you need to substitute sugar in tea etc. I tend to have fruit for breakfast as like to have something at my desk.

Try to avoid processed food too as it will have a higher GI value than freshly prepared stuff.

I have struggled the last couple of days with eating as have had a stomach bug so my levels have been all over the place but still managed to keep them below the recommended level.

Good luck. X

 

[Lolie14]

Breakfast is the hardest meal of the day to get good readings. Cereal is a hard area and was told by midwife that the only option is proper porridge or shreaded wheat. Sweatener can be used too if you need to substitute sugar in tea etc. I tend to have fruit for breakfast as like to have something at my desk.

I have found weetabix and fruit makes a good breakfast, it hardly affects my levels and sometimes they are actually lower after it

I also had a sneaky takeaway last week - Chinese - which gave me a lovely low reading! Was well chuffed!

Vegetable casserole with sweet potato mash is another good meal which gives a low reading.

 

[CTD]

Thanks everyone! I think I've been doing well with my diet this week but will have to see what the monitor says when I get it! x